{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"climate_tags":["mining impacts"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'mining impacts' for facet 'climate_tags' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":5,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?climate_tags=mining+impacts","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"eesi-000065","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000065","title":"Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Lithium","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2026-06-15","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-critical-mineral-deep-dive-lithium","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the role of lithium in the energy transition, its global supply chain, extraction methods, and the environmental and social impacts associated with its production.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#summary","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Lithium is designated as a critical mineral by the U.S. Geological Survey and is classified as \"highly critical\" by the U.S. Department of Energy for the medium term through 2035. Its primary utility lies in high-performance batteries for electric vehicles, grid storage, and consumer electronics due to its electrical conductivity, light weight, and high reactivity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Global lithium demand is heavily driven by the transport and energy sectors; in 2025, approximately 90% of demand was for electric vehicle batteries and battery storage, a figure projected to reach 97% by 2035.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Global production is concentrated in a few regions: Australia produces 37% of the global hard rock lithium supply, while the \"lithium triangle\" of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile produces 35% of the global market and holds an estimated 60% of the world's supply in brine deposits.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The United States relies on imports for over 50% of its lithium consumption, primarily from Chile and Argentina. While the U.S. has various deposits—including the Paradox Basin, Salton Sea, and Smackover Formation—domestic production in 2025 was limited to a single brine facility in Nevada.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"China dominates the refining sector, processing 95% of the world's hard rock lithium and leading in brine refining alongside Chile and Argentina.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Lithium recycling is currently limited by low collection rates, the reactivity of the mineral, and the fact that electric vehicle batteries are not expected to reach end-of-life in sufficient quantities for cost-effective recovery until after 2030. However, effective recycling could reduce the need for new mines by 25% by 2050.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Lithium extraction and processing cause significant environmental and social harm, including the consumption of over 65% of local water in Chile's Salar de Atacama and the contamination of water sources for Indigenous communities in Argentina and Chile. In the U.S., 79% of lithium reserves and resources are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000065#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-08-17"}],"climate_tags":["critical minerals","electric vehicles","energy storage","supply chain","mining impacts","circular economy"],"geography_discussed":["Argentina","Bolivia","Chile","Australia","People's Republic of China","Nevada","Arizona","Colorado","New Mexico","Utah","California","North Carolina","Texas","Arkansas","South Carolina","Tibet","Salar de Atacama"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["Fact Sheet"]},{"id":"cer-000292","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cer-000292","title":"FILING NOTICE","publisher":{"name":"Centre for Environmental Rights","organization":"centre-for-environmental-rights"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-12-08","source_url":"https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/A155_19-_Appellants-updated-practice-note_searchable.pdf?x21779","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"This filing notice and updated practice note, submitted by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) on December 8, 2020, outlines an appeal in the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria). The appeal challenges a Water Tribunal decision that dismissed a previous appeal against the granting of a water use licence (WUL) to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd by the Department of Water and Sanitation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#summary","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Appellants, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, seek to set aside the Water Tribunal's decision from May 22, 2019, and dismiss Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd's application for a water use licence under section 40 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal raises several legal questions regarding the Water Tribunal's conduct, including whether it failed to consider the strategic importance of the mine area for biodiversity and water security under section 27 of the National Water Act (NWA).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The Appellants argue that the Water Tribunal erred in treating the consent requirement of section 24 of the NWA as a non-decisive factor rather than a jurisdictional requirement that must be met before a water use licence is granted.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The Appellants contend that the Water Tribunal failed to correctly apply the precautionary principle under section 2(4)(a)(vii) of the National Environment Management Act (NEMA), resulting in a licence grant despite a high risk that negative water impacts were underestimated.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"A central point of contention is the lack of provision for the treatment of contaminated water after the mine closes and the absence of evidence regarding financial provisions for such measures.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The CER defends its role as a public interest law organisation and non-profit juristic entity, arguing that its advocacy for environmental positions while representing clients is consistent with the Legal Practice Act.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Seven organisations have applied to intervene as amici curiae, including the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network, Legal Resources Centre, Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Section27, Equal Education Law Centre, Ndifuna Ukwazi, and the Centre for Child Law.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000292#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-08-17"}],"climate_tags":["water security","biodiversity","environmental litigation","mining impacts"],"geography_discussed":["Pretoria","Johannesburg","Cape Town"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["legal appeal","regulatory challenge"]},{"id":"cer-000555","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cer-000555","title":"NOTICE OF APPEAL AGAINST THE GRANT OF MINING RIGHT MP 30/5/1/2/2/505 MR TO WILLIAM PATRICK BOWER (PTY) LTD IN RESPECT OF PORTIONS 6 & 23 OF THE FARM GROENVLEI 353JT AND PORTION 12 OF THE FARM LAKENVALEI 355JT IN THE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT OF BELFAST, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE. REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF THE AFORESAID MINING RIGHT PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THIS APPEAL","publisher":{"name":"Centre for Environmental Rights","organization":"centre-for-environmental-rights"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2013-07-30","source_url":"https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BirdLife-s96-appeal-final.pdf?x21779","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"A notice of appeal submitted by BirdLife South Africa to the Minister of Mineral Resources on 30 July 2013, challenging the Director-General's decision to grant a mining right (MP 30/5/1/2/2/505 MR) to William Patrick Bower (Pty) Ltd for coal mining in the Belfast district of Mpumalanga Province.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#summary","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},"key_insights":[{"text":"BirdLife South Africa appeals the grant of a mining right to William Patrick Bower (Pty) Ltd for portions 6 and 23 of the farm Groenvlei 353 JT and portion 12 of the farm Lakenvalei 355JT, arguing the decision violates constitutional and statutory requirements for co-operative governance and environmental protection.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal asserts that the mining right was granted despite the area being part of the Steenkampsberg Wet Grasslands, which the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) had proposed for protection under section 49 of the MPRDA to prohibit new mining rights.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The properties are located within the Steenkampsberg Important Bird Area (IBA SA016), ranked as the second most important IBA in Mpumalanga, providing critical habitat for 13 Red Data bird species, including the Critically Endangered Wattled Crane and White-Winged Flufftail.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal highlights significant risks to water resources, noting that the proposed opencast mine is adjacent to wetlands and could lead to Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), groundwater contamination, and the lowering of the groundwater table.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"BirdLife argues that the Director-General ignored the precautionary principle and the specific needs of sensitive ecosystems, as the Environmental Report's mitigation measures only reduced impacts to \"moderate to medium-high,\" which is deemed unacceptable for this irreplaceable biodiversity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The document identifies the area as a high water yield and high groundwater recharge area, where subsurface water resources are believed to sustain coastal aquifers over 100km away.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The eMakhazeni Local Municipality Environmental Management Framework (EMF) identifies the area between Belfast and Dullstroom as appropriate for conservation and tourism, explicitly stating that mining is not an appropriate land use.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal includes a request for condonation for late filing, explaining that BirdLife was misled by a letter from the Mpumalanga Regional Manager suggesting the Minister, rather than the Director-General, had granted the right, which would have precluded a section 96 appeal.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000555#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-08-17"}],"climate_tags":["biodiversity loss","water resources","wetlands","mining impacts","environmental legislation"],"geography_discussed":["Dullstroom","Emakhazeni Local Municipality","Steenkampsberg","Lakenvlei"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["legal appeal","environmental impact assessment review"]},{"id":"cer-000250","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cer-000250","title":"5-f4c76b48d4628256.pdf","publisher":{"name":"Centre for Environmental Rights","organization":"centre-for-environmental-rights"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":null,"source_url":"https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/5.pdf?x21779","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"This report identifies and maps National Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) across South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland, defining them as areas that supply a disproportionate amount of mean annual runoff relative to their land area. The document evaluates the ecological condition, protection levels, and threats to these areas—including land cover modification and mining—while also providing an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine in Mpumalanga.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#summary","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland occupy approximately 8% of the land surface area but contribute 50% of the region's mean annual runoff.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Of the SWSAs in South Africa, only 16% have legal protection. The Western Cape province has the highest protection level at 57%, while other provinces like Limpopo have only 12%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Land cover modification in SWSAs is significant in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo, where nearly half of the land is no longer in a natural condition. Plantation forestry and cultivation are the primary drivers of this modification.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"While only 0.5% of SWSAs nationally overlap with coal fields, specific areas like the Mfolozi Headwaters and Phongola Drakensberg show a spatial overlap of over 30%, making them highly vulnerable to mining.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The proposed Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine in Mpumalanga is located in a biodiversity-sensitive area. The 'Best Environmental Option' for the project reduces the surface footprint to 22.4 ha and eliminates the discard dump to minimize impacts on wetlands and groundwater.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Dewatering activities at the Yzermyn mine are predicted to lower groundwater levels by up to 10m in the shallow aquifer and up to 55m in the deeper aquifer, which may dry up fountains and reduce seepage to wetlands.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The Yzermyn mine is expected to have a positive economic impact, with total local income from direct employment estimated at 1.45 billion Rands over the life of the mine.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-000250#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-08-17"}],"climate_tags":["water security","ecological infrastructure","mining impacts","land use change","groundwater management"],"geography_discussed":["Mpumalanga","KwaZulu-Natal","Limpopo","Western Cape","Eastern Cape","Free State"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["Spatial Analysis","Hydrological Modeling","Environmental Impact Assessment"]},{"id":"cer-001221","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cer-001221","title":"notice-of-appeal-s149-nwa-_-served-and-filed-bdaaed071241cfdd.pdf","publisher":{"name":"Centre for Environmental Rights","organization":"centre-for-environmental-rights"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":null,"source_url":"https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Notice-of-appeal-s149-NWA-_-served-and-filed.pdf?x21779","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"This document is a Notice of Appeal filed in the High Court of South Africa by the Endangered Wild Federation and the Federation for a Sustainable Environment. The appellants challenge a May 22, 2018, decision by the Water Tribunal regarding a water use licence granted to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd. The appeal is based on eleven grounds, primarily arguing that the Water Tribunal ignored critical environmental data, failed to apply the precautionary principle, and overlooked jurisdictional requirements regarding landowner consent and financial security for post-closure water treatment.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#summary","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The appellants argue that the Water Tribunal erred by dismissing reports from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) from 2013 and 2018 as irrelevant. These reports identified the mine area as falling within the Enkangala Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area, which is critical for national water and economic security.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal claims the Water Tribunal failed to give effect to the National Water Resource Strategy, 2013, by incorrectly treating it as a draft and ignoring its recognition of Strategic Water Source Areas as vital for water security.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appellants contend that the Water Tribunal ignored the mine area's status as part of a River Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area, as published in August 2011 by the Departments of Water Affairs and Environmental Affairs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal asserts that the Water Tribunal failed to apply the precautionary principle under section 2(4)(a)(vii) of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), despite acknowledging a high risk of post-closure water contamination and irreversible environmental impacts.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appellants argue that the water use licence is legally insufficient for post-closure water treatment because it is only valid for 15 years, and the National Water Act (NWA) does not allow the responsible authority to extend the licence period during a review.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal challenges the granting of the licence on the basis that section 24 of the NWA requires landowner consent or 'good reason' to use underground water on land not owned by the applicant, which the appellants claim was not satisfied.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appellants argue the Water Tribunal erred by placing the burden of proof for socio-economic impacts and scientific studies on the appellants rather than on the applicant, Atha-Africa Ventures.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The appeal claims the Water Tribunal unlawfully abdicated its power by delegating the assessment of financial security for post-closure treatment to the First Respondent (Department of Water and Sanitation) rather than making the determination itself.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001221#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-08-17"}],"climate_tags":["water security","environmental regulation","mining impacts","biodiversity protection","precautionary principle"],"geography_discussed":["Mpumalanga"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["legal appeal","regulatory challenge"]}]}