The race to mine critical minerals for AI and clean energy is creating ‘sacrifice zones’ that harm water and health of world’s poor

The rapid expansion of critical mineral extraction is trading away human and ecological well-being for technological breakthroughs. There are ways to fix this.

By: Abraham Nunbogu, United Nations University and Kaveh Madani, United Nations University; Yale University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 29, 2026

Words: 1,394

Last Updated: 3 months ago

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By Abraham Nunbogu, United Nations University and Kaveh Madani, United Nations University; Yale University

There is a troubling contradiction at the heart of the global transition to a cleaner, greener, tech-driven future: Modern technologies – everything from AI to wind turbines, as well as cellphones, electric vehicles and defense systems – depend on critical minerals. But many of the communities where those minerals are mined end up with polluted water and poorer …

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