Are electric cars really better for the environment?

Electric cars are better than fossil fuels, despite the mineral problem ...  The Washington Post

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Sep 20, 2023 - 10:00
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Are electric cars really better for the environment?

The Sustainable Development Goals and the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles

The Toll of Battery Materials

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been praised for their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. However, the production of EVs involves mining and processing minerals, which can have negative environmental and social impacts. The extraction of minerals like lithium, cobalt, bauxite, and others has been linked to human rights abuses and environmental degradation.

  • EVs require significant amounts of minerals for their battery packs.
  • Compared to conventional vehicles, EVs require six times more minerals.
  • Global EV sales are predicted to surpass gas-vehicle sales in the coming years.

Oil Extraction Dwarfs Mining

While the mining of minerals for EVs is significant, it pales in comparison to the extraction of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal.

  • In 2020, clean-energy infrastructure required 7 million tons of minerals, while fossil fuel extraction amounted to 15 billion metric tons.
  • Even in a scenario limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, the amount of critical minerals needed would be roughly 500 times less than fossil fuel extraction.

Climate Impact of Clean-Energy Minerals

Despite the environmental impact of mining minerals for EVs, they still emit fewer emissions per mile than gasoline vehicles. As the electricity sector decarbonizes and battery manufacturing becomes more efficient, the emissions gap between EVs and conventional vehicles will continue to widen.

  • EVs already emit less than a third of the emissions per mile compared to gasoline vehicles.
  • Accounting for emissions from mining and manufacturing, fossil fuel vehicles generate roughly twice the emissions of an EV.

A Cleaner Future for EVs?

Efforts are being made to clean up the mineral supply chain for EVs and reduce their environmental impact.

  • The Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes automakers to use mineral supply chains in countries with close trade relations.
  • Mining companies are being pushed to adopt more transparent and sustainable practices.
  • New technologies are being developed to replace minerals like cobalt and nickel with safer and more abundant alternatives.
  • Recycling of EV batteries is expected to increase, reducing the demand for new minerals.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article:

  1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
    • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
      • Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
  2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
    • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
      • Indicator 12.2.1: Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
  3. SDG 13: Climate Action
    • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
      • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
    • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
      • Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer
  4. SDG 15: Life on Land
    • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services
      • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area
  5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
    • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
      • Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms

Explanation:

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy is addressed in the article as it discusses the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as a means to achieve clean energy. The article highlights the environmental benefits of EVs compared to fossil fuel engines.

2. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix can be identified based on the article’s content. The article emphasizes the need for EVs to avoid repeating the mistakes of the first Industrial Revolution and embrace cleaner ways to obtain the minerals needed for their batteries.

3. Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption can be used to measure progress towards Target 7.2. This indicator measures the proportion of renewable energy sources in the overall energy consumption.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production is relevant to the issues discussed in the article as it addresses the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The article highlights the need to clean up the mineral supply chain for batteries and improve transparency in the mining industry.

5. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources can be identified based on the article’s content. The article emphasizes the importance of cleaner ways to obtain minerals for EV batteries and the need for mining companies to clean up their act.

6. Indicator 12.2.1: Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP can be used to measure progress towards Target 12.2. This indicator measures the amount of material used in production and consumption, taking into account population and economic factors.

7. SDG 13: Climate Action is addressed in the article as it discusses the climate and environmental benefits of EVs compared to fossil fuel engines. The article highlights the lower emissions and air pollution associated with EVs.

8. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters can be identified based on the article’s content. The article mentions the decrease in air pollution and the potential for reducing emissions through the transition to clean energy technologies like EVs.

9. Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population can be used to measure progress towards Target 13.1. This indicator measures the impact of climate-related hazards and natural disasters on human populations.

10. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning can be identified based on the article’s content. The article mentions the need to integrate clean energy measures into national policies and planning to achieve climate goals.

11. Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer can be used to measure progress towards Target 13.2. This indicator measures the extent to which countries are taking action to address climate change through capacity-building and technology transfer.

12. SDG 15: Life on Land is relevant to the issues discussed in the article as it addresses the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The article mentions the environmental and social problems associated with mining for minerals used in EV batteries.

13. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services can be identified based on the article’s content. The article highlights the need to address the environmental and social impacts of mining for minerals used in EV batteries.

14. Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.1. This indicator measures the extent of forest conservation and restoration efforts.

15. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions is relevant to the issues discussed in the article as it addresses equal access to justice and the rule of law. The article mentions the social problems associated with mining for minerals used in EV batteries.

16. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all can be identified based on the article’s content. The article highlights the need for mining companies to clean up their act and improve transparency in the supply chain.

17. Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: washingtonpost.com

 

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