Thankfully, these technologies are constantly improving as well as becoming cheaper.
Wind turbines neediron and zincfor the corrosion-proof steel and motors needed to capture energy from the wind.
Instead, most will have to come from mining.
Making a global switch to EVs, for example, may meandamaging forest ecosystemsto access lithium or cobalt.
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One major trade-off is the environmental damage associated withmining and refiningmaterials.
An example isaluminium, vital for making solar panel frames.
Theres potential to cut these emissions significantly, however.
Brine extraction has uncertain consequences.
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Difficulties with sourcing these materials are not limited to the emissions they create.
Cobalt, another vital material used in EV batteries, is mostly mined in theDemocratic Republic of Congo.
They do, however, justifycloser focuson how the materials needed to make eco-friendlier tech are sourced.
Improving recycling of old products and scrap materials is a crucial part of this.
Shifting away from private transport by investing in public transport will also help to cut mining demand.
Without such action, achieving a truly sustainablelow-carbon transitionwill be impossible.
