Lithium mining in South America’s triangle puts communities and environment at risk

Global demand for electric‑vehicle batteries and renewable energy is driving a rush to mine lithium across Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, collectively known as the “lithium triangle.” This surge in extraction is putting local communities, particularly Indigenous populations, at risk by intensifying environmental degradation and undermining their human rights. The study highlights issues such as limited consultation with affected communities, threats to water resources, and a growing pattern of coercive or repressive state actions. It warns that the transition to cleaner energy, if unregulated, may perpetuate injustices rather than resolve them.

Source: adapted from FIDH, August 2025.