A new global modeling study highlights the tension between the rising demand for nickel in clean energy technologies and the protection of tropical biodiversity. Much of the world's nickel comes from laterite deposits in the tropics, where open-pit mining leads to significant deforestation and loss of critical carbon sinks. Researchers find that meeting international decarbonization pledges could require a massive increase in ore production, potentially threatening priority conservation areas. The study suggests that without stricter sourcing standards and recycling improvements, the push for green energy may inadvertently accelerate habitat loss in biodiversity hotspots.
