How to secure a sustainable lithium supply chain for electric vehicles?

May 29, 20231 min read

The World Bank’s Climate-Smart Mining Initiative just launched an interactive digital platform, the Climate Mineral Explorer (CME), that measures the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of critical minerals across supply chains, from extraction to end-use.

In its initial phase, the CME focuses on lithium, a silvery-white metal key to producing lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs). Estimates show that 70% of new vehicles will be EVs by 2040, boosting demand for lithium. While countries with lithium resources can benefit, they need to ensure that production is done sustainably and responsibly, in line with goals to decarbonize the transport sector and accelerate the clean energy transition.

By comparing global lithium supply chain routes for electric vehicles, the CME helps determine options for reducing GHG emissions and energy use.

The platform maps out all stages in the lithium supply chain, from extraction and processing to battery manufacturing and vehicle processing—all the way to the end consumer market—and estimates the carbon footprint generated.