Chile’s rapidly expanding lithium industry has put the nation squarely at the center of the global discussion. This discussion prioritizes environmental sustainability and the long-term benefit of local communities. Chile is currently the world’s second-largest lithium producer, after Australia. In the next few years, it’s poised to almost double its output. These ecological and social tolls have sparked protests across the world. These expansions raise urgent questions regarding the ecological and social impacts of lithium mining. The Salar de Atacama sits at the center of these debates.
The Salar de Atacama is the largest salt flat in Chile, and one of the biggest ones on earth. It showcases the sometimes paradoxical and intricate connection between resource extraction, community wellness and environmental preservation. Lithium can be extracted through a method of mining that requires pumping lithium-rich brine from underneath these salt flats to evaporation pools on the surface. Though economically advantageous, this process risks draining already over-allocated freshwater resources that are necessary to sustain local communities, not to mention ecosystems.
When Chile’s government released its National Lithium Strategy in 2023 to accelerate production with bold goals. Though Marcel warned of “over dependence,” he estimated that lithium production could jump 70% by 2030. Between now and 2040, some projections indicate that lithium production will increase to more than 900,000 tonnes per year. The leap in home production mirrors a global trend. From 95,000 tonnes of lithium consumption in 2021, consumption is estimated to more than double by 2024, to 205,000 tonnes.
It’s no wonder that local communities are sounding the alarm on the effects of this dangerous and unnecessary expansion. Sergio Cubillos, president of the Peine community association, challenged authorities on the sudden transformations of his community. Water shortfalls as a result of lithium extraction have already devastated their traditional lifestyle. “We have been forced to change the entire drinking water system, electrical system, and water treatment system,” he stated.
Climate justice activist Raquel Celina Rodriguez works in the Atacama salt flats. She knows firsthand the score, looking back at how her life has and continues to change in pretty extreme ways. “I think for the cities maybe lithium is good,” she said. “It harms us. We don’t have the life we lived before here.” Her sentiments echo the broader frustration felt by many residents who feel disconnected from decisions made far away in the capital city of Santiago.
Faviola, also a community member, spoke about how lithium mining would affect their culture and the resources they have cultivated for generations. “Who are the electric cars going to be for? Europeans, Americans, not us. Our carbon footprint is much smaller,” she lamented. She further emphasized the environmental toll by saying, “It’s our water that’s being taken. Our sacred birds that are disappearing.”
The conflict between pursuing economic development and being a good environmental steward is real. Local academics like Professor Stegen have noted that many decisions regarding mining operations are made without adequate consultation with indigenous communities. “Decisions are made in Santiago, in the capital, very far from here,” he remarked.
Critics of the Keller amendment counter that mining companies consistently and misleadingly promise jobs and economic prosperity. Yet these benefits frequently conflict with the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. “The jobs are not the be all and end all for what these communities want,” noted an anonymous source familiar with local sentiments. From this view it seems that a large number of indigenous peoples would rather protect their established traditional economies than benefit financially in the short term.
Sara Plaza’s family, who reside in the Peine community, echoed these concerns with a tearful reflection on their future. The time will come when these salt flats will no longer yield lithium. Mining will end. And what is everyone supposed to do around here? Without water, without agriculture. What are they going to eat?” she said forcefully. Plaza expressed a preference for a sustainable lifestyle over monetary compensation: The companies pay off the community upfront, but I would rather see no payment. I would like to help nature take over, and have water in order to survive.
SQM, a leading Chilean firm in lithium extraction, claims to be actively engaging with local communities to address their needs and concerns. SQM’s Deputy Manager of Sustainability, Valentín Barrera, announced that they are on the front foot with communities by first ensuring … Their goal is to make sure that these communities’ voices are heard in the decision-making process.
For many residents, skepticism continues as they continue to feel their community’s concerns get pushed aside for the benefit of big corporations. For hundreds of locals, the opportunity could come at the cost of their livelihoods and hope for a better future. With continued sustainable development at stake, policymakers and industry leaders are at a critical crossroads. They need to be a lot more thoughtful about the long-term impacts of their decisions.
Chile is trying to determine its role in the rapidly evolving global lithium market. This vital resource that helps to fuel our electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage has local communities stuck holding the bag. The situation in the Salar de Atacama exemplifies a larger dilemma faced by resource-rich regions worldwide: how to harness natural resources responsibly while protecting both environmental integrity and community livelihoods.