A new study led by Japanese researchers from Tohoku University and National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) reveals that some of the minerals most essential for green technologies may have a significantly negative impact on biodiversity. Using remote sensing and machine learning, the scientists produced an unprecedented global map of mined commodities. Combining this map with public datasets on forest loss and species extinction risk, they then quantified how the extraction of these commodities is reshaping forests and biodiversity worldwide.

Analyzing approximately 70,000 mining sites across 20 commodities, the study found that mining activities caused the loss of 16,268 km² of forest between 2001 and 2022, an area roughly comparable to the size of Beijing, with the majority of that loss occurring in rainforests in the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and the Congo Basin.

"Advances in remote sensing and machine learning offer new opportunities for automated analysis of mining at a global scale. The transition to green technologies is driving demand for a different set of minerals, but there is insufficient data to fully understand the environmental implications," explained Keiichiro Kanemoto, an associate professor at Tohoku University and author of the study.

While the study shows that commodities such as gold and coal remain the largest drivers of deforestation, it reveals a different pattern when biodiversity is considered. Green energy minerals such as lithium show some of the highest biodiversity risks despite being associated with lower levels of forest loss. This contrast highlights a critical shift: while traditional mining has been defined by large-scale deforestation, the extraction of minerals central to the energy transition may exert subtle - but equally serious - pressures on ecologically sensitive habitats. For example, lithium extraction in salt-flat and wetland environments can disrupt fragile ecosystems and endanger species despite minimal visible deforestation.

Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are indispensable for technologies like electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage, yet their extraction can impose substantial environmental costs. The findings highlight the need to balance decarbonization goals with biodiversity protection, particularly as demand for these materials is expected to rise in the coming decades.

The resulting dataset offers valuable insights for policymakers and industry leaders. Governments can use the data to design targeted, commodity-specific environmental regulations, while companies can better anticipate policy shifts and assess risks within their supply chains. By identifying which commodities and regions carry the greatest environmental costs, the research supports more informed decision-making toward sustainable resource use.
Kanemoto said: "This study represents a major step forward in understanding the true global footprint of mining and demonstrates that the path to a greener future must also account for the hidden environmental costs of the materials that make it possible."

Details of the results were published in the journal Nature Communications on May 28, 2026.