The rapid expansion of global value chains for batteries and EVs has led to growing conflicts over the social, economic, and ecological impacts of lithium extraction on land, water, health, and livelihood. Governments in lithium-bearing regions have struggled to regulate the ecological and socio-economic costs and benefits of lithium extraction, shifting the burden of mitigating the global climate crisis to local ecosystems and affected communities.

This roundtable shares the early findings of a 5-year SSHRC-funded study (www.lithiumfrontiers.com) which explores the politics of lithium extraction in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, and Chile. Specifically, it discusses the mobilization of political actors and interests in a context of competing claims over the development of lithium-based derivatives.

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