A Just energy Transition: Between Global Demands and local challenges. A look at lithium extraction policies in Latin America

The transition to sustainable energy is crucial for addressing the global climate crisis and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This study critically examines lithium extraction policies in Latin America, a region vital for this strategic mineral. It contextualizes the issue within global capitalist consumption patterns that have depleted natural resources in the Global South. Despite technological progress, the shift to renewable energy remains tied to structural inequalities and geopolitical power dynamics. Through ethnographic fieldwork in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile in 2024, the research highlights the environmental, social, and sustainability challenges of lithium extraction. Findings show severe environmental impacts, such as water depletion and biodiversity loss, and social conflicts exacerbated by mining. The study contrasts the approaches of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile in managing lithium resources, underscoring the geopolitical tensions between national control and foreign investment. While Chile advances with foreign partnerships, Bolivia stresses state control, and Argentina faces fragmented provincial regulations. The article concludes that a just energy transition requires addressing global inequalities and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits and costs. It advocates for structural transformations towards sustainable and inclusive development models that respect ecological limits and social justice.