Dealing with net zero's mining dilemma

ESG concerns about metals

How miners manage the social, political, and environmental risks of their operations will be crucial to the industry’s ability to deliver metals the world needs for a net-zero transition.

Few details have emerged of Tesla's recently reported $5bn agreement to buy nickel from Indonesia. But that such a deal has happened at all tells us something important.   Among a number of environmental problems, Indonesia's nickel production at worst creates almost three times as much carbon dioxide per tonne as the global average. It is likely that Tesla is buying the country's lower-carbon nickel but the footprint remains significant for a company that prides itself on its green credentials. However, Tesla also needs to secure a long-term supply of the metal for its batteries, and...