Critical mineral mining boom puts Africa’s great apes at risk: A third of the great apes in Africa are under threat due to a surge in mining activities for minerals needed for the renewable energy transition which is destroying tropical rainforests, according to a study published in Science Advances. About 180k apes, including gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees, are in danger due to increased mining for critical minerals like copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which are crucial for technologies like wind turbines and EVs.

Going green should not be at the expense of biodiversity: Pollution, disease, and increased accessibility to ape habitats for hunters and farmers are other detrimental results of the mining boom. “A shift away from fossil fuels is good for the climate but must be done in a way that does not jeopardize biodiversity,” lead researcher Jessica Junker from the non-profit conservation organization Re:wild told The Guardian. “In its current iteration it may even be going against the very environmental goals we’re aiming for … It is crucial for everyone to adopt a mindset of reduced consumption,” she said.

ICYMI- Climate-related loss can cause generational trauma in apes: Great apes — which share nearly 99% of their DNA with humans — are now at risk of developing generational trauma due to the effects of climate change. The greatest danger to apes is being physically broken up. Isolation and the loss of older members breaks down the entire group’s resilience, leading to potential generational trauma the longer extreme climate events last.

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