Revealing Hidden Biodiversity Footprints Embedded in Global Mining Supply Chains

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Environmental Science
• Environmental Economics
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Global mining expansion, driven by digitalization and energy transition, increases land-use pressure and biodiversity loss.
• Current assessments of mining's biodiversity impacts and supply chain tracing are limited.
• Trade-offs between resource extraction and conservation are intensifying.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a spatially explicit framework linking local biodiversity intactness loss to global potential species loss.
• To trace consumption-driven biodiversity impacts along global mining supply chains using a multiregional input-output model.
• To enhance transparency in mining supply chains and support conservation efforts.

Main Methods:

• Developed a spatially explicit assessment framework connecting local biodiversity intactness (mean species abundance) to global potential species loss.
• Coupled this framework with a multiregional input-output model to trace consumption-driven impacts.
• Analyzed land-use impacts and traced them through global mining supply chains.

Main Results:

• Biodiversity loss from global mining land use is nearly double previous estimates.
• Indonesia, New Caledonia, Australia, Brazil, and Peru are hotspots, accounting for 57% of impacts.
• Coal, precious metals, nickel, iron, and copper are major contributors (82% of impact).
• 77% of biodiversity footprints occur outside consuming nations, with significant demand from China, Europe, Japan, and the US (58% of total).

Conclusions:

• The study provides a transparent assessment of biodiversity impacts within global mining supply chains.
• Results highlight critical regions and commodities for targeted biodiversity conservation.
• Findings support improved supply chain governance to mitigate environmental footprints.