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Future water constraints on United States lithium mining under climate change
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DOI：10.1038/s43247-026-03643-4.png)
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Abstract
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Lithium is necessary for low-carbon technologies that combat climate change, but lithium extraction is water-intensive. Changes in temperature and precipitation arising from climate change are altering water distribution, which could further strain supplies for new mines and industry, farms, and households. Here we explored how climate change, water use, and mining siting could impact lithium mining in the United States. We analyzed whether there would be sufficient water available to support the single existing and 22 proposed U.S. lithium mines at mid-century under four socioeconomic-climate scenarios and five climate models. Though dependent on socioeconomic-climate scenario, climate model, and lithium deposit type, available water supply in most subbasins would likely be unable to support new mines’ water demands, or even non-mining water demands from other sectors. Water scarcity could hinder the ability of the United States to produce enough lithium to meet domestic demand thereby necessitating higher imports. United States domestic lithium production is likely to be limited by water scarcity in the future, which could make the United States more reliant on imports, suggests an analysis of water use, climate change and mining sites based on five climate models and four socioeconomic climate scenarios.
Keywords:
lithium mining
water scarcity
climate change
mining siting
socioeconomic scenarios
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