Matching Items (2)
Description
Global transitioning towards battery-based clean energy and green technologies has rapidly accelerated demands for Lithium (Li) as one of the most important minerals. However, the social and ecological implications of the anticipated growth in mineral extractions have not been acknowledged or adequately studied. Therefore, using the telecoupling framework, this dissertation aims to systematically understand the linkages between globally increasing adoption of green technologies and the social-ecological impacts in Li-extracted places, in order to help identify potential mechanisms or solutions to address such consequences. This dissertation selects the Salar de Atacama in Chile as the study area to firstly provide a socio-environmental assessment to synthesize the interdependent relationship between Li-mining companies and host communities. Then, an agent-based model was developed to demonstrate future social-ecological implications in the mining area for various mining projections. Lastly, the perceptions of end-users of green-tech products (e.g., electric cars) were collected and studied as to the awareness of embodied mining impacts and how these impacts should be addressed. Results found that Li-mining operations and local communities are closely linked at both local and regional scales through the shared resource space, economic opportunities, and resource governance. The excessive groundwater consumption from mining drives the most sustainability concerns. Material uncertainties of groundwater were found to play a vital role in causing the mismatched evolution of environmental and social dynamics, thereby highlighting some governance challenges stemming from resource uncertainties. Meanwhile, among sampled end-users, tensions and conflicts are widely found between the imperative of energy transitions and the reality of adversity mining impacts, along with a general lack of awareness. Fortunately, most respondents recognized the complexity in the supply chain of EVs and the role of consumers in influencing its governance. Overall, this dissertation provides a benchmark of the social-environmental impacts of Li-mining in Salar de Atacama, along with suggestions for decision-makers and mining managers on improved mineral governance. It also highlights the need and urgency for a telecoupling view in sustainable mineral governance and suggests a shift in green-tech supply chain to include broader sustainable development goals and a global community of consumers, affected communities, and the general public.
ContributorsLiu, Wenjuan (Author) / Agusdinata, Datu Buyung DA (Thesis advisor) / Romero, Hugo HR (Committee member) / Eakin, Hallie HE (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
Description
Groundwater depletion is threatening the livelihoods and welfare of millions of people living in rural and urban areas worldwide. As had been the experience with many countries, aquifers in Iran have been rapidly depleted over the past decades. The Rafsanjan Plain, Iran (a global center for pistachio cultivation and production) is the study area for this dissertation. The Rafsanjan Plain exemplifies a region where a mismatch between ‘economy’ (socio-economic growth) and ‘ecology’ (water resources’ carrying capacity) has resulted in unsustainable development. Besides groundwater scarcity, Rafsanjani pistachio growers are currently dealing with other stressors, notably declining agricultural profitability.Using a social-psychological lens and employing both qualitative and quantitative social science research methods, I explored adaptation to groundwater scarcity among pistachio growers in Rafsanjan. Through adopting an integrated approach combining vulnerability and resilience frameworks, a theoretical framework was developed as a diagnostic tool for conceptualization and measurement of adaptation of a groundwater-dependent farmer to groundwater scarcity. The framework consists of five components: ‘Social-ecological stressors’(Stressor), ‘Groundwater-dependent livelihood system’(Livelihood), ‘Response options’, (Response) ‘Background variables’, and ‘Structural factors.’
While heterogeneity exists, the majority of pistachio growers’ perceptions and subjective norms on the Livelihood, Stressor, and Response components strongly favor the human element (short-term pistachio production) over the water element (groundwater conservation for future use). Based on the results from two path models, I also found that pistachio growers who had more pessimistic perceptions of the groundwater resources in Rafsanjan were more likely to increase groundwater extraction; however, these growers were also more likely to seek external employment (income diversification). In addition, a general structural equation model was developed to analyze socio-psychological factors that affect the intentions to adopt and the actual adoption of income diversification in response to groundwater scarcity. The developed model includes affective attitudes, instrumental attitudes, and self-efficacy. This model explains 55% and 36% of the variance in intentions to pursue and the actual pursuit of income diversification among farmers, respectively. Results of this dissertation can inform policies for conserving groundwater resources and maintaining pistachio growers’ livelihoods.
ContributorsHashemi, Seyyed Mahmoud (Author) / Kinzig, Ann APK (Thesis advisor) / Perrings, Charles CP (Committee member) / Abbott, Joshua JKA (Committee member) / Eakin, Hallie HE (Committee member) / Sedaghat, Reza RS (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021