Sustainable energy futures require billions of tonnes of minerals to be mined across the globe. Metals like copper, lithium, nickel and cobalt must come from somewhere, and at some cost.
Our group combines expertise in remote sensing, GIS, geosciences, environmental engineering, and human and physical geography to explore the human and environmental impacts and risks of mining and energy transitions. Our research spans historical legacies and the modelling of long-term future risks. We cover local- to global-scale effects of mining fossil fuels and metals, and the assessment of renewable energy networks and policy.
Projects and capabilities
Global-scale remote sensing of mining impacts and risks
We use satellite data to map the footprints of energy transition mines at regional to global scales. We perform complex geospatial analyses to examine the intersections between mining, people and the environment across the globe.
Climate change risks on critical mineral supplies
This project evaluates the risks posed by climate change to critical mineral production, considering impacts at both the mine site and supply chain levels. By analysing historical mining production and climate data, we quantify the impact of past climate hazards on mineral production. Network models are then developed to simulate mineral supply chains and identify climate-sensitive areas. Utilising downscaled CMIP6 climate models, we project the future impacts of climate hazards on critical mineral supply, assessing implications for global markets, supply stability, and the Energy Transition.
Mine dust production and potential for impacts on glaciers
This project investigates the impact of mining activities on glacial systems, highlighting a crucial yet often neglected aspect of human influence on the environment. We are exploring the role of mining dust deposition in accelerating glacier ablation using satellite and site-specific operational data. These findings will provide insights to support the development of climate-smart mining practices aiming to mitigate environmental impacts while ensuring sustainable resource use.
Tracking patterns of mine land transformation
We explore the relationship between the Land Transformation Factor (LTF) and ore production, offering a new perspective to understand the rapidly evolving mining landscape. Centred on Australia’s vast and dynamic mining sector, the research has three core objectives: developing a comprehensive geospatial database of mine sites using satellite imagery, forecasting future demand for critical minerals, and modelling the spatial growth of mine sites. By identifying areas most at risk of growth and examining the environmental challenges tied to that expansion, this work aims to provide actionable insights for more sustainable resource management.
Assessing Chinese state-owned mining enterprises and their global operations
This project explores China’s overseas foreign direct investment (OFDI) in the critical minerals sector, focusing on state-owned enterprises operating in Australia. The project examines how investment strategies are shaped by a mix of commercial goals, political priorities, and evolving global demand for minerals essential to the energy transition. Using a qualitative approach that includes interviewpolicy analysis, media review, and corporate document examination, the research sheds light on the complex dynamics of transnational resource governance and China’s expanding role in the global minerals supply chain.
Repurposing abandoned mines
We specialise in assessing abandoned mines for innovative repurposing, using big data analytics to guide sustainable transformation. By integrating multi-source data-including remote sensing imagery, historical records, geological data, environmental metrics, and socio-economic indicators, we develop models of mine site potential.
Beyond Hot Air
Funding: SSHRC, Canada, 2023-2025
The BhA project brings together numerous European and Oceanian researchers to assess the impacts of the rush for CRMs in Europe and the effects on the political ecology of affected regions of the new mining agenda. A comprehensive website contains numerous blogs, working papers, conference videos and articles.
Understanding social and cultural geographies of critical minerals
Critical minerals are crucial to the technologies powering a global energy transition. Through qualitative and ethnographic methods, we explore the social and cultural aspects of critical mineral extraction, highlighting the ways that extraction shapes and is shaped by development and justice issues, place and cultural landscapes, migration and mobility and policy and governance. Some specific interests include fly-in-fly-out labour, local level observations of mining-landscape change and social contracts between mining companies and communities.
Nickel mining and geopolitics in New Caledonia-Kanaky
With Matthias Kowasch, Sorbonne University, France & local partners.
Mining in NC-K has been integral to the economy and is highly politicised in this Pacific archipelago, which is still under French control.
Contact
For enquiries, please email Coordinator: Tim Werner - tim.werner@unimelb.edu.au
Banner image: Artwork by Ches Mills