The Vega de Tilopozo in Chile's Atacama salt flats is suffering from severe drought, affecting the local ecosystem and livelihoods. Raquel Celina Rodriguez laments the loss of greenery and the challenges facing her family's traditional sheep farming due to climate change and water extraction by lithium companies. The Atacama region holds the largest lithium reserves globally, essential for batteries powering renewable technologies. As demand for lithium for electric vehicles continues to grow, Chile's government has initiated a National Lithium Strategy to boost production, which may further strain local environmental conditions and resources.
Raquel Celina Rodriguez observes that the once lush Vega de Tilopozo is now dry, highlighting the stark impact of climate change on the region's landscape and ecology.
The Atacama Desert houses the world's largest lithium reserves. As global lithium demand, particularly for electric vehicle batteries, skyrockets, environmental issues are intensifying.
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