The Andean zinc rush: Green extractivism and climate vulnerabilities in the Peruvian highland waterscapes
Open accessAbstract
Zinc is a green mineral that is increasingly required for manufacturing low-carbon technology. This demand has been promoted mainly by the Global North-led green policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, simultaneously expanding zinc mining risks further entrenching climate threats in fragile socio-ecological environments such as the Peruvian highlands. This article analyses the linkages between the accelerated green extractivism of zinc and its associated climate-related vulnerabilities in the Cunas watershed in the Central highlands of Peru. The study draws on ethnographic-oriented fieldwork in the area in 2019, and 2022 and a review of policy documents on climate mitigation and zinc mining in Peru. The analysis particularly focuses on the recently reopened Azulcocha zinc mine and its intertwined socio-ecological effects on the local waterscapes amid climate change. The analysis draws the theoretical approaches of the political ecology of green extractivism and vulnerability to disentangle the multi-scalar power dynamics embedded in the global low-carbon transition and green extractivism and how these shape climate-related vulnerabilities. The study shows that with the impacts of climate change, accelerated extractivism risks (re)producing multiple vulnerabilities in the Andean highland communities. The findings highlight the urgent need to rethink the global climate proposals in such a way that they do not deepen climate damage in the already marginalize…
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Peruvian mining policies, actions, and discourses are intertwined with the global extractive apparatus and its power dynamics, perpetuating contradictions inherent in green extractivism.
“Employing the concept of indirect green extractivism, the article further demonstrates how Peruvian mining policies, actions, and discourses are intertwined with the global extractive apparatus and its power dynamics, perpetuating the contradictions inherent in green extractivism.”
From The political ecologies of "green" extractivism(s): An introduction (2024) · cites this paper as Heikkinen (2024, this Section)
Zinc and other transition minerals are crucial raw materials for wind turbines, solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, electric cars, and other technologies positioned as central for mitigating climate crisis.
“Heikkinen underscores how zinc, alongside other 'transition minerals,' are crucial raw materials for wind turbines, solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, electric cars and other technologies positioned as central for mitigating the ongoing climate crisis.”
From The political ecologies of "green" extractivism(s): An introduction (2024) · cites this paper as Heikkinen (2024, this Section)
Expansion of zinc mining in the Peruvian highlands exacerbates climate vulnerabilities.
“Anna Heikkinen (2024, this Section) contends that the expansion of zinc mining in the Peruvian highlands exacerbates climate vulnerabilities.”
From The political ecologies of "green" extractivism(s): An introduction (2024) · cites this paper as Heikkinen (2024, this Section)
Extraction of minerals to combat climate change exacerbates climate-related risks for marginalized populations in the Peruvian highlands by degrading sensitive ecosystems and undermining local livelihoods.
“This has led to the paradoxical situation that the extraction of minerals to combat climate change exacerbates climate-related risks for marginalized populations in the Peruvian highlands by degrading sensitive ecosystems and undermining local livelihoods.”
From The political ecologies of "green" extractivism(s): An introduction (2024) · cites this paper as Heikkinen (2024, this Section)
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The political ecologies of "green" extractivism(s): An introduction
Dunlap, A., Verweijen, J., & Tornel, C. (2024) · Journal of Political Ecology · doi:10.2458/jpe.6131 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
- Authors
- Heikkinen, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Heikkinen, Anna
- ORCID
- Heikkinen, Anna
- Venue
- Journal of Political Ecology
- Publisher
- University of Arizona
- Published
- 2024-03-31
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 1073-0451 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4392437067
- Cited by
- 4
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 2.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Political Ecology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Extractivism and Socioeconomic Issues
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Mining and Resource Management
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Water Governance and Infrastructure
- Keywords
- green extractivism, zinc mining, climate change vulnerability, Peruvian highlands, Andes, low-carbon transition, green policy, water landscapes, political ecology, climate change mitigation, social-ecological systems, marginalized communities
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