Developing a Framework for a Just Energy Transition:

Socio-Ecological Impacts of Lithium Extraction in the Bikita Mining Community, Zimbabwe.

The global push for renewable energy has significantly increased the demand for lithium primarily due to its critical role in energy storage technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries that drive clean energy transition. Zimbabwe, particularly the Bikita mining community, has emerged as a focal point for lithium extraction, raising concerns about the socio-ecological impacts of mining activities on local communities and ecosystems.

This study addresses the socio-ecological impacts of lithium mining in Bikita, assess the extent to which local communities are involved in decision-making processes, and propose a framework for a just energy transition that ensures equitable and sustainable outcomes. The theoretical framework for this study is grounded on the Ecological Modernization theoretical framework, which posits that economic development and environmental sustainability can be reconciled through technological innovation, regulatory measures, and shifts in social practices.

A mixed-methods approach was adopted, incorporating qualitative interviews with community members, local leaders, and industry stakeholders, as well as quantitative environmental and social assessments. Key findings reveal widespread land degradation, water scarcity, and environmental pollution, coupled with social challenges such as displacement and inadequate community consultation as a result of an injustice extraction process. While lithium mining offers economic opportunities, the benefits are unevenly distributed, leaving local communities with limited gains and significant adverse impacts.

The study recommends that a just energy transition in Bikita requires a multi-stakeholder approach that prioritizes local community engagement, equitable revenue sharing, and robust environmental safeguards in line with global energy transition goals, that fosters socio-ecological resilience and inclusive development in resource-rich and dependent communities.