New Constitution Could Help Chile Avert the Lithium Curse

Dec 3, 2020 | Matthew Gallagher
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Chile is on the cusp of a new era. Just as its lithium—a common element of energy storage technology, which is itself a critical component of the clean energy transition—is experiencing a rise in global market demand, Chilean citizens have called for a new constitution.

As Chile plans its future, whether or not it manages its lithium resources with keen sensitivity to local conditions could affect not only the sector’s sustainability but also the country’s national security and international standing for years to come. The forthcoming Chilean constitution, slated to be fully drafted by early 2022, could shape the country’s resource governance overall. Its authors would do well to plant the seeds of environmental democracy and consultative resource management in the country’s new charter.