Mining energy transition minerals threatens conservation and traditional peoples of the Brazilian Amazon

To meet the growing global demand for minerals required to develop low-carbon energy technologies, new mining areas may expand into important tropical ecosystems. Through spatial analysis, we assessed the extent of potential impact from future mining expansion on biodiverse areas and territories of traditional peoples in the Brazilian Amazon. We analysed both direct and indirect effects from potential extraction of mapped deposits, requests for mining and mining leases for energy transition minerals. Our results show that current and potential future mining in the Brazilian Amazon threatens conservation of about 363,000 km 2 of protected areas in the region, which consist mainly of forests and shelter about 195,000 traditional people, including indigenous and quilombola communities. In a context of weakening environmental regulations and policies promoting mining expansion in Brazil, our findings support decision making and policy strategies to minimize impacts of mining expansion in sensitive areas of the world's largest tropical forest. • Numerous energy transition minerals are near protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon. • Nearly half of indigenous peoples live up to 50 km of an energy transition mineral. • Forests and traditional communities are threatened by potential mining expansion. • Strategic assessments and indirect impacts should be integrated into mining plans.