The shift toward sustainable energy depends on expanded mineral extraction and additional non-fossil electricity generation, including hydroelectric power. The same transition also requires new infrastructure such as a global fleet of electric vehicles, alongside wind and solar farms. These developments have increased demand for critical and strategic metals.
Many mineral-rich countries are promoting new mines as part of efforts to secure stable metal supplies within a complex geopolitical environment. In Canada and Québec, proposed or operating mines are frequently located in the Canadian Shield, with projects extending into the Far North. Those northern regions are already susceptible to climate change.
Rare-earth mining projects in northern regions
Several rare-earth element mining projects are being explored in northern areas. The first operational mine for these metals began production in 2021 near Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. Similar projects are described as emerging in Nunavik.
The environmental pathways from these mines can include materials released through tailings or metals transported via atmospheric deposition. In aquatic ecosystems, this can introduce a mix of metals rather than only the rare-earth elements targeted by operators. The source notes that concern often extends beyond the primary metal of interest.
Alongside rare-earth elements, other metals can be extracted inadvertently, including radioactive uranium and thorium. The presence of these additional substances is highlighted as a factor relevant to aquatic contamination risks. The text links these concerns to potential effects on lakes and rivers.
Ecotoxicology data gaps and early monitoring approaches
A key challenge identified is the lack of comprehensive data on the ecotoxicology of these metals. The absence of such information complicates efforts to establish water quality criteria for aquatic environments. Researchers described in the text are working to generate toxicological data needed for that purpose.
The work is carried out by professors of biological sciences at Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal, alongside experts in water quality. In a recent study, they measured naturally occurring concentrations of rare-earth elements in both water and animals. The aim was to understand potential impacts associated with new mines.
The researchers are also developing early detection tools for monitoring environmental impacts from critical and strategic metals. Aquatic insect larvae and zooplankton are used as indicators for rare-earth elements in the environment. Their research indicates that the free ionic form of a metal often best explains accumulation in animals.
The same findings emphasize that competing ions in solution can affect metal uptake at biological entry points, including gills of invertebrates. The text states that results are intended to help governmental agencies predict effects of future discharges of these contaminants. It frames the monitoring approach as a way to anticipate impacts before they occur at larger scale.
Hydropower construction, methylmercury formation, and food web effects
The energy transition also depends on electricity from non-fossil sources, with hydroelectricity presented as a common option. Building new power stations on rivers can alter hydrological regimes and biodiversity. The text also links hydropower development to methylmercury production.
Methylmercury is described as a neurotoxin generated by microbes in low-oxygen environments. Examples given include land flooded by dams and sediments at the bottom of reservoirs. These conditions support microbial processes that lead to toxin formation.
Research cited in the text indicates that even small hydroelectric stations, including run-of-the-river plants, can cause temporary increases in methylmercury levels within food webs. Those changes can affect large predatory fish and their consumers, including fish-eating birds and humans. The text also notes that small hydro plants account for over 90% of the world’s power plants.
Despite their size, the cumulative environmental impact of small hydro plants could surpass that of larger reservoir plants, according to the source material. It further states that upstream land disturbances such as forest fires and logging can exacerbate neurotoxin production by increasing transfer of mercury and organic matter to rivers.
Collaborative research with First Peoples communities
The source material states that many mines and power stations are located on Indigenous lands. It describes trust-building and communication with communities living there as crucial for research activities connected to environmental impacts. Collaborative projects are described as involving First Peoples’ communities, industry, and universities.
These projects prioritize community research interests so that results are provided directly to communities and support knowledge transfer. One mechanism mentioned is educational initiatives such as knowledge camps for young people. In those settings, participants engage in scientific activities with research teams while learning traditional knowledge from Elders.
The text describes an approach intended to conduct inclusive research monitoring impacts of the energy transition on lakes and rivers. It frames collaboration among communities, industry, and governments as part of how monitoring is carried out across affected areas. The focus remains on tracking environmental effects tied to mining and hydropower development.