Cutting battery demand could curb more emissions than cleaner production
A new study finds that reducing demand for lithium-ion batteries could cut more emissions than making each battery cleaner. The research matters because battery production emissions are expected to grow as electric vehicles and energy storage expand, even though they currently make up a small share of global emissions.
The study estimates battery production accounts for 0.18 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions and could rise at least tenfold by 2050. Cleaner production could avoid 3.5 to 4.7 billion tonnes of CO₂ between 2024 and 2050, while extending battery life, limiting vehicle battery size, sharing rides and reusing old batteries could avoid 6 to 7.2 billion tonnes. For comparison, fossil fuel burning produced about 38 billion tonnes in 2025.
- Battery production emissions could grow sharply by 2050.
- Cleaner production could save up to 4.7 billion tonnes of CO₂.
- Using fewer batteries could save up to 7.2 billion tonnes.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “Batteries help reduce emissions, but how do we reduce their emissions?”.