{
  "id": 15657485,
  "title": "Batteries help reduce emissions, but how do we reduce their emissions?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/batteries-help-reduce-emissions-but-how-do-we-reduce-their-emissions-15657485",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-19T20:03:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/10/batteries-have-a-small-carbon-footprint-we-can-make-it-smaller/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The energy transition is reliant on electrifying various applications such as vehicles and heating, ensuring the electricity powering them is derived from renewable sources. As the most significant contributors to emissions diminish, secondary sectors with less potential to curb emissions take precedence. A recent study by Haiwei Zhou from the University of Melbourne delves into the emissions linked with producing lithium-ion batteries, a crucial component of the energy transition. These emissions are not negligible, and as the utilization of batteries expands, so too will their carbon footprint. Currently, the researchers posit that these emissions constitute a mere 0.18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet this figure could surge by a factor of 10 or more by 2050. Reducing emissions during production entails several approaches. The mining and refining of specific elements employed in diverse lithium-ion battery chemistries prove more energy-intensive than others. The manufacturing process involves numerous energy-intensive stages that could be optimized. Additionally, recycling presents a viable solution, enabling the reuse of battery materials while consuming significantly less energy than mining.",
  "summary": "One way to make batteries cleaner is to make fewer of them.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica Science",
        "title": "Batteries help reduce emissions, but how do we reduce their emissions?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/batteries-help-reduce-emissions-but-how-do-we-reduce-their-emissions",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:03:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}