The water footprints of the global minerals trade: Why the ‘virtual water’ use hidden in supply chains is critical to sustainability

<jats:p>Water use in the production of minerals represents an underappreciated risk to national resilience in both producer and consumer countries. Unsustainable water practices can cause severe local shortages and environmental impacts, with knock-on effects for the stability of supply chains. This paper examines how governments and mining companies can balance the need to protect affected communities from the adverse water-related impacts of mining with the economic opportunities presented by mineral extraction and processing.</jats:p>