From fragmented to integrated sustainability in lithium extraction? Political measurements and critical minerals in times of sociotechnical transition in Chile

Lithium, a critical mineral for the global energy transition, has positioned Chile as one of the world’s leading producers through brine-based extraction. From this case, we identify a broader dynamic that we named “fragmented sustainability”, in which researchers and policymakers assess the lithium extraction through isolated environmental, economic, social and cultural dimensions. This fragmentation limits the capacity of sustainability science to address the complexity of critical mineral extraction. We argue for the need to move toward integrated sustainability as both a research and political challenge. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies (STS), we conceptualize measurement practices as political acts that not only describe but also participate in constructing socio-technical realities. From this perspective, advancing sustainability requires rethinking how extraction is measured and governed. We call for integrated measurement frameworks that connect environmental, economic, social and cultural indicators, while also incorporating diverse scientific, local, and ancestral knowledges. Such plural and situated approaches can transform sustainability from a fragmented ideal into a grounded practice, enabling more just and context-sensitive transitions in the governance of critical minerals.