Beneath the surface: the human and environmental cost of cobalt mining
Artisanal cobalt mining in DRC. Photo: Afrewatch 2020 via IIED on Flickr
In this CETEx commentary Lea Reitmeier provides a summary of the issues covered by the film Cobalt Rush – The Future of Going Green, which was screened and discussed by an LSE panel, including the film’s director, on 28 November 2024. The film reflects on the surge in demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.