In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are an estimated 45,000 children involved in cobalt mining. Where you see child labor most often is not in the mining company, although it can happen. The question is what support do they have for their children to be in safe places?
Batteries are a critical part of the transition away from fossil fuels. From electric vehicles to grid scale storage for wind and solar, demand for batteries is expected to grow 500% by 2030. In order to meet that demand, we’re going to need a lot more batteries. And while companies like JB Straubel’s Redwood Materials are building capacity for recycling, for now that means a lot more mining. How do we build a battery supply chain that meets demand and reduces harm?
This episode is underwritten by ClimateWorks.
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