‘Power Metal’ Examines the Cost of Our Battery-Powered Lives
KQED's Forum
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The Metal Rush: Ethics and E-Waste
This chapter examines the soaring demand for critical metals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel, essential for modern technology including electric vehicles and smartphones. It discusses the ethical concerns tied to cobalt mining practices, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and emphasizes the environmental impacts of battery production and e-waste recycling. The conversation includes potential solutions and alternative technologies, highlighting the geopolitical influence of countries like China on the global supply of these critical resources.
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