By ESG Analyst Hanni Kim
With the global shift towards renewable energy and decarbonization efforts, the demand for critical minerals such as cobalt has intensified as countries compete for the finite supply of this essential resource. Cobalt is a key component in the safety and stability of high-energy lithium-ion batteries, which are used in products ranging from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, making this raw material essential to the energy transition aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependency. However, with the pressure of this ‘green transition,’ questions surrounding responsible sourcing of raw materials have come to the forefront. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the cobalt-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where mining activities have far-reaching environmental and human rights consequences. From polluted water sources and toxic dust emissions to child labor and unsafe working conditions, the cobalt mining sector in the DRC exemplifies the profound challenges that lie at the intersection of environmental sustainability and social justice.
Environmental Impact of Cobalt Mining
Currently, the DRC is responsible for supplying over 70% of the world’s cobalt, mostly sourced from industrial mines or artisanal, small-scale mines (ASM). Cobalt mining in the DRC is extracted using surface and underground methods, which have led to significant environmental consequences: soil and land degradation, air and water pollution, and radioactive waste.
Surface mining involves stripping large areas of land and removing large swaths of topsoil to access ore deposits, leading to severe soil erosion, deforestation, and habitat destruction. The DRC is home to half of Africa’s forests and water resources, but the rising environmental destruction as a result from cobalt extraction is increasingly threatening these natural resources. Furthermore, this surface mining process generates toxic dust compromising the air quality and water sources in the surrounding areas. More than 70 academic studies have shown that cobalt mining releases harmful pollutants such as mercury, uranium, arsenic, etc. These substances seep into water sources causing groundwater pollution, impacting the sedimentation patterns of rivers and those who use these water sources. Even minimal exposure to these substances can have severe impacts on nearby ecosystems and local communities. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights has labeled the areas surrounding cobalt mines as “pollution hotspots,” emphasizing exposure to pollutants can result in significant ecological and health-related externalities.
Nearing a tipping point, we must confront the question: what are we willing to sacrifice in our transition towards decarbonization? It is ironic that cobalt, a critical raw material essential for the clean energy transition, also incurs significant environmental consequences in its extraction and processing. While it fuels technologies that support a greener future, it simultaneously leaves a lasting environmental footprint.
Labor and Human Rights Issues
The dire consequences of cobalt mining are as much a human rights issue as an environmental one. Imagine this: hundreds of thousands of workers, including mothers and children, laboring in subhuman conditions, often without ventilation or any protective gear. They endure toxic dust, extreme temperatures, and dangerous equipment, all while exposed to significant health risks and deprived of basic safety measures. This is the current situation of artisanal mines in the DRC, in which 15-30% of the DRC’s cobalt supply comes from. Reports indicate that as many as 40,000 workers under the age of eighteen work in these hazardous conditions, with children as young as eight years old. These children are engaging in manual labor without any protection and are exposed to harmful substances and dangerous machinery which can lead to frequent accidents, injuries, or long-term health issues all while earning below the living wage. The absence of adequate infrastructure and regulatory oversight exacerbates these precarious working conditions as violence and exploitation are rampant in the mines. Many have proposed access to viable mine sites, more protective measures, and the formalization of these artisanal mines to help with the human rights issues. It remains uncertain whether these proposed solutions will effectively resolve the issue, but one thing is clear: accountability and decisive action are crucial to addressing the root causes of the problem. Without a concerted effort to tackle the underlying factors, any attempts at mitigation will likely fall short.
Corporate Accountability and Transparency
Looking forward, as we shift to a greener energy and the demand for cobalt continues to rise, the mining sector and companies must adapt to meet both environmental and human rights standards. The DRC, as a primary source of cobalt, is at the heart of these challenges, with urgent needs for responsible practices in both environmental stewardship and labor protections. Companies involved in the supply chain have a critical role in driving these changes through commitment to transparency, ethical sourcing, and investment in sustainable practices. Organizations like the Fair Cobalt Alliance and Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) are critical watchdogs and offer frameworks that companies can adopt to hold themselves accountable to ensure safer working conditions, fair wages, and reduced environmental impact in artisanal mines. These organizations have shown that through partnerships with local communities and NGOs, real improvements can be made in the ethical sourcing of cobalt. With growing consumer awareness and demand for ethically sourced materials, corporations are feeling increased pressure to implement these changes. This momentum, combined with dedicated efforts from NGOs and local governments, indicates a promising path forward. By fostering accountability and transparency, the industry can work toward a future where the environmental and social costs of the energy transition are minimized. Now more than ever, it is imperative for corporations to align their practices with ESG principles to ensure that the path to renewable energy is both responsible and sustainable.
References
- Baumann-Pauly, D. (2023). Cobalt Mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Addressing Root Causes of Human Rights Abuses. Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://bhr.stern.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Cobalt-Mining-2023_White-Paper. pdf Pelon, R., et. al. Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (2021). https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099500001312235438/pdf/P1723770a0f57 0093092050c1bdd6a29df.pdf
- Umpula, E., & Dummett, M. (2024, March 7). The Blood Cobalt Narrative: Addressing human rights concerns or scaremongering? Business and Human Rights Journal. Cambridge Core. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-and-human-rights-journal/article/blood -cobalt-narrative-addressing-human-rights-concerns-or-scaremongering/1F725B8FC9802 C03341D551127AC4E93
- UN Human Rights Council (2022), The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: Non-toxic environment. Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g22/004/48/pdf/g2200448.pdf Zainab. (2024, October 31).
- New report exposes the environmental and human costs of DRC’s cobalt boom. RAID. https://raid-uk.org/report-environmental-pollution-human-costs-drc-cobalt-demand-indust rial-mines-green-energy-evs-2024/