Beneath the surface: the human and environmental cost of cobalt mining

Economies around the world are deploying a wide range of clean energy technologies to decarbonise electricity supply, transport and industrial production. This has led to a surge in demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. The complex and often troubling realities behind this transition are depicted in 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. In this commentary Lea Reitmeier provides a summary of the issues covered by the film to accompany the recording of the LSE Q&A session.