The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) supplies an overwhelming 68% of the world’s cobalt and has half of global land reserves, so the significant impacts in the DRC are especially notable. Amnesty International reports that cobalt (and copper) mining in the DRC has led to “the forced eviction of entire communities and grievous human rights abuses including sexual assault, arson, and beatings.” Additionally, it is well-documented that DRC mines use child labour. The US Department of Labor states that, “While mining is on the DRC’s list of hazardous activities for which children’s work is forbidden, the majority of cobalt mining in the DRC is done informally, where monitoring and enforcement are poor.” These social issues in the DRC are compounded by environmental hazards, such as deforestation, toxic tailings, and soil erosion/degradation that further threaten human health and wellness.
To learn more, check out “Cobalt Red”, a book by Siddharth Kara.
