How does electric Vehicle production affect child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo

By: Logan Schatz

Introduction:

As the threat of climate change grows closer and more severe, our society is becoming desperate for solutions. One of the most prominent solutions presented is further implementation of electrical transportation. While some criticize this strategy for demanding too much of our electric infrastructure or producing more carbon emissions through energy production, there is another serious problem related to this approach (Capuder, 2020). In order to supply this increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), there must also be increased extraction of resources. Unfortunately, many of the resources required for the production of electric batteries and motors used in EVs are harvested using unethical methods (Tsurukawa, 2011). Minerals like lithium, graphite, and cobalt are extracted in large volumes by thousands of men, women, and children (Faber, 2017). While the working conditions of these mines are far below acceptable for all miners, there is additional concern attributed to the children subject to these conditions. Given estimated increases in EV production, these unjust practices will continue to intensify if left unacknowledged.

Future In Electric Vehicles

$140 billion dollars invested globally by automotive manufacturers
50 electric vehicle models available on US market in 2020
130 models predicted on US markets by 2023
1.25 million electric vehicles on the road in the US (2019)
7.3 million electric vehicles in use world wide (2019)

Precious Resources

Electric motors and batteries require precious metals like lithium and cobalt
Cobalt is used in 4/6 fuel cell compositions in use today
Overall metal demand is estimated to increase by 10% by 2030
Cobalt demand estimated to increase by 81% by 2030

Treasures In The DRC

A large percentage of this activity is likely to take place within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 2015, Over 50% of the cobalt consumed globally was extracted from DRC (Ballinger, 2019). Between 1995-1998, Zambia was the leading producer of cobalt supplying the market with 27% of its stock (Sun, 2019). The DRC overtook this position in 1999 and has held it since supplying the world with the majority of its cobalt reserves (Sun, 2019). In 2015, the global consumption of cobalt reached 220 kilotons(kt). A large portion of this was transported through three main pathways; DRC to China (37kt), DRC to Finland (10kt), and the Philippines to China (3kt) (Sun, 2019).

Child Labor In The Congo

By mid 1990's almost 100% of mining sites in the DRC use artisanal mining practices
It is estimated that 28% of all DRC miners, 19,000-30,000, are children under the age of 15
14% of miners in the DRC, about 9,000-15,000, are between the ages of 15 and 17
Cobalt miners have an increased risk of illnesses like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), typhoid, typhus, malaria, yellow fever, tuberculosis, and poorer respiratory health overall

Research Question

Though cobalt mining is not directly intended to inflict harm, increased demand for EVs will have an impact on the lives of these communities. While the developed world is pushing to rise above the use of fossil fuels, it is doing so off the backs of the vast majority of developing nations (Keitsch, 2018). The purpose of this research paper is to clearly define the connection between increasing the production of EVs and the perpetuation of child labor and unethical working conditions in the global south, specifically within the cobalt mines of DRC. The proposed solution of electric transportation has the potential of perpetuating environmental injustices in many regions of the world (Tsurukawa, 2011). If we wish to truly rise above and embrace sustainable development, we must not do so at the expense of any population of people.

Theoretical Frameworks

Global Value Chain

The global value chain is the concept of distributing the production process of goods among multiple different countries. Many political, economic, and social decisions are directly related to the demands and conditions of the global market. This includes decisions regarding resource extraction in places like the DRC.

Sustainable Livelihoods

This framework concerns the main factors that affect people’s livelihoods and the typical relationships between them. These main factors have been divided into five separate categories: human capital, natural capital, physical capital, social capital, and financial capital. Using these different capital categories, one can analyze the quality of life within communities like in the DRC.

Since the issue of artisanal mining and child labor practices in the DRC are so closely connected to global economic influences, the combination of these two frameworks ensures both aspects are strongly represented (Faber, 2017). Understanding the global value chain framework is important to identify the underlying cause for increased mineral extraction in the DRC. This research project will look at the resource extraction, refinement, production, trade, and use of cobalt in the DRC as well as economic activity surrounding that resource between the DRC and other country trade partners. Internal and external powers that dictate this economic activity will also be analyzed. Focusing on the mining communities in the DRC, the five main factors that affect peoples’ livelihoods previously discussed will be inspected. These will include the mental and physical health quality of workers, natural resources available for community use, level of infrastructural development and public services, community access to education, health, & child care, as well as the financial assets at the communities’ disposal. The goal of this analysis is to clearly define the connection between the economic demands of EVs and the livelihoods of mining communities in the DRC.

References

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