Amnesty International Warn Electric Cars Could Lead to More Child Labour

Amnesty International warns that the boom in electric cars could lead to more child labor

Something has to be done about car emissions. If not for the fact of the environment, for the simple fact that fossil fuels are finite.

Over the last 10-15 years, we have seen a significant ramp-up in efforts to create an efficient electric car. Tesla has been one of the companies leading the way in that charge (no pun intended) to make electric cars a reality.

The increase in production leads to the necessity for more cobalt, which is used to make the batteries. Cobalt, if you were not aware, is a vital component in lithium-ion batteries. It has to be mined and often, the mining is done in poor conditions and for low pay.

While current levels are fueling laptop, phone, and electric appliance production, Amnesty International fears that electric car production could push that even further. Which, by proxy, would likely mean the increase in child labor used to mine it.

The hidden truth about cobalt production in lithium-ion batteries!

I should note at this point, I’m not endeavoring to tug at your heartstrings here. I am not a bleeding heart, but I think we can all agree that child labor is wrong.

The report, which comes via SkyNews, highlights the Congo as an example. The area represents one of the worlds largest cobalt deposits and for many, the major factor for their income.

The sad reality is that often children have to work from a young age in the cobalt mines, even just 4 years old, to provide a survivable income.

While the report points out that Apple and Samsung should be praised for attempting to ‘ethically source’ their cobalt, Daimler and Renault have been highlighted as being very vague in where they source it for their batteries.

When you see that companies such as Dysen plan to invest £2b into electric cars, a part of me hopes that might go towards making the lives of the people who make it possible better.

What do you think? A necessary evil or an unnecessary exploitation?- Let us know in the comments!