Sometimes I think I have a boring life because I write pieces at night titled, "Speaking of: Cobalt." But then I remember that whoever is ready this right now clearly has a more boring life than me because they voluntarily clicked on it, and somehow that's worse.
But that's besides the point.
I'm in no minority when I say I believe we're in the middle of an incredibly threatening climate disaster, and transitioning to green energy and more sustainable resource use is the only solution. That being said, it always frustrates the crap out of me whenever people talk about these solutions as if there's no downside or opportunity cost. I think the growing issue with cobalt mining is an important reminder that we can't all just immediately switch to "sustainable living" in a heartbeat because, well, we physically just cannot support it as a country.
For context, cobalt is an element often used to make rechargeable batteries, and the scorching hot EV market is pushing cobalt supply to its limit. Cobalt is incredibly difficult and labor-intensive to mine, and most of the mining at this point is done in Africa, a scenario that has tastes of neocolonialism in it. And let's not act like mining doesn't directly harm the environment too.
So why can't we just all buy EVs? Well, because, plain and simple, we are LIGHTYEARS from having enough material to make all those batteries. Even if there were NO consumer barriers to purchasing an EV, we still wouldn't be able to supply nearly enough cars.
So sure, it's frustrating to see so many countries set their carbon-free goals so far out into the future, but the truth of the matter is we don't have NEARLY enough raw materials or infrastructure built to successfully execute that transition without a massive albeit temporary quality of life drop. Cobalt is just one example, but try to go too green too fast, and you'll find yourself plenty of cobalts.
Going greener is a necessary transition. It's just also one that is necessarily going to take time.
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