Renewable energy trends have been developed rapidly due to the urge to meet growing global energy demands. Higher-income countries are becoming increasingly competitive to foster these trends, particularly by advancing renewable energy technologies. Technological innovations caused the demand for materials used in these technologies Cobalt’s demand, a mineral used to create batteries for renewable energy systems, continues rising. We frequently overlook the social and human costs of materials extraction in technologies, despite Khan and Su (2022) stating that technological innovation can support accelerating energy transition. Therefore, this paper will critically analyze the article “‘Staggering’ rise in women with reproductive health issues near DRC cobalt mines—study.” This article will highlight the issue of the impacts on the reproductive system of women living near cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The theories of environmental sociology will be used to propose recommendations for resolving these problems while considering social and environmental aspects.
The DRC’s cobalt mining sector is the largest producer, accounting for 56% of global cobalt production (Energy Institute, 2023). Through the mass mining process, 170,000 metric tons of cobalt were extracted in 2023. It caused alarming health problems for women and children, particularly related to reproductive health. They experienced irregular periods, genital infections, and birth defects, which unfortunately have become common in these areas. All these problems were caused by the mass cobalt mining, which has led to significant pollution in air, water, and soil. The situation became even more urgent as people relied primarily on fish as a food supply, although the fish was already contaminated with an extremely high amount of cobalt. The abundant cobalt supply provided in the DRC caused the temptation of multinational companies that have increased every day due to the demand for innovations. The reliance on nonrenewable energy sources is driving developed countries to innovate. For instance, the automotive sector considered fossil fuels no longer sustainable, prompting a shift to electric vehicles (EVs). However, the transition to electric vehicles and other green technology raises new concerns since more raw minerals, such as cobalt, are required, raising the danger of environmental degradation and health.
To understand the connection between these issues, theories in environmental sociology provide fundamental insights into environmental harm and social dimensions. This paper will focus on three key theories: 1) World Systems Theory, 2) Political Ecology, and 3) Environmental Justice to analyze the complexities of these interconnected problems. World System Theory posits how third-world countries have insignificant power to catch up to the first-world countries (Chirot and Hall, 1982). Given what has been said, lack of infrastructure and ability to manage natural resources properly has often been experienced in poorer countries. As a result, multinational companies from China or the EU take advantage by exploiting these resources without adequate protection. Issues such as this create a dynamic cycle; the receipt of profit from the production and sale of goods and services tends to flow from peripheral countries to core countries, which are more industrialized and hold dominant positions in the global economic hierarchy. Peripheral countries such as the DRC may receive incentives, except only small fractions of the profits gained by core countries, making the negative impacts they experienced outweigh the exploitation.
Previous theories are not enough to explain the complexity of these interconnections since internal causes play a part in the DRC’s disregard for social issues. Political ecology is crucial for understanding how sociopolitical and economic systems affect the environment and public health in vulnerable countries (Richmond et al., 2005). The Center for Preventive Action (2024) claims that corruption, economic reliance, and political conflicts with other countries are the main causes of political instability in the DRC, which contributes to environmental problems. As a result, corporate exploitation and government inefficiency harm public health and local ecosystems. Moreover, environmental justice theories help explain the need to address issues like inequality, discrimination, and harm to health, with a focus on ensuring fairness in land-use decisions and creating sustainable communities where people can feel safe and nurtured (Wood-Donnelly, 2023). For vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, the lack of a safe and comfortable environment remains a critical issue.
Issues like this create complex methodological challenges, and thus, there are some substantial measures to be considered. To address these problems, mass mining practices should be regulated through stricter regulations. Mining activities should have scheduled cycles to minimize environmental and social impacts as well as give ecosystems time to recover. However, as society currently depends heavily on cobalt, this strategy may not be successful. Besides that, the DRC government can develop a framework for a strict company environment or social accountability, for instance, like CER. This recommendation will allow multinational companies to meet local and international standards for clean water provision, pollution management, and social well-being. Because the political situation in the DRC is still unclear, relying on the government could make things more complicated, and hence, the practice of this recommendation may be difficult. Therefore, society can be shaped to decrease the demand for cobalt. Companies need to implement e-waste recycling by reusing cobalt from used batteries and conducting more investment in R&D to tackle the reliance on cobalt in battery production.
Although DRC plays an important role in meeting cobalt demand, overlapping health and social concerns are raised by multinational companies. Through the lenses of world system theory, political ecology, and environmental justice theories, we can get better explanations of the inequalities and exploitation that caused these difficulties. Thus, it is necessary to address the difficulties through immediate action. This paper recommends regulating the mining process, ensuring corporate responsibility, and reducing cobalt reliance through recycling and innovation. Although there are some limitations to those recommendations, we believe promoting sustainable cobalt mining processes can enhance global green energy demand while also protecting vulnerable populations’ rights. A truly sustainable future requires not only technological improvements but also a dedication to social and environmental justice.
