Benedikt Sobotka: We have a responsibility towards children in countries where us extracts garbage to the batteries industry.
Hydrocarbons remain the main supply of energy in 2019. Nevertheless, people in western world are now increasingly choosing electric cars, as petrol and diesel engines emit carbon dioxide Benedikt Sobotka to the atmosphere and pollute air with nitrogen and sulphur compounds. The number of electric cars will reach up to 130 million by the end of 2030 each home and office will more than likely use smart devices ran by batteries. Oslo, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Paris, London, Madrid already declared that they will ban all vehicles implementing petrol or diesel fuel in central areas. The way the situation is going, batteries will replace the environmentally damaging coal and oil as fuel sources.
Minerals for batteries have to be extracted and processed with robust safety standards, proper working conditions, norms for responsible extraction and business ethics in your mind.
Global social responsibility
Take, for instance, cobalt. Over 2 / 3 of cobalt are extracted within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cobalt mining brings a lot of employment for folks all around DRC but a substantial percentage may be tainted by illegal child labour.
In 2017, world leading companies including BASF, Enel and Volkswagen met at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos to talk about business ethics in minerals extraction for the creation of batteries. As a result, the businesses gathered to found the Global Battery Alliance, with Eurasian Resources Group as a founding member, geared towards prohibiting using child labour and promoting battery recycling to increase the sustainability with the industry.
The CEO of Eurasian Resources Group, Benedikt Sobotka reiterated the business’s dedication to help tackle child labour in the Democratic Republic from the Congo. He hopes that through the Alliance and collaboration between major companies, international organisations and civil society, the illegal involvement of youngsters in mining within the battery supply chain is going to be addressed.
Eurasian Resources Group supports children inside the DRC
Through longstanding partnerships including with the Good Shepherd Sisters and Pact, Eurasian Resources Group concentrates on helping tackle child labour and strengthen child protection norms.
In 2018 and early 2019, ERG continued to support over 10,000 students through its educational initiatives inside the DRC.
Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of Eurasian Resources Group, holds the global battery sector should confer benefits to its participants through the value chain including children and local communities within the DRC.
