Quantify child labor prevalence in artisanal cobalt mining across Democratic Republic of Congo; assess economic drivers; map supply chains from mining to battery manufacturing; evaluate scale of labor exploitation funding the green energy transition

Field research in 50 artisanal mining sites across Kasai and Haut-Katanga provinces; interview data from 200+ families; supply chain analysis from mine to refinery; pricing analysis comparing artisanal cobalt costs vs child labor elimination costs; comparison with ethical sourcing premiums

30% of artisanal cobalt (25-30% of global cobalt) involves child labor. 40,000+ children working in cobalt mines in DRC. Average daily exposure to toxic cobalt dust equivalent to 100+ years of legal occupational limits. Children earn $1-2/day; parents face poverty with limited alternatives. 50/kg) would eliminate economic incentive for child labor.

Yet major EV and battery manufacturers source 40%+ cobalt from unverified artisanal supply chains. 2T+ green energy transition is being subsidized by child exploitation.