Thread by @parismarx

Electrification is seen as the silver bullet to sustainability, but the minerals necessary for mass electrification rarely feature in those discussions. They must going forward.

@Earthworks estimates demand for some minerals, like cobalt and lithium, will far exceed reserves.

Many of these minerals come from countries with little regard for human or workers' rights, meaning that ramping up production could be even worse for people and communities in vicinity of the mines.

Make no mistake: the electrified future of our dreams will be built on the backs of suffering workers in the Global South if things continue as they're going.

These passages from the report detail some of the terrible environmental and human impacts of mining necessary minerals.

The dark side of mining is why we need to seriously consider a) where the minerals are coming from, and b) what should be electrified.

It's why just shifting from current vehicles to electric cars is ridiculous. We need to transform our transport system so cars aren't necessary.

Electrify cars, trains, even bikes. But the waste of energy and minerals involved in personal electric vehicle ownership should be a non-starter.

Our electric-vehicle fantasies will come at great cost to disadvantaged people force to mine the minerals for their batteries.

The full report can be found on the @Earthworks website: earthworks.org/publications/r…