The environmental impact of mineral mining

Rising demand for critical minerals to fuel the green energy transition means an expansion of mining around the world.

New mines are opening, existing mines are being scaled up.

In the fourth programme in our series, we find out about the impact of mineral mining on the planet and for those people both working in the mines and living nearby.

We head to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where there are claims that child labour is being used in so called ‘artisanal’ mines and there is little scrutiny of the supply chain.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: Artisanal miners carry sacks of ore at a mine near Kolwezi in 2022. Credit: Getty Images)