The Cost of Cobalt (2021)
Cobalt may be part of the global solution to climate change; is it right that DRC's next generation pay the price for clean energy with their health?
The Cost of Cobalt (2021)
Directed by Fiona Lloyd-Davies and Robert Flummerfelt, 25 mins
In the cobalt mining areas of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), babies are being born with horrific birth defects. Scientists and doctors are finding increasing evidence of environmental pollution from industrial mining which, they believe, may be the cause of a range of malformations from cleft palate to some so serious the baby is stillborn.
More than 60% of the world’s reserves of cobalt are in the DRC and this mineral is essential for the production of electric car batteries, which may be the key to reducing carbon emissions and to slowing climate change.
In The Cost of Cobalt we meet the doctors treating the children affected and the scientists who are measuring the pollution. Cobalt may be part of the global solution to climate change, but is it right that Congo’s next generation pay the price with their health? Many are hoping that the more the world understands their plight, the more pressure will be put on the industry here to clean up its act.
Live event, also featuring Green Warriors: Coal in the Lungs: Saturday 04 December 2021 17:00 GMT
The panel will be moderated by Professor Alan Dangour, Director of the Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Alan will be in discussion with The Cost of Cobalt co-directors Fiona Lloyd-Davies and Robert Flummerfelt, and Green Warriors director Martin Boudot - more details to follow.
Film festival passes and ticket bundles
All-access passes are now on sale on our festival platform; your pass will give you access to the full programme of on-demand films, as well as all the live screenings, panel discussions and workshops throughout the duration of the festival.
All-access pass: £55
Five-ticket bundle: £19.50
Three-ticket bundle: £12:50
Get your Global Health Film Festival passes and ticket bundles today!
Only interested in this film? Single tickets (£4.75) for The Cost of Cobalt can be purchased here
