Child Labor is Helping Power the Clean Energy Transition.

The article focuses on the role of women in addressing child labor exploitation within the clean energy mineral supply chain in Africa. It highlights that rising demand for minerals like cobalt, lithium, and mica—essential for clean energy technologies—is linked to widespread child labor in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Madagascar. Women activists and community leaders, who often serve as primary caregivers, offer critical insights and locally grounded solutions to combat child labor, including advocating for education and economic empowerment. Empowering women miners and engaging communities in policy development are presented as effective strategies to improve labor conditions and reduce child exploitation while supporting sustainable livelihoods.