[jillesvangurp]

Lithium is one of the more common elements on this planet. It's not a rare earth mineral. And there are ways to get lithium now that don't involve boohoo stories with small children breaking their backs under inhumane circumstances. E.g. Tesla is opening a lithium refining facility in Texas. And there are several battery chemistries that don't use cobalt at all now as well. And of course you can source cobalt from reputable mines as well these days if you do need it. And many companies make an effort to do just that.

And of course batteries can be recycled and this is expected to be a big business pretty soon. Most EV manufacturers are already recycling their batteries. These things won't end up in landfills.

So, it's not the case that all batteries must involve child labor and mass pollution. There are definitely some sustainability issues around battery production of course. Can we do better? Absolutely. But it's not that horrible to begin with. And it pales in comparison to the oil and gas industry. Lots of crocodile tears get expended on behalf of the children in the Congo. But nobody ever wonders where their petrol comes from. Double standards/hypocrisy.