Decarbonisation Pathways
Cobalt is integral to modern life, powering everything from electric vehicle and handheld device batteries to specialized alloys and industrial catalysts. As the world feels the effects of global warming, cobalt is at the forefront of the transition to a low-carbon global economy, and with rising temperatures, increased emissions, and ever more regular natural disasters, the business sector is under mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practises and transition to low-carbon operations.
The cobalt industry is no different – although cobalt will be essential for enabling the decarbonisation of economies across the world, businesses in the cobalt industry cannot rely on its essentiality to forgo the decarbonisation of their operations and supply chains, nor the necessity to do so in a way that is fair to and inclusive of those affected.
A Just Cobalt Decarbonisation Pathway explains the potential and necessity to decarbonise the cobalt industry between 2024 and 2050, explores the actions companies need to undertake to decarbonise, and highlights the framework conditions that must be put into place to facilitate a ‘just’ cobalt transition.
The report also calls attention to the human rights impacts of decarbonisation and underlines the need to focus on workers, communities, and others affected by the transition to net zero.
The report provides a tool for Cobalt Institute and its members to engage stakeholders, explain the framework conditions needed to aid companies in decarbonising, and underline that the cobalt supply chain takes its human rights obligations seriously.
It also provides policy makers across the world with clarity on the actions companies will be taking in their pursuit of decarbonisation, the challenges industry faces in addressing its carbon footprint, and how stakeholders can best work together to deliver a process of decarbonisation that works for everyone.
Cobalt Institute looks forward to continuing to bring together stakeholders to propel the decarbonisation agenda, and encourage the cobalt industry to play its part over the coming decades.
