Mining often conjures up negative imagery: environmental damage, pollution, and disruption to local communities. Yet, as we’ve explored in previous episodes of Pardon My Planet, critical raw materials are essential to modern life. They power solar panels and wind turbines, are at the core of smartphones and electric vehicles, and even play a crucial role in medical technologies, from MRI machines to lithium batteries used in mental health treatments. And these are just a few examples.

So, how can we meet this growing demand while ensuring mineral exploration and mining are more responsible and sustainable?

To explore this question, we’re joined by Jamie Newall, CEO of Quest Critical Metals and involved in EIS, an EU-funded project focused on making mineral exploration more precise and less disruptive, and Stéphane Bourg, president of PROMETIA, an association promoting innovation in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Stéphane is also involved in SCRREEN3, a Horizon Europe project working to strengthen Europe’s critical raw materials strategy.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast

The fashion industry has a huge impact on our planet, from the waste it generates to the resources it consumes. Fortunately, change is happening. Recycling, innovation, and collaboration across the supply chain are key to transforming the way we produce, manage textiles. Today our guest is Jyotsna Gopinath, innovation analyst at Fashion For Good, a global initiative dedicated to transforming the fashion industry into a more sustainable and circular system.

This last episode of the AfricaMaVal series illustrate the tangible impact AfricaMaVal can have through the selection of 100 project opportunities.

The introduction episode features the project coordinator and offers an overview of the series and the key issues at hand.

This episode provides us with essential background information on the geopolitics of critical minerals and highlight the importance of the EU developing partnerships with resource-rich countries.

This episode is focusing on ESG conditions along the CRM value chain in Africa, placing special emphasis on women in mining in Africa.

In this episode of Pardon My Planet, we explore how climate services, genetic research, and collaboration with local farmers are helping communities in Mozambique adapt to climate change.

Our guests, Valentina D’Amico, a socio-economic researcher, and Marta Da Graca Eugenio Solemanegy, a Mozambican PhD student specialising in agronomy and genetics, share their on-the-ground experiences. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers, from limited access to climate information to the need for better crop varieties, and explain how tailored climate services are shaping a more resilient future.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast

We are joined by Sigfried Tivana, assistant director at the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa and co-coordinator of LEAP-RE. Sigfried discusses the pressing energy challenges facing South Africa, from access issues to the sustainability of current energy practices. He also shares the challenges of piloting such a large program as LEAP-RE and what the future holds for this initiative.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast

This episode explores the critical issues of sustainability and equity in electricity access. Marine Cornelis, an expert in energy policy and public affairs, discusses her work on the EURICA project in Madagascar and Burkina Faso, two regions facing significant yet different energy challenges. Marine’s insights into the practicalities of providing quality electricity access offer a sobering look at the hurdles that remain in the quest for energy equity.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast

In this episode, we shift our focus to Kenya, where Anne Wacera Wambugu, an electrical engineer and researcher at Strathmore University in Nairobi, discusses the current state of renewable energy development and its future prospects. Anne sheds light on the pressing issue of electricity quality and equipment disparities, particularly in solar energy production, and highlights the need to empower women in this field.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast