Revealed: VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to destructive deforestation of indigenous lands
An investigation has linked nickel mining in Indonesia to the destruction of primary rainforests on indigenous Tolaki lands. Major automotive companies including VW, Ford, and Tesla are implicated through their battery supply chains.
Why it matters
It highlights the environmental and ethical challenges inherent in the global transition to electric vehicles and the difficulty of ensuring sustainable supply chains.
Deforestation in Indonesia linked to nickel mining. Photograph: Didi Hardiana, NGO Puspaham Deforestation in Indonesia linked to nickel mining. Photograph: Didi Hardiana, NGO Puspaham Mining Revealed: VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to destructive deforestation of indigenous lands Mines in supply chains of western carmakers linked to widespread deforestation of primary rainforest in nickel-rich lands inhabited by Tolaki people in Indonesia
Prefer the Guardian on Google V olkswagen, Ford and Tesla are among the electric carmakers whose batteries may contain nickel mined in indigenous woodlands plagued by deforestation, an analysis has found, highlighting the struggle to make vehicles that are free from environmental destruction.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in