Invitée : Marit Kitaw, économiste du secteur minier à la Commission Économique pour l'Afrique [https://www.uneca.org/fr] (CEA) Le podcast Pardon My Planet présente sa première série en français, consacrée aux partenariats entre l'Afrique et l'Europe autour des matières premières critiques. À travers trois épisodes, cette série explore les enjeux de souveraineté, d'inclusion, et de développement durable dans le secteur minier africain. Pourquoi l'Afrique, malgré ses ressources naturelles immenses, continue-t-elle à exporter la majorité de ses matières premières à l'état brut ? Cet épisode explore les freins structurels et les opportunités pour localiser davantage de valeur ajoutée, encourager la transformation locale et bâtir une industrie minière africaine plus intégrée, plus durable et mieux adaptée à la diversité du continent. Retrouvez plus d'informations sur lgi.earth/fr/podcast [https://lgi.earth/fr/podcast]

Invitées : Pascaline Balbine Makani, présidente de l'Association des femmes du secteur minier du Cameroun [https://www.afemic.org/], et Rosine Atafeinam Abalo, présidente de l'Association des femmes du secteur minier et en entreprise du Togo [https://www.facebook.com/people/Association-des-Femmes-du-secteur-Minier-et-en-Entreprise-du-Togo/100066457520364/?_rdc=1&_rdr], et vice-présidente d'AWIMA (African Women in Mining Association) Le podcast Pardon My Planet présente sa première série en français, consacrée aux partenariats entre l'Afrique et l'Europe autour des matières premières critiques. À travers trois épisodes, cette série explore les enjeux de souveraineté, d'inclusion, et de développement durable dans le secteur minier africain. Le secteur de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) représente aujourd'hui la première source d'emploi minier au monde, avec plus de 45 millions de personnes [https://stateofthesector23.delvedatabase.org/]. En Afrique, 13,4 millions de femmes y travaillent, souvent dans l'ombre, avec peu de reconnaissance. Cet épisode met en lumière leurs rôles essentiels, les défis spécifiques qu'elles rencontrent, et les leviers pour rendre ce secteur plus inclusif et mieux intégré aux politiques de développement. Retrouvez plus d'informations sur lgi.earth/fr/podcast [https://lgi.earth/fr/podcast]

Invitée : Lika Scott Sow, fondatrice de Women in Mining Sénégal et membre d'AWIMA [https://awimaafrica.com/language/fr/] (African Women in Mining Association) Le podcast Pardon My Planet présente sa première série en français, consacrée aux partenariats entre l'Afrique et l'Europe autour des matières premières critiques. À travers trois épisodes, cette série explore les enjeux de souveraineté, d'inclusion, et de développement durable dans le secteur minier africain. À quoi sert le lithium, le cobalt ou les terres rares ? Pourquoi sont-ils qualifiés de « critiques » ? Cet épisode revient sur la dépendance européenne, les enjeux de souveraineté industrielle, et la nécessité de forger des partenariats équilibrés avec les pays africains producteurs. Il aborde aussi l'évolution des critères ESG qui redéfinissent les règles du jeu dans le secteur minier mondial. Retrouvez plus d'informations sur lgi.earth/fr/podcast [https://lgi.earth/fr/podcast]

This episode is part of our series Bridging Continents: The Africa-Europe Partnerships for Critical Raw Materials. In this episode of Pardon My Planet, we turn the spotlight on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) in Africa, a sector that provides millions of jobs but still operates largely informally and faces significant challenges. We explore a training programme held in Zimbabwe, part of broader efforts to foster responsible and sustainable practices in ASM through knowledge exchange and capacity-building. From participants' needs to the surprises encountered during the workshops, Shahrzad Manoochehri, Programme Director at the World Resources Forum, and Robin Gili, Project Manager at WRF, reflect on the lessons learned and what it takes to ensure long-term impact. More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

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 [https://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 [https://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 [https://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 [https://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 [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

In the opening episode of our series, Leonard Lévêque, project manager at LGI and co-coordinator of LEAP-RE, provides an overview of the renewable energy landscape across the African Union. Leonard emphasises the crucial importance of developing renewable energy sources in Africa, not just to meet growing energy demands, but as a pivotal strategy for sustainable development. More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

Nearly 110 billion tons. This is the amount of material extracted from Earth in 2024 alone, according to the Global Resources Outlook by the United Nations Environment Program. The stark increase from approximately 30 billion tons in 1970 underlines the accelerating pace of global consumption. A circular economy is vital for a sustainable future. It challenges the traditional, linear "take-make-waste" model, advocating for a system where resources are reused, repaired and recycled extensively. This method not only reduces waste but ensures that we maximise the utility of materials throughout their lifecycle. Mathilde Legay, Circular Economy Strategist at LGI, is the guest of this episode's Pardon My Planet podcast. She brings deep insights into how businesses and individuals can adopt circular practices, and shares innovative strategies that are making significant impacts that contribute to a more sustainable future. More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

According to a report by the United Nations, it is said that 70% of the world population will live in urban areas by 2050. And with the expansion of urbanised spaces comes the challenge of not only protecting but also reintroducing nature in cities. Where do we find enough funding and do we convince investors that it is the future of cities? Pierre Cattoire, Sustainable Innovation Strategist at LGI, is the guest of Pardon My Planet podcast.  He leads a study for Clearing House, an European-Chinese project that aims to bring the forest and nature inside the cities. This study especially focuses on business models and investment cases for urban forest Nature-based Solutions (NbS). More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

In this episode, we delve into the world of advanced biofuels! Today, we spotlight an innovative European project called BL2F, which is pioneering a technology to produce sustainable fuel for transport, including aviation and maritime sectors, from an unexpected source: black liquor.  Joining us for this enlightening discussion is Adéola Jaiyeola, Sustainable Innovation Analyst at LGI, who will guide us through the landscape of current fuel options and why it's crucial to invest in environmentally-friendly technologies. Tune in as we explore the future of sustainable transport and the role of advanced biofuels in shaping a cleaner, greener world. More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]