As demand for lithium, cobalt, and other rare earth minerals skyrockets, the question isn’t if we mine—it’s how. Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), joins The Young IKE to explore the challenges of responsible mining, the global supply chain, and why communities must be involved in decision-making.

We discuss the feasibility of ethical mining, how standards like IRMA’s certification system can create accountability, and whether true sustainability is possible in an industry built on extraction.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Aimee Boulanger

Bio: Aimee Boulanger is the Executive Director of IRMA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to setting global standards for responsible mining.

Links:

🔹 IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance) – https://responsiblemining.net

Episode Outline:

🔹 What is ‘Responsible Mining’? – Defining ethical mineral extraction and its real-world challenges.

🔹 Holding Corporations Accountable – How IRMA works with companies like BMW, Microsoft, and Ford to promote responsible sourcing.

🔹 The Future of Ethical Mineral Extraction – The role of transparency, policy, and consumer awareness in shaping the mining industry

Episode Sponsor:

🎙️ The Young Ike is bringing these conversations into the real world with live, quarterly community dialogues. Thank you to the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the IWLA for making this possible.

Learn more at iwlamnvalley.org

Host & Show Info:

Host: Griffith Pugh

Podcast Website: www.theyoungike.org

Community & Calls to Action:

📩 Contact the host: griffith@theyoungike.org

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📲 Follow us on Instagram: @theyoungike

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