SESSION
The lithium paradox: green energy at what cost?
As the demand for lithium skyrockets in the global push for green energy, a new set of challenges emerges at the intersection of environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic ambition. This panel explores the broader implications of lithium extraction for people and the planet.
Drawing on diverse perspectives—from science journalism and environmental communication, to local community voices and policy analysis—we will examine how narratives around “clean energy” often overlook the costs borne by vulnerable communities and ecosystems. Can lithium be mined responsibly? Are there viable alternatives being ignored? And how do we ensure that the transition to a greener future does not replicate old patterns of exploitation? This session invites an open, multidisciplinary conversation about what true wellbeing means in the age of climate urgency and technological transformation.
Andrei MihaiSession proposer and producer | ZME Science | Romania
Andrei Mihai is the co-founder of ZME Science, where he works as a science journalist and editor. He holds two doctorates in geoscience and occasionally collaborates with major media outlets. Passionate about storytelling, he’s dedicated to uncovering compelling science stories and sharing them with a broad audience.
Filipa TraqueiaSpeaker | Freelance / Viral Fact | Portugal
Filipa Traqueia is a science and environmental journalist from Portugal. She works as a product manager in IT and freelances for Viral Check, a fact-checking outlet. With a post-graduate degree in science communication, she’s passionate about evidence-based reporting and making complex topics accessible to the public.
Dina ĐorđevićSpeaker | CINS | Serbia
Dina Đorđević is editor-in-chief at the Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS) and an environmental investigative journalist. She is an Oxford Climate Journalism Network member and a Fulbright Program alumna. Her work has been recognised with multiple national and international awards, including EU awards for investigations into air pollution and environmental destruction caused by small hydropower plants. Her latest investigation revealed state failures in a lithium project in Serbia that might put the environment at risk.
Sakhile DubeSpeaker | Freelance | South Africa
Sakhile Dube is an award-winning journalist based in Johannesburg South Africa covering mostly business and environmental issues including net zero, climate change, energy transition, critical minerals, and renewable energy. Currently a PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal focusing on media and climate change.
Senne StarckxSpeaker | Freelance / De Standaard | Belgium
Senne Starckx is a freelance science journalist based in Belgium, covering energy, climate, and the green transition. He holds a Master’s degree in physics and is a member of VVJ, VWN, and the European Federation for Science Journalism. His work appears in leading Flemish and international science publications.