Meet the Mothers in Small Hungarian Villages Facing a Battery Giant
The quiet countryside of Hungary is experiencing significant change. Near the village of Mikepércs, a massive construction project is underway: a new battery plant being built by CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery producer. This $8-billion factory, located 250 kilometers east of Budapest, is raising concerns among local residents, particularly mothers like Eva Kozma. Kozma, a 48-year-old mother of three, has an environmental engineering background, and she’s witnessing the transformation of her community with a critical eye.
Environmental Concerns and the Community’s Response
Kozma and other residents remember a different landscape – vast fields of corn, wheat, and sunflowers, thriving farms of apples and cherries, and grazing cows. The arrival of CATL, with its substantial global market share and potential for environmental impact, has sparked fears of pollution and lasting consequences for the land. The 221-hectare industrial park, now a hive of construction activity, replaced what was once productive farmland. These mothers, deeply connected to their environment, are now facing the challenge of navigating the changes brought about by this large-scale industrial development in their backyard. This situation can be compared to how African tech companies and their international backers can affect local communities.
In this case, it shows how mothers are voicing their concerns about environmental impacts.
The concerns of these mothers highlight the need for balancing economic growth with environmental protection and community well-being, ensuring that the benefits of industrial development are shared equitably.
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