According to a groundbreaking UN report examined by the Guardian, global extraction of raw materials is set to increase by 60% by 2060, with disastrous consequences for the climate and the environment. This increase is attributed to industrialization, urbanization and population growth, with the extraction of natural resources jumping by almost 400% since 1970. The report points out that the exploitation of the Earth’s natural materials is already responsible for 60% of global warming impacts, 40% of air pollution impacts, and over 90% of global water stress and land-use-related biodiversity loss.
Janez Potočnik, former European Commissioner and co-chair of the UN panel that produced the analysis, warns that the predicted massive extraction of raw materials could trigger more frequent and severe storms, droughts and other climatic catastrophes. He insists that there are no longer any “safe places” on Earth, pointing out that we’ve already outgrown our safe operating space and that continuing these trends would make matters worse.
The report prioritizes measures of equity and human well-being over GDP growth alone, and proposes reducing global demand rather than simply increasing “green” production. It highlights that electric vehicles require almost 10 times more “critical raw materials” than conventional cars, and that achieving net zero emissions in transport by 2050 would require a six-fold increase in the extraction of critical minerals over the next 15 years.
The report suggests that teleworking, improved local services and low-carbon transport options such as bikes and trains could be as effective as increased vehicle production in meeting people’s mobility needs, while having less environmental impact. It calls for “systemic resource efficiency” that could increase equity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 80% by 2060 compared to current levels, and reduce material and energy requirements for mobility by over 40% and for construction by around 30%.
Reducing resource consumption is key to minimizing the interconnected environmental pressures of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution, said Zakia Khattabi, Belgium’s Minister for Climate and the Environment. The EU, which monitors and records the material and waste footprints of EU countries online as part of the European Green Pact, has not yet legislated for usage reduction targets, but is expected to discuss the issue at a meeting of EU environment ministers in June.
