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An international team of researchers, led by the University of Delaware's Saleem Ali, says global resource governance and sharing of geoscience data is needed to address challenges facing future mineral supply.
Specifically of concern are a range of technology minerals, which are an essential ingredient in everything from laptops and cell phones to hybrid or electric cars to solar panels and copper wiring for homes. However, base metals like copper are also a matter of immense concern.
The research team, which included experts from academic, government and industrial institutions across five continents, the U.S., Europe, South Africa, Australia and South America, reported their findings today in a peer-reviewed paper in Nature.
"There are treaties on climate change, biodiversity, migratory species and even waste management of organic chemicals, but there is no international mechanism to govern how mineral supply should be coordinated," said Ali, the paper's lead author and Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environment at UD.
The researchers reviewed data and demand forecasts on the sustainability of global mineral supplies in coming decades. The study showed that mining exploration is not keeping up with future demand for minerals and recycling in and of itself would not be able to meet the demand either.
Saleem H. Ali, et al. Mineral supply for sustainable development requires resource governance. Nature, 2017; 543 (7645): 367 DOI: 10.1038/nature21359
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(Score: 3, Informative) by Spook brat on Monday March 27 2017, @06:56PM
the parent post to mine is moderated as troll, but they make a good point. What we need here is one of those forms like we have for email. [craphound.com]
That one could be adapted here pretty well, though, see below.
Seriously, the solution to inefficient use/distribution of resources has never been "appoint a committee of politicians and enforce their will via violence". My capitalist tendencies are going to show here, but open markets seem to have a better track record here than central planning ever has. Sending soldiers to kill and die to enforce low prices on iPhones seems even more morally sketchy than the "blood for oil" wars we've been having recently.
Looking at it another way, there were a lot of complaints about the Affordable Care Act forcing people to buy a specific class of product (health insurance) by government mandate; are the article's authors really suggesting that we force mining companies to run unprofitable mines? Why not just wait until the cost goes up due to low supply? The mining companies will gladly find and deliver the needed resources once they're offered a fair price for the product.
Travel the galaxy! Meet fascinating life forms... And kill them [schlockmercenary.com]