Metals & Minerals

Within the general growing global need for resources of all kinds, metals and minerals are of particular importance today and in the future. Minerals and metals are needed for nearly every aspect of our daily life. They are an essential part of key economic sectors like ICT, transport and housing and they also form the building blocks of the buildings and machines needed to produce products and the infrastructure for our energy supply. Even renewable energy sources such as solar panels, windmills and hydro-power plants depend on metals and minerals.

Despite our growing need, the supply of minerals and metals is finite. Recent studies predict a supply security crisis of crucial metals in the near future, estimating that the demand for metals like copper, silver and gold, will run over the amount of their reserve base by 2050. The situation will be even more challenging for other metals like indium (used in LCD screens) which is expected to run out within the next 10-15 years. The global demand for metals combined with the scarcity of resources available is leading to a rapid increase of price levels that is beginning to affect every aspect of our economies. For example, the price for indium grew from 60$ per kilogram in 2003 to over 1000$ per kilogram in 2006.

The extraction and use of minerals and metals also has a significant impact on the environment. For example, aluminium and iron production accounts for over 5% of anthropogenic GHG emissions worldwide. The use of metals can also lead to toxicity problems, in particular regarding metals such as Cadmium / Lead and Mercury. Mining itself also has a major environmental impact.

Among others like the building and transport sectors, the ICT industry is one main consumer of metals. According to recent studies ICT demand for copper, silver and tin accounts for about one third of the world-production of these metals. Aside from consumption, E-waste has been identified as one of the fastest growing waste streams. Apart from the environmental threat, scarce metal is lost. Metals can be used and reused as long as they are kept as a resource in the economy. "Closing the loop" in the mineral and metal lifecycle via reuse and recycling programmes both reduces environmental impact and decreases resource consumption. UNEP has initiated E-Waste Management programmes and activities worldwide to achieve this goal.

The challenges and opportunities offered by Metals & Minerals demand a holistic approach which reflects the complexity and scope of the entire issue. UNEP-DTIE is working with all involved stakeholders to develop what is known as the "material stewardship" approach that combines the different aspects of the mineral and metal issue. Sustainable resource management can only be secured, if this holistic perspective is taken. The International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management at UNEP is helping to coordinate this process.

Access to information is essential in order to reach the public. To improve the information flow, UNEP works closely with the Mineral Resources Forum. The Forum's objective is to provide up-to-date information about mining and the environment on the web by hosting important documents, databases and links.