Without mining, there can be no sustainability

The First International Academic Conference on Sustainable Development Goals was recently held at Utah Valley University, representing a major boost in the world’s sustainable development efforts. This conference is one of many steps toward a net-zero emissions world, where the amount of emissions the world emits matches the amount we remove, a fundamental goal for a sustainable earth. We do not have a realistic roadmap to achieve this in the short term. However, one thing is certain: without the resources that only mining can provide, we will never achieve net zero.

The imperative for electricity

Most carbon emissions come from continuous electricity generation. Most existing plants (coal, hydro, geothermal, geothermal, natural gas, nuclear and biofuels) operate by heating water and creating steam, which spins a turbine to power a generator.

The impact of electricity on humanity has proven difficult to quantify, but certainly the alternating current electrical system developed by Nikola Tesla paved the way for improving our quality of life. Prior to this development, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was surprisingly low; although incomplete records make it difficult to state accurately, historians agree that life expectancy for white men was less than 50 throughout the 19th century. By 1980, life expectancy in the United States had risen to 73.8 and world population had skyrocketed. Not to mention that electricity enabled computers and space exploration, technologies never before imagined. To say it was impactful would be an understatement.

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Historically, reliable access to electricity has proven key to lifting people out of poverty. Electrification has greatly reduced human suffering here on earth. Yet, we now realize the need to make sure this electricity is sustainable. And for that, we need to mine.

The need for mining

As of 2019, the world generated 27,000 terawatt hours of electricity:

•  75% from steam generation fueled by coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear and biofuels
•  16% from hydroelectric power
•  5% from wind turbines
•  2% solar panels

Generating, distributing and using electricity requires a large amount of natural resources. Metals such as silver, copper and gold are the best electrical conductors. While silver and gold are very efficient, they are considered precious metals, so the default is copper. However, modern applications require a lot of copper The more electrified they are, the more copper they need:

– An internal combustion vehicle needs 50 lbs.

– An all-electric vehicle needs 183 pounds

– A single-family home needs 439 pounds

– Offshore wind farms require 9.6 piles (subscription required) per megawatt of energy produced (onshore wind farms require 4.3 tons).

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If these numbers sound big, that’s because they are. When extrapolated to meet ambitious net zero targets, it becomes clear that we cannot meet the increased need for copper. The world produces about 21 million metric tons of refined copper annually as of 2021. If we were to replace the world’s existing 1.45 billion vehicles with electric versions, 119 million metric tons of copper would be required. If we were to allocate 25% of the world’s current copper production for electric cars, it would take 192 years before we would have enough to meet demand. The math doesn’t add up without more mining, serious innovation and the implementation of the use of other fuels such as hydrogen.

Other yet-to-be-discovered technologies will place additional demands on the world’s mineral supply. For example, theoretical battery networks that could support an entire city would require large amounts of lithium and cobalt, which can be hazardous to humans if not properly managed, and have a short life span of 20 to 30 years. In addition, without batteries, we cannot shift more electricity production to wind, solar and EV power.

Sustainable mining and the road to net zero

It is clear that we need more metals to get to a net-zero world, but what is not clear is how we will get there. We know there are methods and technology that can help us extract minerals from the earth responsibly and sustainably; we just need to implement them.

There are a number of goals attached to a net zero concept. The UN has established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include such things as the elimination of poverty, clean and affordable energy, and sustainable cities and communities. The critical component of these goals is to maintain the quality of life enjoyed by the developed world while improving the quality of life for populations in developing areas.

Mining can support most of the UN’s 17 SDGs, but the mining industry needs to partner with the energy sector to innovate. Part of this involves the technologies we have today, but to achieve the ambitious goals of the future, we will need to innovate and push the boundaries in developing new technologies for energy production. We must be smart, responsible and efficient in harvesting the ocean and mining the land in pursuit of our goals.

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How can industry leaders impact the planet?

– Advocate for sustainability initiatives within the industry.

– Increase awareness by ensuring that the general public understands the goal of responsible mining on our path to net zero and can make informed consumption decisions.

– Continue to implement sustainability initiatives in your company, community and at home.

– Embrace future technologies that will impact sustainability and enable safe mining practices, such as AI.

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The future needs electricity and electricity needs materials

We need electricity to continue to lift humanity out of poverty, but that cannot happen without resources. Innovation and optimization must occur at every part of the life cycle chain, not just during resource extraction. Through improvements in design, manufacturing, processing, distribution and even recycling, along with the use of advanced technologies such as digitization, machine learning and artificial intelligence, we can increase our ability to improve the quality of life for everyone in a sustainable way. I believe this will not be possible without mining.

Source: https://titulares.ar/sin-mineria-no-puede-haber-sostenibilidad-internacionales/