Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
effects, to react. One of its responses is the development of corrective abatement
measures such as the Kyoto Protocol (1997). This protocol is a tool designed to
slow climate change and the associated impacts on the environment. Another reply
is the stimulation of the global conscience and consciousness formed around the
idea that there is a loss of wealth that will not and can never be replaced. In other
words, there is quite simply a growing realisation: there is a limit to growth.
In fact, it's been “just” forty years since the Club of Rome's publication of the
topic Limits to Growth (Meadows et al., 1972). The topic predicted that population
growth, coupled with the exponential use of fossil fuels and minerals would drive
the world to the verge of collapse in only a few generations. This projection became
increasingly real and bothersome with the subsequent oil crises of the seventies and
eighties, only to be forgotten during the “bubble boom” of the late nineties and
early 2000s. At this point world growth was fuelled by a consumption founded on
the idea that:
(1) The planet can absorb all the environmental impacts caused by societal deve-
lopment.
(2) Mineral and energy resources are su
cient to maintain indefinite growth.
(3) Innovation and human ingenuity through technological development will outrun
any existing and/or future problems.
With hindsight, one becomes increasingly aware that the lack of precise data
and hence inexact and early predictions about future shortages does not weaken
the Club of Rome's message. Environmental problems on a global scale have wors-
ened and the ecological footprint of developed world citizens on Earth is beyond
which the planet can support. Yet, somewhat paradoxically, since the 1980s sig-
nificant declines in almost all commodity prices have occurred. This is arguably a
consequence of increased economic activity, rather than geological availability, with
new market entries from developing world producers, having stimulated new discov-
eries that have compensated the growth in demand (Machado and Suslick, 2002).
However, a strong BRIC-led market cannot be sustained indefinitely as long as ore
grades in existing mines continue to decline and new geopolitical problems surface.
Of course it is important that each mineral is treated on a case by case basis
with some subject to physical scarcity, some to political interests (as is the case
of platinum group metals-PGM), some to technological limitations (e.g. rhodium),
some to supply shortages (such as with the rare earths) some to economic reasons
(e.g. copper), some to environmental issues (e.g. lead, cadmium or mercury) and
others to an irreversible decline due to the impossibility of either substitution or
recyclability (e.g. phosphorous).
In short, questions (and answers) surrounding sustainability of mineral re-
sources, including geopolitical, environmental and economic issues are key to the
wellbeing of future generations.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search