The article said that the growth in extraction of raw materials is 400% greater since 1970. It is responsible for 60% of global heating impacts, 40% of air pollution impacts, among other things. The world must cut back on demand, not just extract green raw materials.
What they seem to be ignoring is that as the conversion to green sustainable economy and moving away from fossil fuels, the amount of extraction of raw materials will go *down* – there will be no more coal mining; much less oil drilling and extraction; and natural gas use will be drastically reduced.
As the amount of minerals such as Lithium becomes more common, the amount that is recycled will replace the mined minerals, and the amounts of mined minerals will drop. The economy will become more circular and we will recycle and reuse.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/31/raw-materials-extraction-2060-un-report?utm_term=65bb88efb89deac9b015f82bd2680cc4&utm_campaign=DownToEarth&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=greenlight_email
