Growth in global materials use, GDP and population during the 20th century

Krausmann, Fridolin; Gingrich, Simone; Eisenmenger, Nina; Erb, Karl‐Heinz; Haberl, Helmut; Fischer‐Kowalski, Marina

doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.05.007

Cited by 939 publications

(531 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The model is a multi-region Environmentally Figure 2 presents a decomposition of the total embodied emissions of construction, which shows that in a typical year around half of embodied emissions are attributable to material producing sectors. The proportions attributable to each activity remain similar throughout the analysis period 4 . These results are consistent with past publications [12, p. 23], [19, p. 15] which demonstrated that the production of materials is responsible for the majority of embodied emissions from construction.…”

Section: New Estimatementioning

confidence: 77%

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The greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options for materials used in UK construction

Giesekam

Barrett

Taylor

et al. 2014

Energy and Buildings

152

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The UK construction industry faces the daunting task of replacing and extending a significant proportion of UK infrastructure, meeting a growing housing shortage and retrofitting millions of homes whilst achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions compatible with the UK's legally binding target of an 80% reduction by 2050. This paper presents a detailed time series of embodied GHG emissions from the construction sector for 1997-2011. This data is used to demonstrate that strategies which focus solely on improving operational performance of buildings and the production efficiencies of domestic material producers will be insufficient to meet sector emission reduction targets.Reductions in the order of 80% will require a substantial decline in the use of materials with carbon-intensive supply chains. A variety of alternative materials, technologies and practices are available and the common barriers to their use are presented based upon an extensive literature survey. Key gaps in qualitative research, data and modelling approaches are also identified. Subsequent discussion highlights the lack of client and regulatory drivers for uptake of alternatives and the ineffective allocation of responsibility for emissions reduction within the industry. Only by addressing and overcoming all these challenges in combination can the construction sector achieve drastic emissions reduction.

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Section: New Estimatementioning

confidence: 77%

“…Humans have already significantly altered three quarters of the world's terrestrial habitats and continue to extract 60 billion tonnes of raw materials each year [3,4]. The construction sector is the largest user of these materials [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options for materials used in UK construction

Giesekam

Barrett

Taylor

et al. 2014

Energy and Buildings

152

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Between 1998 and 2014, world material extraction of the main commodities increased by a factor of 1.7 [1,2], a very significant number if we compare it to the 8-factor increase observed by Krausmann et al [3] from 1900 to 2005. For instance, in the past 10 years, approximately one quarter of the total historic mine production of copper was produced, showing that global copper production has doubled every 25 years since data started being recorded [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Decreasing Ore Grades in Global Metallic Mining: A Theoretical Issue or a Global Reality?

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Mining industry requires high amounts of energy to extract and process resources, including a variety of concentration and refining processes. Using energy consumption information, different sustainability issues can be addressed, such as the relationship with ore grade over the years, energy variations in electricity or fossil fuel use. A rigorous analysis and understanding of the energy intensity use in mining is the first step towards a more sustainable mining industry and, globally, better resource management. Numerous studies have focused on the energy consumption of mining projects, with analysis carried out primarily in one single country or one single region. This paper quantifies, on a global level, the relationship between ore grade and energy intensity. With the case of copper, the study has shown that the average copper ore grade is decreasing over time, while the energy consumption and the total material production in the mine increases. Analyzing only copper mines, the average ore grade has decreased approximately by 25% in just ten years. In that same period, the total energy consumption has increased at a higher rate than production (46% energy increase over 30% production increase).

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“…A Friends of the Earth report (FoEI 2009) points out that the world economy today is 30% less resource intensive than 30 years ago. Still, current data does not indicate that absolute decoupling is possible (Behrens et al 2007;FoEI 2009;Huesemann and Huesemann 2008;Krausmann et al 2009). Krausmann et al (2009) state that absolute decoupling could not be observed throughout the history.…”

Section: Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Still, current data does not indicate that absolute decoupling is possible (Behrens et al 2007;FoEI 2009;Huesemann and Huesemann 2008;Krausmann et al 2009). Krausmann et al (2009) state that absolute decoupling could not be observed throughout the history. The only occasions when resource use in absolute terms declined or stagnated were during times of economic downturn or stagnation.…”

Section: Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The idea of weak sustainability is illegitimate

Biely

Maes

Passel

2016

Environ Dev Sustain

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Since the introduction of the sustainability challenge, scientists disagree over the interpretation of the term ''sustainability.'' Weak and strong sustainability are the two main interpretations of sustainability, which are opposing each other. Some researchers stated that the interpretation of the term depends on the context; others disagree pointing out that it always implies the meaning of continuation. The term ''sustainability'' can be used as attribute, which adds a certain characteristic to the noun. If something can be attributed as being sustainable, it can also be unsustainable. The sustainability challenge consists of shifting from the current unsustainable towards a sustainable system. This paper outlines that the weak sustainability term is illegitimate, as it leads to a contradiction with the acknowledged assumption that the current state is unsustainable. This contradiction is revealed through an analysis of the occurrence of decoupling in agriculture: Agricultural land use could be decoupled from agricultural production, but only with the trade-off of massive increases in fertilizer, pesticide, energy and water usage. This paper outlines an inherent inconsistency within the ongoing discussion about the interpretation of sustainability. Through identifying the invalidity of the weak sustainability interpretation the focus can be shifted form the discourse to the sustainability challenge itself.

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Growth in global materials use, GDP and population during the 20th century

Cited by 939 publications

References 27 publications

The greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options for materials used in UK construction

The greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options for materials used in UK construction

Decreasing Ore Grades in Global Metallic Mining: A Theoretical Issue or a Global Reality?

The idea of weak sustainability is illegitimate

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