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 Mining and Metals 

As most economic sectors rely on metal and mineral commodities, the mining and metals sector has a considerable impact on both the economy and the natural world. Overall, 9.6 billion tonnes of metal ores were extracted in 2020 alone, equivalent to 10% of global material extraction. Demand has grown steadily over the last 50 years, where extraction of iron ore was the fastest growing, driven by rising demand for steel in the construction sector and a second wave of urbanization in the Global South. 

Future growth will also be driven by the clean energy transition, given requirements for metals and minerals such as aluminium, copper, cobalt, nickel, lithium and rare earth elements in clean energy infrastructure and electrifying transport. Indeed, the global demand for critical minerals is expected to multiply by four to six by 2040. 

It has become imperative for mining and metals companies to prioritize sustainability actions. In particular, they need to balance meeting new critical mineral demands with negative impacts on nature, and shift towards circular models across the value chain. 

The sector actions serve as a guide to transform business practices and value chains and ensure the automotive sector plays its part in halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 - the mission at the heart of the Global Biodiversity Framework. 

The overview and report were led by the World Economic Forum with input from Oliver Wyman. 

 

 Impacts on nature​

Mining and Metal companies should direct their efforts towards addressing the most significant impacts on nature in their operations and value chains, namely:   

  • Land use change and ecosystem disturbance 

  • Pollution 

  • Water abstraction 

  • Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 

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 Dependencies on nature​

The Mining and Metal sector is dependent on ecosystem services to function and grow. Companies rely heavily on:   

  • Metal, mineral and energy resources 

  • Cultivated biological resources 

  • Freshwater 

  • Soil and sediment retention, and flood protection 

  • Global climate regulation 

 
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 Priority actions and opportunities

Avoid then reduce impacts of mining operations and restore across the mine lifecycle in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy

Avoid then reduce water abstraction in mining operations, and improve water stewardship across landscapes 

Expand circularity across the value chain, embrace standards and transparency, engage with suppliers and source responsibly, and collaborate with customers

Support nature conservation and restoration with local communities, both across and beyond own value chains, and invest in innovative nature financing mechanisms 

Advocate for policy systems that protect nature, and catalyze cross-sector and cross-industry collaboration

 

 Additional resources