Assessing environmental implications associated with global copper demand and supply scenarios from 2010 to 2050

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors estimate environmental implications of copper demand scenarios from present to mid-century by applying a life cycle sustainability analysis (LCSA) methodology and show potential focus areas for mitigation policies.

Abstract: Utilisation of resources is closely linked to population growth and economic and technological development. Hence, it is expected that global resource demand will increase substantially over the next decades. This resource challenge is currently partly addressed by the UNEP-IRP resource scenario activity, where metals, non-metallic minerals, and biomass resource availability and consumption scenarios are being developed. Advancements in the understanding of environmental impacts induced by anthropogenic activities indicate that large-scale exploitation of metal resources adversely affects the natural environment. Global copper demand is expected to grow significantly over the next decades, which is likely to result in increasing environmental stress and can be problematic for efforts to reduce the global environmental footprint. This research aims to estimate environmental implications of copper demand scenarios from present to mid-century by applying a life cycle sustainability analysis (LCSA) methodology. The results indicate that the environmental impacts related to global copper supply are expected to increase substantially between 2010 and 2050 – e.g., the carbon footprint is estimated to increase by 100% to 200%, depending on the scenario. This research discusses the main drivers of growing environmental implications of global copper supply scenarios and shows potential focus areas for mitigation policies.