The industrial revolutions of the past developed nations, improved economies, and spurred mass education, but each time with more minerals and metals to sustain it. People used candles 200 years ago before incandescence, and now LED lights are even more efficient. From wood burning to coal, oil and natural gas, and now, nuclear and renewables – every step entrepreneurs take toward sustainability requires more mining.

Mining operations in underdeveloped countries create economies, new jobs and wealth, improving their overall socio-economic status. the World Bank estimates that “non-renewable mineral resources play a dominant role in 81 countries that collectively account for a quarter of global GDP, half of the world’s population and almost 70% of those living in extreme poverty”.

With the emerging Industry 4.0 revolution, now is the perfect time to innovate. Automation can optimize the processing of natural resources while minimizing waste to air, water and land. Machine learning and artificial intelligence will increase treatment efficiency and further reduce adverse effects. Instead of limiting access, governments should work closely with energy and mining companies and focus on informing and educating their citizens about how mining benefits their economies and improves their quality of life. life.

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Sustainable products need raw materials

As the world’s population continues to grow exponentially and developing countries build their critical infrastructure, mining will also need to grow exponentially. A typical vehicle uses 80 pounds of copper, but an electric vehicle needs 200, about the same as a three-bedroom house. This means that adding just one electric car per household will almost triple the demand for copper. According to a 2020 World Bank Studyaluminum already accounts for 85% of photovoltaic solar components, and experts predict that the aluminum used in cars, which improves their energy efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions, increase by 60% by 2025. More durable materials can only come from increased mining.

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The transformation of materials amplifies the need

Beyond the raw materials themselves needed to make sustainable technologies and products, mining is also what transforms those raw materials into usable products. If we want more sustainable energy and infrastructure, mining is the only way to support it – and sustainable mining is the only way to preserve needed resources while preserving the land that creates them.

The United States has well-regulated work and safety rules and access to better technology, but a history of pollution coupled with a lack of understanding by the general public and policymakers has led to reactive policies that limit exploration and permits. As a result, the sustainability of the United States depends on foreign raw materials. In 2018the United States was 100% dependent on foreign sources for arsenic, gallium and indium needed for solar panels, rare earth elements for domestic wind turbine needs, and graphite and manganese for batteries.

Meanwhile, mining companies are building in countries with looser regulations, letting them pollute the environment and deplete their resources if it brings them more profits. We gain nothing from strict US regulations that make us dependent on buying our raw materials from these countries that continue to harm the planet. To take the lead on sustainability, entrepreneurs must lead by example by moving away from the profit-first mentality and pushing for a global consensus on common-sense regulations, emissions and operations. responsible mining.

We need people to be informed and supportive of this essential industry if we are to achieve sustainable development and create a future where businesses of all kinds can not only survive, but thrive. As unlikely as it may seem, the key to reducing emissions and improving people’s lives is mining.

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