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InBrief: Mining's Contribution to Sustainable Development
International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM)
International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM)
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Abstract
"The mining and metals industry is well placed to contribute to the resolution of the climate change challenge. Many mining and metals companies are measuring, managing and reducing their own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. More significantly the industry is also supplying the materials needed to build a low carbon future. This latter role is less well understood and is the focus of this publication. A range of technologies exist to reduce the emissions intensity of power generation, including renewables and carbon capture and storage (CCS). The mineral and metal requirements for the physical structures of both wind turbines and solar panels are significant. Applying CCS technology would also increase metal requirements due to the additional infrastructure needed to capture, transport and store CO2 emissions. This paper explains that although the exact pathway to a low carbon future is not yet known, a number of viable elements are well understood in the areas of energy efficiency and low carbon power generation. All of these low carbon technologies will require mineral and metal inputs. The widespread adoption of these technologies has the potential to change global metals demand compared with demand from current technologies. This change in demand will also affect the emissions associated with metals production."
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Preprint
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2012-06
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With permission of the license/copyright holder