resource
Nov. 1 2011
Resource
Global Materials Extraction (Keeping Track)
Description
As societies grow and become wealthier, demand for basic materials is further increasingThe global use of natural resource materials increased by over 40% between 1992 and 2005, from about 42 to nearly 60 thousand million tonnes. On a per capita basis, the increase was 27%. Among the four major material groups (biomass, fossil fuels, ores and industrial minerals, and construction minerals) there has been a major increase in extraction of construction minerals of almost 80%, followed by ores and industrial minerals (close to 60%). This growth is strongly linked to increasing population numbers and the need for shelter, food and an improved standard of living (UNEP 2011). International trade in resource materials has also increased. “The total value of world trade in natural resources was US$ 3 700 thousand millions in 2008, or nearly 24 Per Cent of world merchandise trade. This value has increased more than six-fold between 1998 and 2008” (WTO 2011).
This graphic is part of the publication Keeping Track of Our Changing Environment.
