The turnaround in raw materials is the key to creating a sustainable future. It aims to drastically reduce global consumption of raw materials while protecting both climate and human rights.
Reducing primary raw material consumption to dampen raw material demand
The growing global hunger for raw materials is driving environmental destruction and human rights violations in resource-rich regions. Germany is one of them Five of the world's largest metal users. Although primary metals are almost entirely dependent on imports, consumption has not changed in recent years. This hunger for raw materials leads to massive human rights violations and environmental destruction and contributes significantly to the climate crisis. Apart from flowery words, the Resource curse elsewhere, no role for the raw materials policy of the respective federal governments. In many regions rich in raw materials, from the Ecuadorian Andes up to the Islands of the Philippines People are protesting against the exploitation of their natural resources. Protests are also on the rise in Europe. Therefore, we demand from the Federal government a turnaround in raw materials, to expand the circular economy, reduce the use of primary raw materials and thus dampen global demand for raw materials!
Thinking about the energy and mobility transition
An example: The future electromobility will increase the demand for metals Let it explode. Although an exit from fossil fuels such as diesel and gasoline engines is needed, instead of a drive turnaround, a mobility turnaround is needed in which not two-and-a-half-ton SUVs are moved to bring an 80-kilogram person from A to B. The automotive industry is already one of the main consumers of metallic raw materials. Instead, we need a Social-ecological transformation of the mobility sector. In the future, metallic raw materials will also be needed in the area of expansion of wind power and solar systems. However, PowerShift shows that Energy turnaround and raw materials turnaround no contradiction We are already thinking about the recycling of raw materials in solar cells and wind turbines, so that these raw materials will still be available to us in ten, 20 or 30 years.
Objectives of the campaign
We call for a consistent transition to a circular economy, a drastic reduction in primary raw material consumption and a clear political framework for resource protection and climate justice. We see them Federal Government in Duty, also in response to the unsafe supply chains caused by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the pandemic. It must absolutely reduce the consumption of raw materials, improve supply chain law for the protection of those affected by mining, including access to justice, and massively expand the circular economy. This starts with design, goes over repairability to information management.
The main demands are:
- Define sector-specific targets for the reduction of primary metal consumption
- To understand the circular economy not as waste management, but as a raw material policy and to keep metals in use through the design, production, use and recycling phases
- Ensuring and strengthening human rights, environmental and climate-related due diligence obligations in laws
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Publications on the turnaround in raw materials
Our podcasts on the EU-Mercosur agreement
