Earth Overshoot Day in Germany soon reached: New Study Shows How Raw Material Reduction Helps Fight Earth Overload
Earth Overshoot Day in Germany soon reached: New Study Shows How Raw Material Reduction Helps Fight Earth Overload
Berlin, 29.04: This year, Germany will reach Earth Overshoot Day on 2 May, two days earlier than last year. A new publication now shows: Raw material reduction, especially in the area of metallic raw materials, can play a decisive role in reducing the overload of the earth by the German industry and pushing the Earth Overshoot Day backwards.
The Berlin-based NGO PowerShift has commissioned the ifeu Institute to calculate concrete savings potentials for iron, aluminium, copper and nickel in Germany. The study shows how the reduction of raw materials can be achieved and in which sectors there is massive potential for savings.
“In Germany, we use raw materials as if we had three planets at our disposal. This is neither sustainable nor globally just. In the coalition agreement, the traffic light parties had recognized this and announced themselves as the first federal government to reduce the consumption of primary raw materials. However, no concrete action has yet been taken to achieve this goal", emphasises Michael Reckordt, raw material expert at PowerShift.
“In order to show the Federal Government how metallic raw material consumption could be reduced, we commissioned the ifeu Institute to calculate possible savings in various sectors. In the transport sector alone, almost 37 million tonnes of iron, aluminium, copper and nickel could be saved by 2050. In the construction sector, the savings potential is even up to 52 million tonnes over the same period", adds Maja Wilke, who is responsible for the study at PowerShift. “It is now important for the Federal Government to act swiftly and in a coordinated manner, e.g. within the framework of the National Circular Economy Strategy – but the Ministry of Transport and Building are also called upon to set the necessary course in their sectors.”
Further information:
- To the brochure: ‘Reduce metal consumption: Practical proposals to shape the raw materials transition”
- To the podcast: “Using less metals – How to achieve the raw materials transition in Germany”
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
- Adrian Bornmann, Press and Public Relations Officer at PowerShift, adrian.bornmann@power-shift.de, 017672773137
- Maja Wilke, Policy Officer for Raw Materials at PowerShift, maja.wilke@power-shift.de, +49 (0)30 419 341 82
- Michael Reckordt, Policy Officer for Raw Materials at PowerShift, michael.reckordt@power-shift.de, +49 (0)163 6336372
English (US)