Earth Overshoot Day in Germany soon reached: New Study Shows How Resource Reduction Helps Against Earth Overload
Berlin, 29.04: This year, Germany reaches Earth Overshoot Day on 2 May, two days earlier than last year. A new publication now shows: Reduction of raw materials, especially in the field of metallic raw materials, can play a decisive role in reducing the overload of the earth by German industry and shifting Earth Overshoot Day backwards.
The Berlin-based NGO PowerShift has commissioned the ifeu Institute to calculate concrete savings potential for iron, aluminium, copper and nickel in Germany. The study shows how the reduction of raw materials can succeed 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 fair. In the coalition agreement, the traffic light parties had recognized this and declared themselves the first federal government to reduce primary raw material consumption. But this objective has not yet been followed by concrete action", stresses 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 in the same period is even up to 52 million tonnes", 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. as part of the National Circular Economy Strategy – but the Ministry of Transport and Construction are also called upon to set the necessary course in their sectors.”
For more information:
- To the brochure: ‘Reduce metal consumption: Practical proposals for shaping the raw materials transition’
- To the podcast: “Using less metals – How to make 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, Resource Policy Officer at PowerShift, maja.wilke@power-shift.de, +49 (0)30 419 341 82
- Michael Reckordt, Resource Policy Officer at PowerShift, michael.reckordt@power-shift.de, +49 (0)163 6336372
