Hot iron - for a cold climate?

How metal consumption contributes to the climate crisis and why we need a climate-friendly raw material transition!
In order to put a stop to the climate crisis, technological solutions have been used so far. Many are concerned with continuing their previous business and life with as few changes as possible. This "continues like this" ignores questions of justice. However, the consequences of the climate crisis and the extraction of raw materials are unevenly distributed globally. Neither the use of raw materials nor energy is globally just.
In this publication we deal with the climate, environmental and social consequences of mining and the raw material production of metals. Metals are the basis of our coexistence and for the so-called green technologies. Without them, there would be no wind power or solar plants, no electric cars, no digitalization. Almost all studies by the International Energy Agency, the World Bank, the EU Commission, the Federal Government or GIZ predict strongly growing metal requirements.
But are these needs at all compatible with climate protection goals and climate justice? And if not, how can a raw material turnaround succeed that reduces the absolute consumption of metallic raw materials and still enables the transition to the post-fossil age?
This publication has received financial support from Engagement Global and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentWork and Development (BMZ). For the content of the publication are solely responsible to the publishers; the positions shown here do not reflect the position of the donors.