Showing papers in "Minerals & Energy - Raw Materials Report in 2007"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors look at the most important aspects of the aggregates system throughout Europe and put it into the wider context of sustainable resource management as launched by the European Commission (2005b) in its thematic strategy (COM(2005) 670 final).
Abstract: Aggregates are granular materials – sand, gravel and crushed rock, in particular. Usually they are not thought of as a hot spot of environmental policy. This paper looks at the most important aspects of the aggregates system throughout Europe and puts it into the wider context of sustainable resource management as launched by the European Commission (2005b) in its thematic strategy (COM(2005) 670 final). Aggregates are important for sustainable resource management chiefly for two reasons:•their material intensity – their relevance for increasing resource productivity in the European Union (EU) as part of the Lisbon strategy and the sustainability strategy;1•their environmental intensity – their relevance for increasing eco‐efficiency and for lowering environmental impacts in the EU.Both dimensions will be looked at in this paper. For understanding those dimensions, the aggregates value chain – the construction material industries, the building industries' outcomes, and the housing sector – is crucial too....
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the contribution of natural resources to economic growth around the world, pondering the question whether an abundance of NPs is a blessing or a curse, and provide a glimpse of recent empirical evidence that can be brought to bear on this question.
Abstract: This article is in three parts. First, it briefly describes the contribution of natural resources to economic growth around the world, pondering the question whether an abundance of natural resources is a blessing or a curse. Secondly, an attempt is made to provide a glimpse of recent empirical evidence that can be brought to bear on this question. Thirdly, the article discusses the experience of Norway, the world's third largest oil exporter. To date, Norway has appeared to be mostly free of the worrisome symptoms, such as the Dutch disease, that have afflicted many other countries with abundant natural resources.
23 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the disjunction between the current mining practices of Chinese state companies and emerging international norms and host community expectations in the global minerals market, and argues that if China does not move toward the observance of new international norms for responsible mining, especially those dealing with interests and concerns of local communities, the result may result in increased tensions and conflict in those parts of the world where Chinese mining companies are operating, with potentially negative consequences for China's own interests and economic development.
Abstract: This paper examines the disjunction between the current mining practices of Chinese state companies and emerging international norms and host community expectations in the global minerals market. The paper argues that if China does not move toward the observance of new international norms for responsible mining, especially those dealing with interests and concerns of local communities, the result may be increased tensions and conflict in those parts of the world where Chinese mining companies are operating, with potentially negative consequences for China's own interests and economic development.
17 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an exploration method for anthropogenic deposits is proposed and described by application to the copper stocks of Switzerland, and the method combines material flow analysis with a bottom-up analysis of material stocks.
Abstract: The material stocks in the anthroposphere are growing faster than ever due to urbanization and growing per capita use. Owing to the growing potential insecurity of raw material supply the evaluation of resources gains increasing attention. Despite growing utilization of anthropogenic deposits, ‘urban mining’ has not yet sufficiently been supported by specific exploration methods. An exploration method for anthropogenic deposits is proposed and described by application to the copper stocks of Switzerland. The method combines material flow analysis with a bottom‐up analysis of material stocks. The stock composition and temporal characteristics are analysed by surveys and literature analysis. The stock amounts to 269±31 kg capita−1 for the year 2000. The retrospective data are used as parameters to construct a dynamic stock model, which is calibrated by historical trade statistics. The potential for drafting scenarios is discussed. The stock situation in Switzerland is reviewed and compared with that of othe...
11 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the non-technical issues of construction and demolition waste recycling in the field of municipal road construction and urban infrastructure in Germany, where the use of recycled construction materials is comparably easy and at the same time public organizations are usually held responsible for giving good examples.
Abstract: Construction and demolition activities produce waste in very significant quantities. At the same time the construction industry has a high demand for natural resources. Re‐integrating recyclables/reusables into the material cycle and appreciating residuals from construction and demolition activities as resources are important contributions to a sustainable use of resources. Nevertheless, the recycling potentials are not yet used to full potential and also the largest share of recycling activities still actually has to be characterized as down‐cycling. This study analysed the non‐technical (e.g. social, institutional, contextual) issues of construction and demolition waste recycling in the field of municipal road construction and urban infrastructure in Germany. This field was chosen because there the use of recycled construction materials is comparably easy and at the same time public organizations are usually held responsible for giving good examples. Based on theoretical models for the construction sect...
10 citations
TL;DR: Despite, and because of, all the technological progress, mankind is as much as ever dependent on the steady availability of a wide range of natural resources such as air, biological resources, energy, land, minerals, and soils.
Abstract: Despite, and because of, all the technological progress, mankind is as much as ever dependent on the steady availability of a wide range of natural resources such as air, biological resources, energy, land, minerals, and soils. The enormous and accelerating growth in the demand for these resources recorded during the 20th century is likely to further accelerate during the 21st, driven by continued demographic growth, new technologies and the desire of many as yet underdeveloped, but sometimes highly populated, countries such as Brazil, China, India and others to access the same standards of living as developed countries. Competition for resources was always a powerful driver of both conflicts and of damage to our fragile, life‐supporting environment. In a sustainable development context, humanity needs a well‐distributed economic growth while avoiding negative environmental and social impacts. Intra‐generational and inter‐generational equity are requisites, as well as the careful management of the global ...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide an overview of Asian influence in world commodity markets and examine its changing patterns, and quantify the impact of rapidly growing Asian economy on long-term resource utilization, using a General Equilibrium Model for Asian Trade to project regional growth scenarios.
Abstract: Dynamic growth patterns of developing Asia will continue to make strong impressions in world commodity markets. Driven by rapid income growth and economic development, developing Asia has surfaced as a major demand force behind the price dynamics of primary commodities. The region's economic growth and development has been tightly associated with rapid industrialization, urbanization, and massive infrastructure investments, which are all resource‐intensive. These trends are set to intensify as Asia's mammoth economies emerge. The paper provides an overview of Asian influence in world commodity markets and examines its changing patterns. It also attempts to quantify the impact of the rapidly growing Asian economy on long‐term resource utilization, using a General Equilibrium Model for Asian Trade to project regional growth scenarios. The model captures long‐run equilibrium tendencies in product and factor markets for the use of natural resources. The estimated results point to fundamental changes in market...
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an institutional framework for resource management incorporating an international panel, would help to decouple natural resources use from its environmental impacts, monitor global material and energy flows balance and guide the design of policies and measures.
Abstract: The importance of natural resources is recognized by its constitutional protection. A strategy to lower the impact of availability and cost of materials will have positive externalities, lessening exporting jobs abroad. A robust policy framework will improve eco‐efficient resource use and promote sustainable production and consumption. An Institutional Framework for Resource Management incorporating an international panel, would help to decouple natural resources use from its environmental impacts, monitor global material and energy flows balance and guide the design of policies and measures. Additionally, it would coordinate constituencies and generate information and knowledge, within the framework of existing environmental institutionalism. Humans change ecosystems to meet their respective needs. Their unfathomable ingenuity and drive needs a strong legal framework to provide order and deter predatory free market practices, thus limiting environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources thro...
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, different criteria for valuing DSM measures are analyzed, including valuing avoided costs from the electricity sector (namely by considering data from marginal costs) and valuing environmental benefits.
Abstract: In the present regulations of the Portuguese electricity sector distribution companies, acting as last resort suppliers, they can promote energy efficiency measures also designated in this context by Demand Side Management (DSM) measures. In order to promote the implementation of these measures, the Tariff Code establishes that the measures, costs and half of the respective net benefits will be reflected in the supply tariffs. In this paper different criteria for valuing DSM measures are analysed, including valuing avoided costs from the electricity sector (namely by considering data from marginal costs) and valuing environmental benefits. The economic criteria discussed are applied to five DSM measures. For each criterion and for each DSM measure several aspects are evaluated, namely: 1) the respective costs and benefits, distinguishing between bill reduction benefits and environmental benefits; 2) the benefit/cost ratio; 3) the amount of allowed revenues to be included in the supply tariffs and the impa...
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, sustainable resource management has become a topical issue recently, and the reasons are evident: firstly, prices for raw material commodities have been soaring on world markets since the year 2000.
Abstract: Sustainable resource management has become a topical issue recently. The reasons are evident: firstly, prices for raw material commodities have been soaring on world markets since the year 2000. Se...
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify and explain the institutional restraints that are present in the Brazilian natural gas market, that are mainly responsible for the supply crisis of natural gas in 2006, affecting economic considerations in the industrial and electric energy generation sectors.
Abstract: The purpose of this work is to identify and explain the institutional restraints, which are present in the Brazilian natural gas market, that are mainly responsible for the supply crisis of natural gas in 2006, affecting economic considerations in the industrial and electric energy generation sectors. The analysis, based on the New Institutional Economics theory, will depict the key institutional aspects of the Brazilian natural gas industry and also introduce a discussion regarding the potential impacts of the proposal for changes in the Brazilian gas regulation, under analysis in the Senate. The main conclusions are: 1) Given the present energy policy and faced with the institutional restraints, it is expected that natural gas will play only a marginal role in the Brazilian energy mix; 2) The Brazilian gas policy should promote new gas‐fired industrial processes and technologies; 3) Both the current business strategies from the main gas players and the national energy policy do not reflect such reality;...
TL;DR: In this article, a trans-disciplinary, systemic and problem-driven methodological approach is proposed to achieve a needed breakthrough in pro-active and sustainable management of involved housing areas, contributing to sustainable development and increase of quality of life.
Abstract: A problematic legacy of challenging issues – technically, materially, economically, environmentally, and socially – in this context with regard to European built environments – calls for an academic trans-disciplinary, systemic and problem driven methodological approach in order to achieve a needed breakthrough in pro-active and sustainable management of involved housing areas, contributing to sustainable development and increase of quality of life in a town as a whole. This approach is relevant to elaborate in accordance to the currently developing sustainability discourse and the concept of integrated conservation, with its physical and social dimensions, which enables identification of appropriate means to deal with contextual and complex issues, such as e.g. valorisation, planning, interventions and identification of human needs related to urban structures of a general building stock – i.e. “ordinary” recent buildings and environments. The crucial comprehension of urban fabric as an integrated material, economic and social resource highlights the need for a strategic and holistic, long-term approach to the management and conservation of modern metropolitan housing areas as an important aspect of sustainable urban planning and development at large.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluate the issue of raw material prices in the light of developments in the world economy and expose the uncertainty and the risks inherent in projecting raw material price fluctuations.
Abstract: Raw material prices dramatically increased in the last quarter of 2001. It has been argued that growth of the world economy and expansion of foreign trade are major effective factors in increasing raw material prices. On the other hand, from the last quarter of 2001, growing political instability and regional battles have also placed pressure on prices. In reality, the uncertain trend of raw material prices is not today's issue; the problem has been present in recent centuries. However, as a result of the collapse of the world monetary system in the 1970s, uncertainty of exchange rates and interest rates have increased these fluctuations of raw material prices and have had a negative effect on the world economy. Our aim is to evaluate the issue of raw material prices in the light of developments in the world economy and to expose the uncertainty and the risks inherent in projections of raw material price fluctuations.