Resourcing Future Generations: Securing the future supply of raw materials for the planet: a multifaceted approach
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One of the major challenges facing global society is continuity of raw material supply over the coming decades. In the middle of the 20th century, some countries experienced unprecedented improvements in living standards, as measured against virtually any metric: mortality rates fell, life expectancies rose, quality of life improved for many, and per capita incomes swelled. Technological advances drove a rapid increase in the discovery, production and utilisation of water and energy resources, as well as numerous mineral commodities, from construction staples to nuclear fuels and metals for advanced applications. The demand for an increasing diversity of raw materials to satisfy the higher standards of living that the developing world has every right to expect is apparently insatiable and challenges from where these materials are to come at a time when social acceptance of the activities of the extractive industries is increasingly questioned and a ‘licence to mine’ cannot be assumed. |For such reasons, in February 2013 IUGS launched a new initiative, Resourcing Future Generations in the expectation that it would serve to co-ordinate and focus activity across a number of IUGS adhering countries and affiliated member bodies. The symposium will explore the inter-relationship between six themes: i. Comprehensive evaluation and quantification of 21st century supply and demand; ii. Governmental approaches for securing the stable supply of mineral commodities; iii. Enhanced understanding to the subsurface as it relates to mineral (energy and groundwater) resources; iv. Evaluation of where additional resources are likely to be found; v.Building additional capacity to facilitate responsible development in less developed nations; vi. Novel, non-invasive mining technologies. The conveners invite authors to submit papers under any to the six main themes using case studies, application of novel techniques and practical examples in support.
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Edmund Nickless, Pat Leahy, Brian Skinner and Neil Williams
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