A researcher at the Environmental Change Institute has contributed to a major new study discussing innovative strategies that significantly reduce both resource consumption and fossil fuel emissions.
The study, in Nature Climate Change, is led by Prof Felix Creutzig from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) in Berlin, together with a large team of experts working on energy, climate and circular economy, including Prof Charlie Wilson from the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at the University of Oxford.
Along with a number of the researchers involved in the study, Prof Wilson is involved in the EU-funded CircEUlar project and the international EDITS network. This study stems from their research and discusses an optimistic scenario from a climate protection perspective, in which the use of fossil fuels can be rapidly reduced.
New materials, new problems?
By phasing out fossil fuels, the production of raw materials is reduced as the extraction of natural gas, oil and coal is no longer necessary. This also reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. However, the key question is whether the demand for raw materials and land for renewable energies, electric cars, and sustainable transport infrastructure will lead to additional social and environmental impacts.
Co-author Volker Krey, IIASA researcher, said: “Material extraction and waste streams, the construction of new infrastructure, the associated land use changes and the provision of new types of goods and services related to decarbonisation will create social and environmental pressures at local to regional levels. For example, rare earth minerals are needed for wind turbines and electric cars, lithium and cobalt for batteries, and construction materials for green infrastructure.”
Co-author Helmut Haberl, from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, added: “Our study provides an overview of the social, ecological, and geopolitical risks of these materials. These include the displacement of people from residential areas where the raw materials are extracted, health effects due to toxic emissions, injuries and deaths due to occupational accidents, cartel structures, corruption and other grievances.”
To limit these problems, it is necessary to keep energy and resource requirements as low as possible through demand-side measures.
Prof Felix Creutzig, noted: “Our study shows that there is considerable potential to reduce energy and resource consumption without having to impose restrictions.”
Solutions for both sides
While the need for materials to support a clean energy infrastructure is substantial, it remains significantly lower than the demand generated by the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels. Demand-side strategies, such as improving resource efficiency, replacing individual mobility with shared or public transport, reusing or recycling existing materials, and the thermal refurbishment of buildings play a decisive role here.
Prof Charlie Wilson said:
These demand-side strategies are “no regrets. They make sense from economic, social, and environmental perspectives as we transition away from fossil fuels.“
The study highlights models that promote shared mobility (including car and ride sharing), which drastically reduces the need for private vehicles. This significantly reduces both material consumption and emissions.
Prof Creutzig added: “Our study emphasises the dual benefits of demand-side solutions in mitigating climate change and reducing material consumption. By focusing on efficiency and circular economy principles, we can achieve significant environmental and social benefits.”
The research team calls for increased interdisciplinary cooperation and new ideas in policy design to make effective use of these demand-side measures. They underscore the importance of integrating such strategies into global climate protection plans to ensure a holistic approach to sustainable development.
Read the full article in Nature Climate Change: Demand-side strategies key for mitigating material impacts of energy transitions