Towards a more sustainable metal use – Lessons learned from national strategy documents. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiser, Annika; Bickel, Manuel W.; Kümmerer, Klaus; Lang, Daniel J.
• Is Part Of: Resources policy. Volume 68(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Sustainability -- Metals -- Raw material strategy -- Transition strategy -- Cluster analysis; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Ressources naturelles -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; 333.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4207

Abstract

Abstract: There is urgent need to change the way we make use of non-renewable resources, especially metals, to sustain their availability for vital technologies associated with achieving change towards sustainability, but also to minimize negative impacts and to achieve a fair distribution of the wealth and burdens associated with their production and use. Especially public actors (state governments and administrations) have recently formulated strategies as a means to guide action fostering these goals. Yet, these strategies are very different in their character, which makes it difficult to compare them and learn how to best design strategies for a given context to contribute to the necessary change. To approach this question, we analyzed 37 national mineral resource-related strategy documents worldwide concerning their contextual conditions, motivation, and objectives. Following the general inputs for transition strategies (current and target state, transition strategy), we identified four clusters of strategy documents that share similarities in their approaches and support the development of specific recommendations for future strategy design in terms of both content and process. Designing strategies with a clear structure that interlinks a systems-based description of the current state, a clear vision (oriented at sustainability principles) and a sufficiently differentiated but at the same time flexible transition pathway improves their potential to contribute to more sustainable metal production and use. Highlights: Written strategies can be used to direct action towards sustainable resource use. Existing strategies vary highly in their character, motives and suggested actions. We analyzed and compared 37 national mineral resource strategy documents. Existing strategies lack a comprehensive approach towards fostering transformation. We differentiate four clusters of approaches to formulate suitable recommendations.