Pathways for medium- and long-term sustainable supply of typical strategic metals in China in context of carbon neutrality

Authors

Xianlai ZENG, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaFollow
Jinhui LI, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Yong GENG, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaFollow
Han HAO, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Weirun HUANG, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xin SUN, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Keywords

metals, recycling, urban,mining, sustainability, industrial chain

Document Type

Strategy & Policy Decision Research

Abstract

Mineral resources are fundamental materials for economic and social development. Irrational exploration, utilization and consumption not only undermine the security of industrial chain and supply chain, but also seriously damage ecosystem. A new round of technological revolution and carbon neutral strategy is reshaping the global innovation distribution and technical structure. As China's economic and social development advances into post-epidemic stage, the supply and demand structure of strategic metal resources has experienced profound changes. The security challenges extend from traditional security of access to resource to the entire chains, including extraction, processing, use and recycling. China's solid waste generation has grown rapidly along with economic development, but its recycling rate is still low, leading to the loss of a large scale of resources. In the future, the collection and recycling system of secondary metals should be enhanced, management systems for classification and grading of resources and reserves of secondary resources should be established, and national systems and standards for efficient resources utilization should be developed. The above measures are designed to guarantee the optimal internal circularity and self-sufficiency of strategic metals resources, which helps alleviate the dependence on other countries.

First page

1099

Last Page

1109

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

References

1 International Resource Panel. Global Resources Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future We Want. Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme, 2019.

2 Wang P, Wang H, Chen W Q, et al. Carbon neutrality needs a circular metal-energy nexus. Fundamental Research, 2022, 2(3): 392-395.

3 段立哲, 李金惠. 巴塞尔公约发展和我国履约实践. 环境与可持续发展, 2020, 45(5): 27-29.Duan L Z, Li J H. Development of Basel Convention and China’s implementation practice. Environment and Sustainable Development, 2020, 45(5): 27-29. (in Chinese)

4 Zeng X, Ali S H, Tian J, et al. Mapping anthropogenic mineral generation in China and its implications for a circular economy. Nature Communications, 2020, 11(1): 1544.

5 曾现来, 李金惠. 城市矿山开发及其资源调控：特征、可持续性和开发机理. 中国科学：地球科学, 2018, 48(3): 288-298. Zeng X L, Li J H. Urban mining and its resources adjustment: characteristics, sustainability, and extraction. SCIENTIA SINICA Terrae, 2018, 48(3): 288-298. (in Chinese)

6 刘刚, 曹植, 王鹤鸣, 等. 推进物质流和社会经济代谢研究, 助力实现联合国可持续发展目标. 中国科学院院刊, 2018, 33(1): 30-39. Liu G, Cao Z, Wang H M, et al. Promoting material flow and socioeconomic metabolism analysis for achieving UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2018, 33(1): 30-39. (in Chinese)

7 Sun X, Hao H, Liu Z, et al. Tracing global cobalt flow: 1995-2015. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2019, 149: 45-55.

8 Werner T T, Ciacci L, Mudd G M, et al. Looking down under for a circular economy of indium. Environmental Science & Technology, 2018, 52(4): 2055-2062.

9 Gómez M, Xu G, Li J, et al. Securing indium utilization for high-tech and renewable energy industries. Environmental Science & Technology, 2023, 57(6): 2611-2624.

10 Bakry M, Li J, Zeng X. Evaluation of global niobium flow modeling and its market forecasting. Frontiers in Energy, 2023, 17(2): 286-293.

11 Elhacham E, Ben-Uri L, Grozovski J, et al. Global human-made mass exceeds all living biomass. Nature, 2020, 588: 442-444.

12 杨卉芃, 柳林, 丁国峰. 全球锂矿资源现状及发展趋势. 矿产保护与利用, 2019, 39(5): 26-40.Yang H F, Liu L, Ding G F. Present situation and development trend of lithium resources in the world. Conservation and Utilization of Mineral Resources, 2019, 39(5): 26-40. (in Chinese)

13 张伟波, 陈秀法, 陈玉明, 等. 全球铟矿资源供需现状与我国开发利用建议. 矿产保护与利用, 2019, 39(5): 1-8. Zhang W B, Chen X F, Chen Y M, et al. Current status of supply and demand of global indium mineral resources and suggestions for development and utilization in China. Conservation and Utilization of Mineral Resources, 2019, 39(5): 1-8. (in Chinese)

14 何海洋, 何敏, 李建武. 我国铌矿资源供需形势分析. 中国矿业, 2018, 27(11): 1-11. He H Y, He M, Li J C. Analysis of niobium resources supply and demand pattern in China. China Mining Magazine, 2018, 27(11): 1-11. (in Chinese)

15 马奎, 洛桑才仁, 陈超, 等. 全球锗资源分布、供需及消费趋势研究. 矿产保护与利用, 2019, 39(5): 16-25.Ma K, Luo S C R, Chen C, et al. Global germanium resource distribution, supply, demand, and consumption trends. Conservation and Utilization of Mineral Resources, 2019, 39(5): 16-25. (in Chinese)

16 Sun X, Hao H, Geng Y, et al. Exploring the potential for improving material utilization efficiency to secure lithium supply for China’s battery supply chain. Fundamental Research, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.fmre.2022.12.008.

17 Miatto A, Wolfram P, Reck B K, et al. Uncertain future of American lithium: a perspective until 2050. Environmental Science & Technology, 2021, 55(23): 16184-16194.

18 Chen Z, Zhang L, Xu Z. Tracking and quantifying the cobalt flows in mainland China during 1994-2016: Insights into use, trade and prospective demand. Science of The Total Environment, 2019, 672: 752-762.

19 Lin S, Mao J, Chen W, et al. Indium in mainland China: Insights into use, trade, and efficiency from the substance flow analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2019, 149: 312-321.

20 Lin J, Li X, Chen W, et al. Mapping the upstream journey of China’s indium: A trade-linked substance flow analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2022, 380: 135051.

21 McCaffrey D M, Nassar N T, Jowitt S M, et al. Embedded critical material flow: The case of niobium, the United States, and China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2023, 188: 106698.

22 邢佳韵, 彭浩, 张艳飞, 等. 世界锂资源供需形势展望. 资源科学, 2015, 37(5): 988-997.Xing J Y, Peng H, Zhang Y F, et al. Global lithium demand and supply. Resources Science, 2015, 37(5): 988-997. (in Chinese)

23 王翘楚, 孙鑫, 郝瀚, 等. 锂的城市矿产利用：前景、挑战及政策建议. 科技导报, 2020, 38(15): 6-15. Wang Q C, Sun X, Hao H, et al. Urban mining of lithium: prospects, challenges and policy recommendations. Science & Technology Review, 2020, 38(15): 6-15. (in Chinese)

24 Ali S H. The US should get serious about mining critical minerals for clean energy. Nature, 2023, 615: 563.

Recommended Citation

ZENG, Xianlai; LI, Jinhui; GENG, Yong; HAO, Han; HUANG, Weirun; and SUN, Xin (2023) "Pathways for medium- and long-term sustainable supply of typical strategic metals in China in context of carbon neutrality," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 38 : Iss. 8 , Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.20230408001
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol38/iss8/2