Transition to renewables require huge amounts of minerals, including copper, lithium, graphite and rare earth metals. Some studies suggest that the amount of minerals for a full transition to renewables may be beyond the Earth’s reserves. If correct, this means that a full transition is physically impossible to accomplish.
Reserves are the amount of a mineral that can be extracted at a profit with current prices and technology. Even if technology does not improve, higher prices means much more mineral can be extracted profitably.
Reserves are the amount of a mineral that can be extracted at a profit with current prices and technology. Even if technology does not improve, higher prices means much more mineral can be extracted profitably.