Sustainability by numbers

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We have enough minerals for the energy transition, but medium-term supply is a challenge [Part 1]
We won't run out of minerals to build a low-carbon energy system.
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Hannah Ritchie
10
November 2023
How much waste do solar panels and wind turbines produce?
Solar and wind produce less waste than coal; but they can reduce waste even further
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Hannah Ritchie
46
The world has enough minerals for low-carbon electricity
Total reserves are not the issue – mine construction and geopolitical risks are likely to be larger barriers to progress.
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Hannah Ritchie
22
The low-carbon energy transition will need less mining than fossil fuels, even when adjusted for waste rock
Low-carbon electricity will reduce material requirements, but moving to electric vehicles increases them
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Hannah Ritchie
21
October 2023
Can solar and wind power Britain? An update of David MacKay’s numbers
These technologies have developed a lot since 2008. Should we be any more optimistic about their potential to power Britain?
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Hannah Ritchie
79
Electrification is efficiency: The world will need less energy after the transition
Electrification means that final energy demand falls, without changing the value that we get from energy services.
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Hannah Ritchie
34
Meat substitutes need to get a lot cheaper
Meat substitutes are more expensive than their meaty equivalents. Until they're cheaper, they will struggle to bite into the protein market.
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Hannah Ritchie
36
Net-zero: it’s not just where you end up, but how you get there that matters
Delaying emissions cuts makes climate change worse, even if countries reach net-zero in 2050.
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Hannah Ritchie
32
September 2023
How much biofuel would we need to decarbonise aviation?
The world could need four to five times as much land for biofuels as it uses today.
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Hannah Ritchie
10
How much does aviation contribute to climate change? How will this change in the future?
Aviation is responsible for around 3% of global emissions, and will be one of the hardest sectors to tackle.
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Hannah Ritchie
27
My TED Talk is now live
We can live well and tackle our environmental problems at the same time. Let's do it.
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Hannah Ritchie
18
How much more electricity will the UK need to switch to electric vehicles?
Going to 100% electric cars would increase electricity demand by around one-quarter. Moving all road transport to electric would increase it by around…
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Hannah Ritchie
18
© 2023 Hannah Ritchie
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