Topics

Growth in global economic activity and affluence led to an unprecedented increase in the extraction of natural resources like raw materials and water. This causes various environmental problems, including deforestation and climate change. Our work focuses on developing methods, datasets and tools to assess trends in resource extraction in the agriculture, forestry and mining sectors. We conduct research at both national and spatially explicit levels, using data from satellite imagery and other sources to study the impacts, such as changes in land use.

Globalisation of supply chains increases the spatial separation of the environmental pressures and impacts of production from consumption. With our models, we link local resource extraction, e.g. in a mine or a crop field, and its environmental and social impacts to final consumption of products in countries worldwide. Calculating consumption footprints helps identifying hotspots of resource use and impacts and thus supports a transition to a resource-efficient and more circular global economy.

Science communication is key for bridging the gap at the science-policy interface. We work with NGOs, governments, and international organisations, such as the UN Environment Programme, to support science-based policy design. We develop user-tailored formats such as online data visualisation tools, policy papers, comprehensive reports, or factsheets to help analyse complex interrelationships. Have a look at our online visualisation tools SCP-HAT and materialflows.net, the UBA Resources Report for Germany, and our videos below.