Sustainable Development of the Chinese Copper Market
With the rapid growth of the Chinese economy over the past decade, the demand for various raw materials, including copper, also has been increasing at a rapid pace.
Chinese refined copper production reached 3.79 million tonnes in 2008, 2.8 times that of its production in 2000, and accounts for 20.5 per cent of total world output (18.48 million tonnes); as a result, China is now the largest refined copper producer in the world. Chinese consumption of refined copper in 2008 was 5.2 million tonnes, 2.6 times that of its consumption in 2000, accounting for 28.8 per cent of the world's total (18.02 million tonnes); China has also been the world's largest copper consumer for seven consecutive years. For more than ten years, China has experienced faster growth in copper production and consumption than all other countries. The rapid growth in production and consumption also has resulted in a series of challenges for the Chinese economy, including the depletion of Chinese copper reserves, increased imbalances in the Chinese industrial structure, and growing stresses on the international trading system. This analysis provides a basis for a more strategic development of the Chinese copper industry, in accordance with the basic principles of sustainable development. The purpose of the paper is to provide a reference for government authorities to draft macroeconomic policies to apply the model of economic growth and promote not only a rapid but a socially and environmentally sustainable development of the Chinese copper industry.
You might also be interested in
CSDDD: EU's Due diligence law vote should drive supply chain sustainability efforts
The European Parliament has voted to adopt the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, aiming to address the environmental and social impacts of the supply chains of Europe's large corporations.
Will the Inclusion of Voluntary Standards in Trade Agreements Lead to More Sustainable Trade?
The use of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and similar systems in free trade agreements (FTAs) is gaining traction. Will it lead to more sustainable production and consumption globally?
Global Market Report: Soybean prices and sustainability
Less than 3% of soybeans are produced in compliance with sustainability standards. This report unpacks what needs to change to make soybeans a food that protects rather than harms the natural environment.
Measures to Enhance Forest Conservation and Reduce Deforestation
This report outlines and compares various policy measures that Costa Rica, Gabon, Indonesia, Peru, and Rwanda have put in place to address deforestation.