IEF – Copper Mining and Vehicle Electrification

The authors of this paper highlight the importance of copper in the context of electricity generation and vehicle electrification, a key component of current climate policy. They express concerns about the ability of copper supply to meet the demands of both the green energy transition and global development. The paper projects copper supply and demand from 2018 to 2050, showing that significant increases in mining will be necessary to meet the needs of electrifying the global vehicle fleet. The authors stress the unprecedented nature of the copper mining challenge and suggest ways to reduce copper demand, such as through the manufacture of hybrid electric vehicles. The goal of the paper is to raise awareness about the magnitude of the copper mining challenge, particularly among those less familiar with resource issues, in order to promote discussion and alternative policies for ensuring global development keeps pace with the green energy transition.