Worldwide the economies are rapidly increasing the demand for minerals. Although some policies are focusing more on recycling, many others are aiming to open new mining projects. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the race for raw materials has intensified. In this rush for coveted minerals and metals such as copper, gold, bauxite, lithium and others the long-term consequences of this extreme intervention in landscapes and ecosystems are often lost from focus. 

This report strives to shed light on the various biophysical as well as sociocultural long-term impacts of mining, which can mean too massive long-term monetary costs for states and further generations.