Australia’s Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has said that a 450 percent increase in mineral production will be needed to meet net zero by 2050.
This comes as Resources Minister Madeleine King released a new strategy (pdf) for making Australia a global producer of raw and processed critical minerals.
Speaking at the 26th World Mining Congress in Brisbane on June 29, Chalmers said Australia “stands ready” to play a part in meeting the world’s climate goals by 2050 but admits that this requires a “strong and successful” resources sector.
“We can’t generate renewable energy or get to net zero without the copper and cobalt that go in solar panels and wind turbines,” he said….