Antofagasta expects 2024 copper output at low end of yearly forecast
Antofagasta produced 284,700 metric tons of copper in the first half, down 3.7% from the same period in 2023.
BBC charted the expected lifespans of various resources like silver, coal and forests.
As the world’s population soars, so does its consumption, and as a result we are stretching many of our natural resources to their limits.
Of course, the assumption is that human ingenuity and market forces will prevent supplies from running out: we could create better or cheaper extraction methods, recycle materials, find alternatives to non-renewable sources, or reduce consumption.