The Earth Is Running Out Of Sand

 

A Sandy Crisis

The Earth is running out of sand.

And that’s more of a problem than one might think.

Sand, seemingly ubiquitous, is essential to everything around us – it is the primary substance used to make everything from roads and bridges to silicon chips.

In fact, United Nations climate scientists said that a sand shortage will be one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century, according to CNBC.

“We never thought we would run out of sand but it is starting in some places,” Pascal Peduzzi of the UN Environment Programme said during a webinar hosted by the British-based think tank Chatham House.

Peduzzi explained that the UN has estimated that the world consumes about 40 to 50 billion tons of sand annually, adding that the global rate of sand use goes beyond the rate at which sand is being naturally replenished.

Scientists have also noted that not all sand is useful: Construction companies primarily use sand extracted from bodies of water – such as seabeds, coastlines and rivers – due to its binding properties.

Nevertheless, researchers said that countries have started to take steps to reduce sand usage following a 2019 UN resolution that recognized the sand crisis.

But Peduzzi warned that the world has yet to properly address this challenge and that many countries must implement a proper action plan.

“It’s time to wake up,” he said.