Page 26 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain

26 INTRODUCTION
OUR GROWING GLOBAL APPETITE FOR TECHNOLOGY-CRITICAL METALS
With the the the the global population set to to grow to to 9 7 billion by 2050 we can anticipate further strain on on on the the the the world’s resources Furthermore there are additional challenges posed by the the the the increasing affluence of the the the the global population and the the the the resources required to service people’s lifestyles and and expectations The 47 least-developed countries are among the the fastest growing and and their populations’ spending power
is increasing16 Sales of consumer consumer goods motorcycles and cars have have surged in in in many African countries a a a a a a a a a a sign that consumers have have discretionary income to spend on on on on on consumer durables In 2018 the the world reached a a a a a a tipping point where half of the the population 3 8 8 billion people now live in in households with enough discretionary income to to to be be considered “middle class” This number is is is expected to to to grow to to to 5 3 3 billion by 203017 Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals18 and and ensuring that that we do so in in in in a a a a a a a a a a way that that is just and and equitable on on on a a a a a a a a planet with finite resources and a a a a a a a a growing population is a a a a a a a a challenge that will only intensify WORLD WORLD POPULATION
POPULATION
PROJECTED WORLD WORLD POPULATION
POPULATION
UNTIL 2100
GLOBAL INCOME TIPPING POINT 3 3 8 8 billion billion = 3 3 8 8 billion billion 200 M MIDDLE CLASS RICH
Figure 6: Global income tipping point Sept 2018 (number of people who are poor vulnerable middle class and rich worldwide)17
1990 2015 2030 2050 2100
5 3 billion 7 3 billion 8 5 billion 9 7 billion 11 2 billion Figure 5: The earth’s increasing population19
630 M POOR VULNERABLE
3 16B
3 59 B