Trend Race for scarce resources

Summary

The Megatrends 2040 report identifies a race for scarce resources as one of the trends within its theme of cascading conflicts, alongside proliferating conflicts and rising social unrest. Demand for water, food, energy, land and minerals keeps growing, largely because of an expanding global middle class with more purchasing power. The report expects this pressure to peak as emerging economies continue to grow and consume more. Climate change is likely to make resources scarcer and more expensive, and the depletion of finite minerals, metals and fossil fuels could produce worrying shortages. Growing material demand may also feed local conflicts where mining competes with farming and urban development.