Assessing the Roles of Raw Materials in Sustainable Development Goals: Current Situation and Future Prospects

Abstract

Raw materials are the necessary building blocks for the functioning of the country's economy and industries. It is inevitable for countries to direct their economic policies towards sustainability within the scope of their green and digital transformation efforts. The fact that green and digital transformation are among the most driving forces in achieving sustainable development also reveals the criticality of the raw materials to be used in the technologies required for this transformation. The positive effects of raw materials come to the fore in many areas such as the use of carbon neutral and green technologies required for climate and energy targets, the design of sustainable cities, and healthy and quality life. However, it is necessary to discuss the dilemma created by the negative environmental effects of mining activities undertaken to extract the raw materials necessary to achieve sustainability goals. Therefore, in this study, the positive or negative effects of raw materials on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable performance criteria that can be used in the evaluation of raw materials, are examined with strategic planning tools. Policies, measures, and investments regarding the performance measures achieved in Turkey are investigated. At the end of the study, the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities of some raw materials in terms of targets are evaluated. Additionally, through analysis of critical success factors, numerical inputs that can be used for researchers conducting data studies in this field are presented.