Equity, Ecosystems and Scarcity- The Global Sand Crisis and Infrastructure (Infrastructure and Nature Coalition)

Sand is the world’s most consumed raw material after water and an essential ingredient in our everyday lives. It is central to the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings. The material is also fundamental to the manufacturing of glass and silicon computer chips. Yet the world is facing a growing sand shortage of the right kind of sand where it is needed - and without readily available alternative materials. As the global demand for this resource continues to rise faster than natural sources can sustain, it is crucial to identify and agree on globally harmonized regulations and best practices.