Abstract
In 2006, the world population reached 6.5 billion and the global economy is rapidly expanding. Consequently, global use of mineral resources have become huge. Rapidly growing China's appetite has a great impact. Therefore, it is the author's big concern over the following issues for sustainability of the world.
Depletion of resources, progress of the domination by international resources majors, increasing dependence on resource-rich but politically unstable developing countries, resurgence of “resource nationalism”, beginning of world wide struggle for securing resources against possible shortage, serious environmental problems caused by massive mine development, frequent conflict between mining companies and local people, and escalating market prices.
Just now, it can be said an era of “Resources Crisis”. However, in today's global economy, nation's economic security depends on access to adequate mineral resource supplies from a variety of international sources.
Under these circumstances, it is strongly expected that (1): Japan should immediately act for resources security with firm diplomatic strategies (2): Japan should make its best efforts to achieve the world highest resource productivity (Material Intensity per Service unit = min.) for environmentally sustainable development of the world.
Several suggestions to cope with resource crisis are made.
