Sand: The New Gold Rush? Yes, it’s a Crisis
On Tuesday, April 26, the Asean University Network (AUN) sent a wake‑up call: the planet’s supply of sand is running out fast, and we need to act before it turns into a full‑blown disaster.
Why Sand is Every Nation’s Silent Mining Boom
- After water, sand is the world’s most overharvested natural resource.
- We’re extracting sand at a rate that geologic processes can’t match – think a few hundred thousand years to recreate a single quarry.
- Global consumption for glass, concrete, and construction has tripled in the last 20 years, hitting 50 billion tonnes a year.
- That’s roughly 17 kg of sand per person each day – an equivalent of a small house, but without the furniture.
What’s the Damage?
- Rivers and coastlines are getting mashed.
- Small islands? Gone.
- The Mekong Delta is literally sinking because of sand extraction, turning once‑fertile farmland into salty slime.
- In Sri Lanka, digging out sand reversed the water flow, letting salty sea water drift inland and even dragging salt‑water crocodiles on a road trip.
Experts Speak Out
Sheila Aggarwal‑Khan, UNEP’s Economy Division director, warns that society’s needs can’t be met without better sand governance.
She adds, “If we act now, we can still dodge a sand crisis.”
Pascal Peduzzi, who coordinated the 22‑author report, points out that the impacts are already felt.
Where the Demand Is Going…
It’s not just Asia. In Africa, coastal villages are digging sand to build booming cities, making shorelines more vulnerable to climate change’s fierce storms.
What Can Be Done?
- Ban sand extraction from beaches.
- Develop an international standard for marine dredging that protects ocean biodiversity.
- Cut down on fresh sand use by reusing materials like recycled concrete and mining tailings.
In short, it’s time to stop treating sand like a limitless resource and start treating it like the precious commodity it really is.
