Cascading impacts of global metal mining on climate change and human health caused by COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly disrupted global metal mining and asso-ciated supply chains. Here we analyse the cascading effects of the metal mining disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, climate change, and human health. We find that the pandemic reduced global metal mining by 10-20% in 2020. This reduction subsequently led to losses in global economic output of approximately 117 billion US dollars, reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 33 million tonnes (exceeding Hungary's emissions in 2015), and reduced human health damage by 78,192 disability-adjusted life years. In particular, copper and iron mining made the most significant contribution to these effects. China and rest-of-the -world America were the most affected. The cascading effects of the metal mining disruption associated with the pandemic on the economy, climate change, and human health should be simultaneously considered in designing green economic stimulus policies.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global metal mining and supply chains, leading to a 10-20% reduction in global metal mining in 2020. This reduction resulted in losses of approximately $117 billion in global economic output, reduced CO2 emissions by about 33 million tonnes, and saved 78,192 disability-adjusted life years. Copper and iron mining had the most significant contribution to these effects. China and the rest of the world, particularly America, were the most affected. The cascading effects of the metal mining disruption associated with the pandemic on the economy, climate change, and human health should be considered when designing green economic stimulus policies.