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A man holding gold nuggest in the Amazon
Image: Edmar Barros/AP/dpa/picture alliance

Natural resources

Whether precious minerals like gold or fossil fuels like coal, the Earth yields a bounty - and often suffers for it.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

An excavator and backhoe spread sand on a beach against a blue sky

The hidden environmental cost of mining sand

The hidden environmental cost of mining sand

Sand is needed to rebuild northern German beaches after winter storms. But sourcing that sand can cause other problems.
Nature and EnvironmentMarch 25, 2024
Vorschaubild | Water system

Would you drink water just flushed down your toilet?

Would you drink water just flushed down your toilet?

Can you imagine drinking the water you just flushed down your toilet? It might be a solution for water-scarce regions.
SocietyMarch 22, 202401:17 min
A Baloch man points to where the Iranian army carried out an airstrike against alleged separatists in Pakistan

Balochistan strikes explained: Resources and radicalization

Balochistan strikes explained: Resources and radicalization

Tit-for-tat attacks between Iran and Pakistan are linked to separatists fighting for independence of the region.
ConflictsJanuary 21, 2024
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (center) on stage at the German-Nigerian Business Forum 2023 in Berlin

German-Nigerian Business Forum seeks to woo investors

German-Nigerian Business Forum seeks to woo investors

The summit sent a clear message: Africa's most populous nation is open for business.
BusinessNovember 22, 2023
A foreman looks on as a bulldozer works on the slippery road

Lithium mining in Africa reveals dark side of green energy

Lithium mining in Africa reveals dark side of green energy

The new rush for lithium in Africa risks fueling corruption and harming the environment, investigations have shown.
BusinessNovember 16, 2023
A sculpture made of plastic waste. Plastic rubbish flows out of a giant tap suspended in the air.

Waves of waste: The harsh truth about ocean plastic

Waves of waste: The harsh truth about ocean plastic

Some of the world's most motivated janitors are trying to clean up vast fields of plastic waste. But is it worth it?
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 13, 2023
Skip next section In the spotlight

In the spotlight

Adult gentoo penguin leaping into tide pool at Port Lockroy, Antarctica

Antarctica: What's the big deal over resource exploitation?

With abundant fish and krill, and potential energy reserves, why is it so important to protect the South Pole?
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 20, 2023
A worker is seen at Krivoi Rog steelworks

Russia plundering Ukraine's natural resources

Russia is keen to exploit Ukraine's highly valuable natural resources, such as iron ore and coal.
ConflictsAugust 28, 2023
A view of the Rehden Geest Moor, a swampy piece of land covered with vegetation, with an orange sun low on the horizon

Farmers revolt against EU's historic nature restoration law

Farmers fear they will lose out after the EU passes a bill to promote biodiversity and sustainable land and soil use.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 12, 2023
A view of Earth from the Space Shuttle Discovery shows late afternoon sun on the Andes Mountains

Earth Overshoot Day nears record high

Humanity has exceeded its yearly allotment of the world's biological assets. What can be done to ease the burden?
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 29, 2021