What do governments, citizens and consumers need to know about sand and sustainability? Why do we need to be talking about sand right now?  What are the economic and social challenges and opportunities around sustainable sand governance? A webinar was held on 13 October (3-4:30pm CET) that explored the rising demand for sand and global calls for responsible mineral resource governance. The discussion was moderated by Pascal Peduzzi, Director of UNEP's Global Resource Information Database (GRID). 

Sand and gravel are the unrecognised foundational material of our economies. They are mined the world over, with aggregates accounting for the largest volume of solid material extracted globally. At the same time, these materials cannot be produced from our terrestrial, riverine, and marine environments in quantities needed to meet demand from a world of 10 billion people without effective policy, planning, regulation, and management. Such actions remain largely unaddressed by decision makers in the public or private sectors. It is time to challenge the paradigm of infinite sand resources through constructive dialogue and solution-finding. This report aims to be the starting point from which a productive global conversation on sand extraction can begin.

United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme Fourth session, Nairobi, 11–15 March 2019.