Impact of urbanization on construction material consumption: A global analysis

Abstract Urbanization is considered a main driver of building material consumption. Nevertheless, statements on links between urbanization and resource consumption remain qualitative. This study aims to globally quantify the links between urbanization and non‐metallic mineral resource consumption at the level of nations. Based on hypotheses, we have investigated the relationship between construction material consumption and urbanization and further impact variables. Data were examined using descriptive and analytical statistical methods, by developing step‐by‐step regression models and representing them in a path diagram. The results show that urbanization alone does not adequately explain consumption of construction materials. Prosperity has a strong impact, too, but also does not have sufficient explanatory power in itself. Only the combination of both variables reveals their complex interrelationships. In principle, more prosperous societies consume more construction materials than less prosperous ones, regardless of the degree of urbanization. With low prosperity, however, material consumption per capita rises with increasing urbanization; with high prosperity, the effect is reversed. Developed societies are the problem today. However, with increasing urbanization and prosperity, dynamically growing societies will dramatically exacerbate the carrying capacity problem in the future. Then again, this is by no means inevitable. Rather, the key is to move from linear to consistently circular models of urbanization. These models must be comprehensive and spatially specified in order to develop sufficient clout in terms of effective resource protection through “circular urbanization.”