Technological advances are changing the way resources are consumed and produced. This interactive graphic highlights some of the potential changes to both supply and demand for resources. The scenarios depicted should not be considered as specific forecasts but rather as illustrative of the broad trends.
Over the next two decades, we expect energy demand to be reduced in homes, offices, and factories, as well as in transportation, as engines become more fuel efficient and as self-driving and electric vehicles take off. Renewable sources of energy, including wind and solar power, will make major inroads into electricity generation, competing with fossil fuels. For resource producers, data analytics, robotics, and the Internet of Things will bring considerable productivity improvements. To learn more about the impact of ongoing shifts, read the McKinsey Global Institute research report “How technology is reshaping supply and demand for natural resources.”