The race is on for control of the world’s sand resources. An essential raw material for concrete and semiconductors, sand plays a vital role in today’s economy. But the pace of consumption now exceeds what nature provides, and competition is becoming fierce. In the lead is China, where companies scoop up sand with gigantic dredgers to build ports, airports and roads outside the country, widening its global influence. Meanwhile, excessive extraction from rivers and oceans has led to destruction of ecosystems and coastal erosion, raising serious questions about sustainability. Using the latest data analysis, the program investigates how the struggle for sand supremacy is changing the world.
