India, May 14 -- Global demand for sand increased fivefold between 1970 and 2020, from 9.6 billion tonnes to approximately 50 billion tonnes, growing at an average annual rate of 3.2 per cent, creating serious environmental and sustainability challenges worldwide, according to a new report released by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on May 12, 2026.

The report, Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development, highlights that global demand for sand and gravel continues to rise due to four drivers - population growth, migration from rural to urban areas, infrastructure development, and changing lifestyles that require larger built-up areas per person.

According to the report, the global population inc...