I am interested in understanding future & sustainability using the lens of industrial ecology – questions like how a sustainable society looks like? and what it takes to be low-carbon, resource efficient and socially just society? are the driving forces behind my work – and to answer these questions,  I focus on exploring the material and energy demands of a future low-carbon society and the resulting sustainability implications. I use methods like material flow analysis, life cycle assessment and techno-economic feasibility analysis. My research program is engaged in mapping the stocks and flows of critical minerals, such as rare earth elements, lithium, and cobalt, which are required for this so-called transition to a future low-carbon society. As an Associate Professor of Industrial Ecology at the University of Waterloo (Canada), my current research projects include: 

• Beyond Lithium – project funded by NSERC is aimed at exploring the demand and circularity potential of critical minerals for electromobility in Canada
• Critical minerals and urban mining – project funded by NSERC is aimed at estimating the size and quality of critical minerals’ urban mines in Canada
• Weight of cities – project aimed at understanding the stocks and flows on built environment in Global North and Global South
• Waste and Resource Management – project aimed at assessing the environmental and techno-economic feasibility assessment of various waste management pathways along with different circularity strategies to optimize resource management.

 I have open positions for graduate students, in both PhD and Master programs.

 Feel free to reach out at komal.habib@uwaterloo.ca!