Consumption of Natural Resources

Exploitation of Natural Resources

Utilizing natural resources for economic gain is known as "exploitation," which occasionally carries a negative connotation of resulting environmental deterioration. As the extraction and processing of raw resources (such as in mining, steam power, and machinery) advanced significantly more than in preindustrial areas, it began to take on an industrial scale. The 20th century saw a sharp rise in energy usage. Fossil fuels, which include oil, coal, and natural gas, are currently responsible for about 80% of the world's energy consumption.

Natural resources are being strained more and more each year on a global scale as more people claim the consumption and demand a higher standard of living. The resources of the globe are suffering greatly as nations look for new resources to plunder.

The depletion of natural resources is a genuine issue that is raising concerns throughout the world because there isn't enough focus on making new resources available and conserving what is already there. These resources are declining at worrisome rates and there are no indications that Earth's population are even aware of the threat they face or the urgency of averting a catastrophe. Water, fossil fuels, forest reserves, sand, and suitable agricultural land are all depleting more quickly than they can be used.

The use of practically all natural resources is under intense pressure as the human population continues to increase. The natural resources are frequently overused as a result of this. To make matters worse, overuse to meet the requirements of an expanding population has led to a dramatic decline in the availability of finite natural resources such arable land, coral reefs, fresh water, fossil fuels, and a variety of plants in forests. Due to competing demands on the essential resources necessary to maintain life, the quality of life has drastically declined. Overpopulation causes the depletion of natural resources including food, natural water, gas, and so forth.

What Are Natural Resources?

Natural resources are anything that our earth provides without the help of humans. They essentially ensure our survival here on earth, but if they are used up quicker than they can replenish, they can run out. These resources may be replenishable or not.

There are three types of natural resources: those that are perpetually renewable, intermediately renewable that are limited, and non-renewable.

Perpetually Renewable Resources

The simplest resources to comprehend are those that are perpetually renewable; these are natural resources that the Sun and the Earth's natural processes continuously replenish.

The Sun's unending energy drives the winds, ocean currents, precipitation, and the majority of the plant life on Earth along with geothermal energy (heat from the Earth's interior). The electrical networks of many countries are currently powered by a sizeable and increasing portion of solar and geothermal natural resources. It is eternally renewable in the sense that the Sun and the Earth will always produce more, no matter how much we utilize in terms of human timescales.

Limited Renewable Resources

Only if we don't consume them too soon can limited renewable resources remain renewable. They include things like soil, freshwater, crops, and timber-producing trees. They would always be there if we didn't utilize them, but because they take time (on our timelines) to grow or regenerate, we can use them excessively until they run out.

A wonderful case of a finite renewable resource is freshwater. The sun evaporates water from the surface of saltwater oceans, which then travels over land and returns to earth as freshwater rain through the water cycle. The lakes, rivers, and aquifers that we use for drinking water, industry, and agriculture are filled by this rain. We won't run out of freshwater if we use it at the same pace that rain replenishes it. We will run out of freshwater if we use it more quickly than it can replenish. In order to prevent their depletion, intermediate renewable resources must be carefully maintained.

The non-renewable category of natural resources is the third. On a human time scale, these resources won't regenerate. Once they are used up, no more will be produced and they are no longer available. Fossil fuels, so named because the majority were produced through processes that take millions of years to complete, are the most prevalent instances of non-renewable resources. Crude oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium are examples of fossil fuels. Other non-renewable resources include metals, lithium, and rare-earth elements (REEs). However, it's crucial to keep in mind that, even if we may someday run out of mineable metals and REEs, they can still be recovered through recycling if trash is properly managed. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are different since burning them changes their chemistry and renders them unusable.

The importance of the Limited Renewable Resources

All these limited resources are extremely important and need to be carefully monitored. Humans have been using them for thousands of years with no long lasting effects on nature, however with the population increase in the last century the use of these resources became very unbalanced and are under threat. Freshwater, oceans, forests and land need to be utilized with caution for them to keep providing what they have been providing for centuries and to survive the threats they face today.

Freshwater

What it gives us

threats

Climate change
Over-allocation/Growing demand/population growth/changing consumption patterns/Unsustainable use
Unsustainable agriculture
Pollution
Energy generation
Unsustainable aquaculture
Infrastructure
Navigation

Oceans

What it gives us

threats

Forests

What it gives us

Products made from the wood or rubber of trees
Wildlife
Food
Fuel
Medicine
Fresh air
Clean water
Sequestering carbon

threats

Land

What it gives us

threats

Overexploitation of Natural Resources

Natural resources have been exploited by people for the materials needed to support life ever since they have existed. Food production and economic survival are the two main aspects of it, while other materials are also taken from the environment. But human exploitation of natural ecosystems has a permanent impact on how resources and other ecosystem services will be provided in the future.

Overexploitation damages ecosystems over time, and some may never fully recover even after exploitation is halted. That could have a negative effect on the accessibility of resources like food, clean air, and other services, ultimately endangering the survival of humans. Unfortunately, the majority of nations struggle to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources while ensuring social and economic development.

We consumed more natural resources in less than eight months than the world could produce in a year. This means that we live a considerable part of the year by using resources that will be lent to us by future generations.

Currently, there are more than 7.9 billion people on the earth. The rapid augmentation of this population has greatly accelerated the exploitation of the earth's natural resources. The reason for this is that as the population grows, so does the demand for resources and the circumstances needed to support life.

Negative effects of overusing our natural resources

Water Shortage

The main reasons for the depletion of water resources due to wasting, contamination, and damage of water catchment regions are deforestation, bad farming practices, and pollution. In fact, a billion people experience water scarcity as a result of deforestation and contaminated groundwater. Famine and increased food insecurity follow from that.

Forest Cover Loss

The world's natural forest cover is presently in jeopardy due to the annual loss of nearly 15 million acres of forest. Even worse, during the past three decades, deforestation has resulted in a 12–17% increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and drastic climate change are further catastrophic repercussions.

Depletion of oil

Oil, a non-renewable resource, provides around 40% of the energy consumed worldwide. Therefore, considering the high rate of exploitation, study indicates that the residual oil supplies might not survive for the next three decades. Due to its importance as a raw material in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and transportation, its depletion would have disastrous impacts on a number of businesses.

Depletion of Minerals

The exploitation of these minerals has increased over the past ten years as a result of the fact that materials like gasoline, zinc, phosphorous, and others are crucial components in manufacturing processes. However, since minerals like phosphorus are crucial for plant growth, this has a number of detrimental repercussions on the environment.

Species Extinction

Some animal species are endangered due to habitat destruction and deforestation. This is due to the fact that forests are home to numerous creatures, many of which are threatened by deforestation and the overuse of forest resources. The number of marine species is also significantly decreased by other practices such as lake pollution and overfishing.

Solutions To Prevent Natural Resource Overexploitation

The prevention of deforestation

Governments are supporting movements and establishing laws by prohibiting the exploitation of forests as initiatives to reduce deforestation gain popularity around the world. Some programs also serve as incentives to persuade the public to take part in forest conservation in order to safeguard wildlife habitats and rare plant and animal species.

Reducing the amount of oil and other minerals consumed

Regulatory agencies for consumer goods and oil-producing nations should work together towards the global reduction of oil and mineral consumption.
Consumers can be made more aware of the benefits of reusing particular products to cut down on waste, manufacturers may also be taught on other methods of replacing some of the minerals.

Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources

Wind and solar energy are examples of renewable energy sources that can lessen our heavy reliance on fossil fuels. That will have a favorable effect on the environment because fossil fuels are a significant cause of environmental pollution, global warming, climate change, and the degradation of natural habitats.

Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources

Groundwater is abundant in wetlands, which support plants. Due to the fact that they refill the food chain and provide the nutrients and minerals required for animal and plant diversification, coastal and wetland ecosystems are therefore essential to maintaining the food chain. Additionally, coastal ecosystems aid in defending marine life from overfishing.

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