11.2 Resource consumption and sustainability
6 min read•july 31, 2024
Resource consumption and sustainability are crucial aspects of population dynamics and environmental impact. As global populations grow and urbanize, consumption patterns shift, leading to increased pressure on natural resources and ecosystems.
Sustainable resource management aims to balance human needs with environmental preservation. This involves strategies like , , and economic instruments to promote efficient resource use and minimize environmental degradation.
Global Resource Consumption Patterns
Disparities in Consumption
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- Global resource consumption patterns vary significantly between developed and developing countries
- Developed nations generally consume a disproportionate share of resources relative to their population size
- Example: United States consumes about 25% of global resources while having only 5% of world population
- quantifies human demand on natural resources
- Allows comparisons between countries and regions
- Measured in global hectares (gha) per capita
- Per capita resource consumption increases with rising income levels
- Leads to higher resource use in affluent societies
- Example: Average ecological footprint in high-income countries is 6.1 gha/person vs 1.2 gha/person in low-income countries
Urbanization and Changing Consumption Patterns
- contributes to shifts in resource consumption patterns
- Particularly evident in rapidly developing countries (China, India)
- Changing lifestyles in urban areas impact resource use
- Increased energy consumption for transportation and housing
- Higher demand for processed and packaged foods
- Energy consumption trends show growing demand for fossil fuels in developing nations
- Some developed countries transitioning towards renewable energy sources (solar, wind)
- Water consumption patterns reveal disparities in access and usage
- Agriculture largest consumer globally (70% of freshwater withdrawals)
- Followed by industry (20%) and domestic use (10%)
Resource Curse and Economic Implications
- explains paradoxical slower economic growth in some resource-rich countries
- Results from mismanagement and overreliance on natural resources
- Examples: Nigeria (oil), Venezuela (oil), Democratic Republic of Congo (minerals)
- Factors contributing to resource curse
- Currency appreciation leading to reduced competitiveness of other sectors (Dutch disease)
- Volatility in commodity prices affecting economic stability
- Corruption and weak institutions hindering effective resource management
- Strategies to avoid resource curse
- Diversification of economy beyond resource extraction
- Establishment of sovereign wealth funds to manage resource revenues
- Strengthening institutions and promoting transparency in resource management
Sustainability and Resource Management
Defining Sustainability
- Sustainability meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs
- Encompasses environmental, economic, and social dimensions
- Triple bottom line approach emphasizes interdependence of:
- Economic prosperity
- Environmental quality
- Social equity
- key concept in sustainability
- Maximum population size environment can support indefinitely given resources and constraints
- Example: Easter Island's population collapse due to resource overexploitation
- Precautionary principle applied in sustainable resource management
- Avoids potential harm when scientific consensus is lacking
- Example: Banning certain pesticides based on potential environmental risks
Sustainable Resource Management Concepts
- Renewable and
- Renewable: Can be replenished naturally (solar energy, forests)
- Non-renewable: Finite supply (fossil fuels, minerals)
- Conservation and efficient use of finite resources crucial
- Energy efficiency measures in buildings and appliances
- Water conservation techniques in agriculture and industry
- Circular economy models promote sustainability
- Design out waste and pollution
- Keep products and materials in use
- Regenerate natural systems
- Example: Refillable packaging systems, product-as-a-service models
Global Sustainability Frameworks
- United Nations Goals (SDGs) provide framework for addressing global challenges
- 17 interconnected goals covering poverty, education, climate action, and more
- Target year: 2030
- International agreements on sustainability
- on climate change
- Convention on
- Corporate sustainability initiatives
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards for sustainability reporting
- for emissions reduction
Economic Development vs Resource Depletion
Environmental Impact Models
- describes environmental impact of human activities
- Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology
- Links population size, consumption levels, and technological efficiency
- hypothesis
- Suggests environmental degradation initially increases with economic growth
- Eventually decreases as societies become more affluent and technologically advanced
- Criticized for oversimplification and lack of universal applicability
- explains changes in population growth rates as societies develop economically
- Potentially affects resource consumption patterns
- Stages: high birth and death rates → high birth and low death rates → low birth and death rates
Resource Scarcity and Innovation
- Resource scarcity can lead to innovation and technological advancements
- More efficient resource extraction methods
- Improved utilization techniques
- Example: Development of fracking technology for oil and gas extraction
- Decoupling refers to increasing economic output while reducing resource use and environmental impact
- Key goal in sustainable development
- Relative decoupling: economic growth rate exceeds growth rate of resource use
- Absolute decoupling: economic growth with decreasing resource use
- illustrates how individual rational behavior can lead to depletion of shared resources
- Emphasizes need for collective action in resource management
- Example: Overfishing in international waters
Globalization and Resource Depletion
- Globalization and international trade have complex effects on resource depletion
- Potentially exacerbate inequalities in resource consumption between developed and developing nations
- Outsourcing of production can shift environmental burden to developing countries
- Example: Electronic waste exported from developed to developing countries for processing
- Global supply chains can increase overall resource consumption due to transportation and packaging needs
- International agreements aim to address global resource management
- Basel Convention on transboundary movements of hazardous wastes
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Sustainable Resource Use Strategies
Demand-Side Management
- Focuses on reducing consumption through behavior change, education, and incentives
- Energy conservation programs
- Water-saving initiatives
- Examples of demand-side strategies:
- Smart metering for real-time energy consumption feedback
- Tiered pricing structures for water to discourage excessive use
- Public awareness campaigns on resource conservation
- Behavioral economics concept of "nudging" applied to encourage sustainable choices
- Does not restrict individual freedom of choice
- Example: Default opt-in for renewable energy in utility plans
Supply-Side Approaches
- Improving resource efficiency in production processes
- Lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste
- Energy-efficient technologies in industrial processes
- Developing alternative resources
- Renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal)
- Recycled materials as substitutes for virgin resources
- Implementing closed-loop systems in production
- Industrial symbiosis: waste from one industry becomes input for another
- Example: Kalundborg Symbiosis industrial park in Denmark
Economic Instruments for Sustainability
- internalizes environmental costs of greenhouse gas emissions
- Carbon taxes
- Cap-and-trade systems (EU Emissions Trading System)
- Resource taxes promote more sustainable consumption patterns
- Extraction taxes on non-
- Water pricing reforms to reflect true cost and scarcity
- Green subsidies and incentives encourage adoption of sustainable technologies
- Tax credits for renewable energy installations
- Rebates for energy-efficient appliances
Corporate and Technological Solutions
- (CSR) promotes sustainable business practices
- Voluntary initiatives beyond legal compliance
- Example: Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan
- Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria used in investment decisions
- Encourages companies to improve sustainability performance
- Green technology and eco-innovation crucial for sustainable resource management
- Develop more sustainable products, services, and production processes
- Examples: Advanced recycling technologies, sustainable materials research
- International collaboration on sustainable innovation
- Mission Innovation: global initiative to accelerate clean energy innovation
- Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) in the ICT sector
Key Terms to Review (27)
Agenda 2030: Agenda 2030 is a global framework established by the United Nations in 2015 that aims to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty by the year 2030. It encompasses 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address various global challenges, including inequality, climate change, and resource management. The agenda emphasizes the importance of partnership and collaboration among countries, organizations, and communities to create a sustainable future for all.
Biological diversity: Biological diversity, often referred to as biodiversity, is the variety of life on Earth, including the different species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the genetic differences within these species and the ecosystems they form. This diversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience, providing vital services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation, which are essential for sustainability and resource management.
Carbon pricing: Carbon pricing is an economic strategy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by assigning a cost to emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This approach incentivizes businesses and individuals to lower their carbon footprints by integrating the environmental cost into their financial decisions. By making carbon emissions more expensive, carbon pricing encourages the adoption of cleaner technologies and energy sources, contributing to resource sustainability and more responsible consumption patterns.
Carrying Capacity: Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the ecosystem. This concept is crucial in understanding how populations grow and stabilize over time, especially in relation to resource availability, technological advancements, and environmental changes.
Conservation ethics: Conservation ethics is a set of moral principles that guide the responsible management and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems. It emphasizes the importance of protecting biodiversity, promoting sustainable practices, and ensuring that future generations can benefit from the Earth's resources. This concept often involves a balance between human needs and the health of the environment, highlighting our responsibility to both current and future inhabitants of the planet.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to the practice where businesses incorporate social and environmental concerns into their operations and interactions with stakeholders. This concept emphasizes that companies should not only focus on profit but also consider their impact on society and the environment. By promoting sustainable practices and ethical standards, CSR aims to create a positive effect on communities while still ensuring long-term business success.
Demand-side management: Demand-side management refers to the strategies and practices aimed at influencing and reducing the demand for energy or resources, primarily through consumer engagement and behavioral changes. This concept emphasizes the role of consumers in shaping energy use patterns, thereby promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. By effectively managing demand, it can help mitigate environmental impacts and reduce strain on resources, supporting a more sustainable approach to consumption.
Demographic transition theory: Demographic transition theory is a model that describes the transformation of countries from having high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as part of economic and social development. This theory is crucial for understanding population dynamics over time, as it connects changes in birth and death rates to social progress, economic growth, and urbanization.
Ecological footprint: The ecological footprint is a measure of the environmental impact of an individual, community, or organization, expressed in terms of the amount of land and water area required to produce the resources consumed and absorb the waste generated. This concept highlights the relationship between human activities and the planet's ecological capacity, helping to understand sustainability and resource consumption patterns.
Environmental Justice: Environmental justice refers to the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in environmental decision-making processes. It emphasizes the need for equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, ensuring that marginalized communities are not disproportionately affected by pollution, resource depletion, and other environmental hazards.
Environmental Kuznets Curve: The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) is a hypothesis that suggests as a country’s economy grows, environmental degradation increases up to a certain point, after which it begins to decline. This relationship implies that economic development initially harms the environment but can lead to improved environmental conditions as societies become wealthier and more capable of implementing cleaner technologies and policies. The curve reflects the complex interplay between economic growth, resource consumption, and sustainability.
Environmental sociology: Environmental sociology is a subfield of sociology that examines the interactions between societies and their environments, focusing on how social factors influence environmental issues and vice versa. This discipline seeks to understand the relationship between human behavior, population dynamics, and ecological systems, emphasizing the ways in which social structures impact environmental degradation and resource management. By exploring these connections, environmental sociology provides insights into sustainability practices and the impact of consumption patterns on natural resources.
Garrett Hardin: Garrett Hardin was an American ecologist and philosopher best known for his concept of the 'tragedy of the commons,' which illustrates the conflict between individual interests and the common good in resource management. His ideas emphasize how population growth and resource consumption can lead to environmental degradation, highlighting the need for sustainable practices to balance ecological health with human needs.
Ipat equation: The IPAT equation is a formula used to describe the impact of human activity on the environment, expressed as I = P × A × T. In this equation, 'I' represents the environmental impact, 'P' stands for population size, 'A' denotes affluence or consumption per person, and 'T' signifies technology used in production. This relationship highlights how these three factors collectively influence environmental outcomes, emphasizing the interconnectedness of population growth, resource use, and technological advancement.
Malthusian Theory: Malthusian Theory, proposed by Thomas Robert Malthus in the late 18th century, posits that population growth tends to outpace food supply, leading to inevitable shortages and societal collapse unless checked by factors like famine, disease, or moral restraint. This theory highlights the relationship between population dynamics and resource availability, connecting demographic trends with economic sustainability.
Non-renewable resources: Non-renewable resources are natural resources that cannot be replenished or regenerated within a human timescale once they are consumed. This includes fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as minerals and metals, which take millions of years to form. The finite nature of these resources poses significant challenges for sustainability and resource consumption as their depletion leads to environmental and economic impacts.
Overpopulation: Overpopulation occurs when the number of people exceeds the resources available to sustain them, leading to environmental degradation, diminished quality of life, and increased competition for limited resources. This situation often results from various factors, such as high birth rates, migration patterns, and socioeconomic conditions, which can have far-reaching effects on society and the environment.
Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty adopted in 2015 that aims to address climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This agreement emphasizes the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable resource consumption, and fostering resilience against climate impacts, highlighting a collective global effort toward sustainability.
Rachel Carson: Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist, conservationist, and author known for her groundbreaking work in environmental science, particularly her book 'Silent Spring,' published in 1962. Her writings highlighted the dangers of pesticide use and its impact on ecosystems, which significantly raised public awareness about environmental issues and contributed to the modern environmental movement.
Renewable resources: Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time, allowing for sustainable use without the risk of depletion. These resources include solar energy, wind power, biomass, and hydropower, which contribute to a more sustainable approach to energy consumption. By utilizing renewable resources, societies can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and minimize environmental impacts associated with resource extraction and consumption.
Resource curse: The resource curse refers to the paradox where countries rich in natural resources, such as oil, minerals, or gas, often experience slower economic growth and poorer development outcomes compared to countries with fewer natural resources. This phenomenon occurs due to a range of factors including economic mismanagement, political instability, and corruption that can arise when resource wealth is not managed effectively. Ultimately, rather than serving as a boon for prosperity, these resources can lead to a cycle of dependency and conflict, hindering overall societal progress.
Science Based Targets Initiative: The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) is a global body that helps companies set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. By providing a framework for businesses to establish targets that are consistent with limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, it promotes accountability and transparency in corporate sustainability efforts. This initiative emphasizes the importance of aligning business strategies with climate goals to enhance resource consumption efficiency and sustainability.
Supply-side approaches: Supply-side approaches refer to economic policies aimed at increasing the production capacity of an economy by incentivizing investment and production. These strategies often include tax cuts, deregulation, and support for business growth, which are believed to stimulate economic activity and improve resource efficiency. The idea is that by enhancing supply, there will be more goods and services available, contributing to sustainability efforts by optimizing resource use.
Sustainable development: Sustainable development is a holistic approach to growth that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It integrates social, economic, and environmental considerations, ensuring that population growth and resource use align with ecological balance. This concept highlights the importance of resource management and social equity while addressing the interconnectedness of human populations and their environments.
Sustainable livelihoods: Sustainable livelihoods refer to the means of living that can endure over time, allowing individuals and communities to meet their basic needs while preserving resources for future generations. This concept emphasizes the importance of using environmental, social, and economic assets in a balanced way, ensuring that communities can thrive without depleting the resources they rely on.
Tragedy of the commons: The tragedy of the commons is an economic theory that describes a situation where individuals, acting in their own self-interest, deplete shared resources, leading to negative consequences for the entire group. This concept highlights the conflict between individual interests and the collective good, especially when resources are finite. It illustrates how population pressures and resource consumption can lead to environmental degradation, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices in managing common resources.
Urbanization: Urbanization refers to the process through which cities grow as more people move from rural areas to urban centers, often driven by economic opportunities and lifestyle changes. This movement impacts various demographic and social dynamics, influencing everything from population distribution to resource allocation.