Problem
Shortage of natural resources
Experimental visualization of narrower problems
Other Names:
Increasing scarcity of raw materialsLack of natural resources
Nature:
Certain of the earth's resources, such as oil and coal, are non-renewable and sooner or later will be completely exhausted. Although other resources, such as plant crops, cattle, fish and timber, renew themselves and can be regularly cropped to provide the food, clothing and shelter essential to human survival, it is not so clearly realized that these resources are renewable only to the extent that their use is rationally planned and managed. There are limits to the extent to which we can draw on these resources; if these limits are are exceeded, this will destroy the capacity of resource renewal.
Incidence:
At the current rate of consumption, oil will run out in about 30 years' time, tin, cadmium, lead and zinc in 40 years, copper, antimony and nickel in about 70 years. Most current utilization of aquatic animals, of the wild plants and animals of the land, of forests and of grazing lands is not sustainable.
Broader Problems:
ShortageScarce resourcesResource depletionInsecurity of resources Narrower Problems:
Energy crisisShortage of firewoodLimited available landShortage of fresh-water Shortage of fresh-water Exhaustion of mineral resourcesUnstable supply of raw materialsUnavailability of timber resourcesLong-term shortage of mineral energy resourcesDiminishing oil resources Related Problems:
Extermination of wild animalsInsufficient use of natural resources Aggravates:
Desert nomadismInadequate production capacityVulnerability of social systemsUnbridled competition for scarce resources Strategies:
Increasing productivity of material resourcesIntensifying existing resource useIncreasing awareness for need to stabilize resource consumptionPlanning development of natural resourcesPreserving natural resourcesIncreasing amount of available natural resourcesRelieving strain on world resourcesManaging natural resourcesDepleting natural resourcesControlling use of natural resourcesProviding sufficient natural resources References:
Dasmann, R F: Planet in Peril ?: man and the biosphere todaySagoff, Mark: Do We Consume Too Much ? Subject(s):
Fundamental Sciences → MaterialResources → Resources
Societal Problems → Scarcity
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
C: Cross-sectoral problems Date of last update
23.02.2022 – 18:21 CET