Shortage of natural resources
- Natural resource scarcity
- Increasing scarcity of raw materials
- Lack of natural resources
Nature
The shortage of natural resources is a critical global challenge that refers to the depletion or scarcity of essential materials required to sustain human life, industrial processes, and economic activities. These resources, which include water, fossil fuels, minerals, arable land, and forests, are finite and increasingly strained by population growth, unsustainable consumption patterns, industrialization, and environmental degradation. As the demand for these resources outpaces their availability, it exacerbates environmental, social, and economic problems.
The over-extraction of fossil fuels like oil and coal has led to significant environmental damage, contributing to climate change and air pollution, while also driving up energy prices. Freshwater resources are under immense pressure due to agricultural demands, urbanization, and pollution, leading to water scarcity that affects billions of people worldwide. Depleting forests, crucial for maintaining biodiversity and regulating climate, further aggravates the environmental imbalance.
This shortage can lead to conflicts over access and control of resources, often sparking geopolitical tensions, especially in regions where critical resources are concentrated. Economically, resource scarcity drives up the cost of raw materials, disrupts supply chains, and limits industrial growth, particularly in resource-dependent sectors. The lack of equitable access to resources intensifies social inequalities, with marginalized communities often suffering the most from resource depletion.
Addressing the shortage of natural resources requires a shift towards sustainable practices, including resource conservation, circular economy models, renewable energy adoption, and improved resource management. This issue transcends national borders and affects the entire planet’s ecological balance, threatening long-term sustainability and economic stability. Without urgent action, the shortage of natural resources could lead to severe ecological and humanitarian crises.
Incidence
The shortage of natural resources is an escalating and severe global issue. Freshwater, essential for agriculture, drinking, and industrial use, is one of the most endangered resources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2 billion people live in water-stressed areas, and by 2025, 1.8 billion will live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity. Agriculture alone consumes around 70% of global freshwater supplies, and as populations grow, water demand is expected to increase by 55% by 2050, according to the OECD.
Global consumption of fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas—continues to rise, even as reserves dwindle. According to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2023, oil reserves are projected to last for only another 50 years at current extraction rates. Similarly, International Energy Agency (IEA) data shows that global energy demand is set to increase by 25% by 2040, further accelerating the depletion of non-renewable resources.
Forests, vital for carbon sequestration and biodiversity, are also disappearing rapidly. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that the world lost 420 million hectares of forest between 1990 and 2020, primarily due to deforestation for agriculture and urban expansion. This deforestation not only reduces biodiversity but also contributes to climate change and soil erosion.
Mineral resources, essential for technological advancement, are also under threat. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper is set to skyrocket, with demand for lithium alone expected to increase by over 500% by 2050 due to the growing electric vehicle market.
Claim
With over 2 billion people currently living in water-stressed regions, the world is on the brink of a catastrophic water crisis. By 2025, it’s projected that 1.8 billion people will face absolute water scarcity, leading to increased conflicts over this vital resource. As agricultural and industrial demands surge, the competition for freshwater will escalate, threatening global food security and economic stability.
The depletion of fossil fuels is alarmingly fast, with current oil reserves only lasting for 50 years at the present consumption rate. As demand continues to rise, countries could face severe energy shortages, leading to skyrocketing prices and economic instability. The energy crisis will not only disrupt everyday life but also precipitate geopolitical tensions as nations scramble for diminishing resources.
The world is losing forests at an unprecedented rate, with 10 million hectares lost annually, primarily due to agricultural expansion and logging. This loss jeopardizes biodiversity, contributes to climate change, and undermines the essential ecosystem services that forests provide. The human population is pushing many species to extinction and exacerbating global warming.
Counter-claim
Many experts argue that technological innovation continually enhances resource efficiency and substitutes scarce resources. For instance, renewable energy technologies are rapidly advancing, making solar and wind energy increasingly viable alternatives to fossil fuels. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable energy capacity has doubled since 2010, demonstrating that we can transition away from non-renewable resources effectively.
Global initiatives focused on sustainable practices and conservation can alleviate resource scarcity. Many international organizations promote sustainable agriculture and responsible consumption, proving that collaboration and innovative practices can ensure resource availability for future generations without succumbing to crisis.
The economy has historically shown resilience in resource management. For example, as certain minerals become scarce, industries have adapted by substituting them with alternative materials. Advances in recycling and materials science enable us to recover valuable resources from waste, mitigating concerns about shortages.
It is simply wrong to believe that nature sets physical limits to economic growth—that is, to prosperity and the production and consumption of goods and services on which it is based. The idea that increasing consumption will inevitably lead to depletion and scarcity, as plausible as it may seem, is mistaken both in principle and in fact.