Addressing Resource Depletion and Promoting Sustainability
- Non-renewable resources are running out (this is not fake news btw)
- So designers need to find innovative solutions to meet basic human needs
- It makes sense to focus on renewable and sustainable resources to address this challenge
Note
Resource management and sustainable production carefully consider three key issues: consumption of raw materials, consumption of energy, and production of waste.
Understanding Resource Types
Renewable Resources
Definition
Renewable resources
Resource that can be replaced (or replenished) over time, or does not abate at all
- Solar Energy – Captured from the sun using solar panels, providing an unlimited source of power.
- Wind Energy – Generated by wind turbines converting wind into electricity.
- Hydropower – Uses flowing water (rivers, dams) to produce energy.
- Geothermal Energy – Harnesses heat from within the Earth for electricity and heating.
- Biomass – Organic materials like wood, crop waste, and algae used for energy.
- Tidal & Wave Energy – Power generated by ocean tides and waves
Common Mistake
- Wood/Biomass Misconception – While biomass (wood, crops, etc.) is technically renewable, it depends on how it's managed. If trees are cut down faster than they can regrow, or if forests are destroyed without replanting, then wood is no longer a sustainable, renewable resource.
- Freshwater Misconception – Water is part of the natural cycle, but over-extraction and pollution can make it a non-renewable resource in certain regions.
- Biofuels Misconception – While biofuels come from renewable crops, their large-scale production can lead to deforestation and resource depletion, making them unsustainable in some cases.
Tip
Renewable resources often require careful management to ensure sustainability. For example, timber must be replanted to maintain supply.
Non-Renewable Resources
Definition
Non-renewable Resources
Resources that are extracted and used at rate greater than are replaced
- Fossil Fuels – Includes coal, oil, and natural gas, formed over millions of years from decomposed organic matter.
- Nuclear Fuels – Uranium and plutonium used in nuclear reactors; these elements are finite and require mining.
- Metals & Minerals – Resources like gold, silver, copper, and aluminum, which take millions of years to form.
- Rare Earth Elements – Crucial for electronics (e.g., lithium, neodymium) but found in limited quantities and difficult to extract.
Common Mistake
- Aluminum Misconception – While aluminum itself is non-renewable, it is highly recyclable. Proper recycling can make it functionally sustainable.
- Groundwater Misconception – Deep underground aquifers can take thousands of years to replenish, making them non-renewable in many cases. However, some shallow water sources can be renewable if properly managed.
- Plastic Misconception – Plastic is made from petroleum (a non-renewable fossil fuel), but bioplastics (from plant materials) are potentially renewable if sustainably sourced.
Note
Non-renewable resources are also called finite resources because they are limitedin quantity.
Comparison of Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
| Aspect | Renewable Resources | Non-Renewable Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Inexhaustible or replenishable | Fixed and limited quantities |
| Impact | Less carbon emissions | More carbon emissions |
| Cost | More expensive to implement | Less expensive to implement |
| Examples | Hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind, tidal | Coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear |
Reserves and whether or not they're worth extracting
Definition
Reserves
Reserves are proven resources that can be economically and technically extracted.
- Reserves are resources that you can extract economically
- It can be the case that some reserves exist but it makes no sense to extract them because the cost to do so exceeds the value you get when sold
Example
Economically Viable Reserves (Currently Extractable)
- Oil Reserves in Saudi Arabia – Large, easily accessible oil fields with well-developed infrastructure, making extraction profitable.
- Copper Mines in Chile – Chile has some of the richest copper deposits, making mining highly cost-effective.
- Gold Mines in South Africa – High concentrations of gold allow for profitable extraction despite deep mining operations.
- Natural Gas in the United States (Shale Gas - Permian Basin) – Advancements in fracking technology have made shale gas extraction cost-effective.
- Lithium Reserves in Australia – The world’s leading lithium producer with efficient extraction processes for battery production.
Non-Economically Viable Reserves (Currently Too Costly or Difficult to Extract)
- Oil in Arctic Reserves – Harsh climate, remote locations, and environmental concerns make extraction expensive and controversial.
- Deep-Sea Manganese Nodules (Pacific Ocean Floor) – Rich in valuable metals like nickel and cobalt, but extraction technology is not yet cost-effective.
- Tar Sands in Venezuela – Large reserves of heavy crude oil, but high extraction costs and lack of refining infrastructure make it unprofitable.
- Helium in the Earth’s Crust – Found in trace amounts and often escapes before it can be collected, making large-scale extraction uneconomical.
- Uranium in Seawater – The ocean contains vast amounts of uranium, but current extraction methods are too expensive and inefficient.
Political and economical importance of reserves
Understanding Land-Based Resources
- Where Resources Are Found
- Some countries have a lot of natural resources, while others have very few.
- This can affect their economy and political power.
- Example: South Korea uses a lot of LPG (a type of gas) but has none of its own, so it must buy all of it from other countries.
- Money vs. Politics
- Countries need to balance making money from resources with political issues, like relying too much on other nations for supplies.
- Effects on Local People
- Good: Jobs and more money for the country.
- Bad: Some people may lose their homes, and the richest get richer while the poor stay poor.
- Example: Big companies pay governments to take resources, but much of the money leaves the country instead of helping locals.
- Rare Earth Minerals: Valuable But Dangerous
- These materials are used in phones, computers, and batteries, but digging them up can harm the land and people nearby.
Important Things to Think About When Using Resources
- Starting Costs
- Digging for resources is very expensive. Governments or big companies usually pay for it.
- Is It Worth It?
- The resource must be easy to reach and sell for enough money to make mining worth it.
- How It Affects People
- Good: New jobs, businesses, and better roads.
- Bad: Some people lose their homes, and workers might be paid very little.
- Damage to the Environment
- Mining and drilling can destroy forests, pollute water, and harm animals.
- What Happens When Resources Run Out?
- Who will clean up?
- What happens to workers?
- Will old mining areas be fixed or left abandoned?
Case study
(Just so you understand this stuff better we made this case study - FYI there's no need to memorize the case study but use Jojo AI to go through this if you have more questions)
Case Study: Oil Extraction in Nigeria (Niger Delta)
The Niger Delta in Nigeria has huge oil reserves, making the country one of the biggest oil producers in Africa. However, the way this resource is managed has both good and bad effects on the country and its people.
Where Is the Resource?
- Nigeria has a lot of crude oil in the Niger Delta region.
- Most of the oil is found underground and offshore (under the sea).
- The oil is sold to other countries, making it Nigeria’s biggest source of money.
Economic and Political Impact
- Positive Effects:
- The government makes billions of dollars by selling oil.
- Oil companies build roads, schools, and hospitals in some areas.
- Some people get jobs in the oil industry.
- Negative Effects:
- Most of the money goes to the government and foreign companies, not local people.
- Many Nigerians remain poor, even though the country is rich in oil.
- There are often fights over oil profits, leading to violence and corruption.
Impact on Local People
- Many farmers and fishermen lose their land and jobs because of oil spills.
- The air and water become polluted, making people sick.
- Some companies do not clean up oil spills, leaving the land damaged.
- People protest for better conditions, but sometimes protests turn violent.
Environmental Problems
- Oil spills poison rivers and farmland, killing fish and crops.
- Gas flaring (burning extra gas) releases harmful gases into the air, causing health problems.
- Deforestation happens when land is cleared for oil drilling.
What Happens When Oil Runs Out?
- If Nigeria runs out of oil, it will lose a huge part of its income.
- Many people depend on oil jobs, so unemployment would rise.
- The government needs to find other ways to make money (like farming, technology, or tourism).
- Old oil sites need to be cleaned up and turned into something useful.
Key Lessons from Nigeria’s Oil Industry
- Money from resources is not always shared fairly.
- Relying too much on one resource can be risky.
- Resource extraction must be planned carefully to avoid harming people and nature.
- Governments and companies need to be responsible for the land and people.
Tip
- Designers must understand the resources used in making, selling, using, and disposing of products.
- Resources are limited, so we must design in a sustainable way.
- Big companies take resources from all over the world, and our design choices affect these resources.
- People use both renewable and non-renewable resources for daily needs like food, health, and shelter.
- Designers should find ways to use more renewable resources and reduce harm to people and the environment.
Theory of Knowledge
How do economic and political factors influence decisions about resource use?
Consider the balance between short-term costs and long-term sustainability.
