IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 1.3C Unsustainable Use of Natural Resources Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 1.3C Unsustainable Use of Natural Resources Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Core idea: use turns unsustainable when demand outpaces regeneration

Use is unsustainable when a resource is taken faster than it can regenerate.
Living inside the natural income (the regeneration rate) leaves the resource stock intact.
Once demand exceeds that income, the natural capital itself is spent down toward collapse.

Definition

Ecosystem Collapse

A long-lasting loss of structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem function, where the system shifts to a new, less complex state.

Analogy

Treat a natural resource like a savings account.
Sustainable use spends only the interest, so the balance stays the same.
Unsustainable use spends the capital, so the account eventually empties.

Why it happens: the tragedy of the commons

A shared resource with no single owner tends to be over-exploited.
Each user gains the full private benefit of taking more from the commons.
The cost of depletion is shared across everyone, so no individual has reason to hold back.
Rational self-interest by many users therefore drives the resource to collective ruin.

Example

Fishing grounds, groundwater, forests, and the atmosphere are all open-access commons.
Common fixes are quotas, property rights, or shared rules that cap each user's take.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Core idea: use turns unsustainable when demand outpaces regeneration

Use is unsustainable when a resource is taken faster than it can regenerate.
Living inside the natural income (the regeneration rate) leaves the resource stock intact.
Once demand exceeds that income, the natural capital itself is spent down toward collapse.

Definition

Ecosystem Collapse

A long-lasting loss of structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem function, where the system shifts to a new, less complex state.

Analogy

Treat a natural resource like a savings account.
Sustainable use spends only the interest, so the balance stays the same.
Unsustainable use spends the capital, so the account eventually empties.

Why it happens: the tragedy of the commons

A shared resource with no single owner tends to be over-exploited.
Each user gains the full private benefit of taking more from the commons.
The cost of depletion is shared across everyone, so no individual has reason to hold back.
Rational self-interest by many users therefore drives the resource to collective ruin.

Example

Fishing grounds, groundwater, forests, and the atmosphere are all open-access commons.
Common fixes are quotas, property rights, or shared rules that cap each user's take.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

IB Environmental systems and societies 1.3C Unsustainable Use of Natural Resources Notes

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

Core idea: use turns unsustainable when demand outpaces regeneration

Why it happens: the tragedy of the commons

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Core idea: use turns unsustainable when demand outpaces regeneration

Why it happens: the tragedy of the commons

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account