Unit 3 Global Resource Consumption and Security and

Impacts of Changing Trends in Resource Consumption

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1. As a 4. Characteristics Waste is minimised by the use of biological

population of a circular materials which can be composted. Artificial
approaches economy (technological) materials such as metal
the carrying alloys or polymers are designed for
capacity of repeated use. Systems are designed to run
an on renewable energy, for example the use of
environment, solar energy.
5. A circular
economy

The population increase begins to taper off as

the carrying capacity is approached, and then
to level off when the ceiling is reached. It is
claimed that populations that are large, with
long life spans, and low fertility rates conform
to this S-curve pattern.
2. As a rapid An economic model that preserves natural
rise in capacity, optimises resource use and reduces
population loss through managing finite stocks and
overshoots renewable resources.
the carrying
capacity, 6. Composition
of solid
domestic
waste

a sudden check may occur (famine, birth

control, etc.). After this, the population
recovers and fluctuates, eventually settling at
the carrying capacity. This J-curve appears
more applicable to small populations with
short lives and high fertility rates.
7. Emile An increase in population density leads to a
3. Carrying
Durkheim's greater division of labour, which allows for
capacity
Theory of greater productivity to be achieved.
Population Suggested that population pressure was
necessary to increase the division of labour.
8. Esther People have the resources to increase food
Boserup's production. The greatest resource is
Theory of knowledge and technology. When a need
Largest number of individuals of a population
Population arises, someone will find a solution. More
that a environment can support
Growth thinkers, more populations = more food can
be grown.
Necessity is the mother of invention!
9. E-waste ...
10. The 12. Negative
Global externalities
Commons

A cost imposed without compensation on

third parties by the production or
consumption of sellers or buyers. Example:
The earth's unowned natural resources, such as a manufacturer dumps toxic chemicals into
the oceans, the atmosphere, and space. There are a river, killing the fish sought by sports
4: the high seas, Antarctica, the atmosphere, outer fishers; an external cost or a spillover cost
space. They require special management and
13. Neo- Built on Malthus' theory, suggest the need
protection.
Malthusians for population control and increases in
11. Limits to food supply are necessary to avoid famine
Growth and war.
Model
14. Optimum
population

A neo-Malthusian model produced by the Club

of Rome that examines the long term trends of
population, agriculture, natural resources,
industry, and pollution. It agrees with Malthus in
When population and resources are
that positive factors such as technological
perfectly matched. Ie. the number of
innovation only increase arithmetically, while the
workers, dependents, and resources used
negative factors increase exponentially. They,
will produce the highest per-capita
however, did say we can change the way it is
economic return. It provides the highest
heading through changing our consumption.
quality of life and standard of living. The
concept is dynamic and changes with
-It does not distinguish between parts of the
technological advancements.
world
In reality, this is almost impossible to
-Ignores the spatial distribution between
achieve. If the population changes from this
population and resources, of agricultural and
perfect match, the standard of living drops.
industrial activity. Distribution AND size are a
part of the problem. 15. Overpopulation
-does not consider the rate of discovery of new
resources or new uses of resources

The number of people in an area exceeds

the capacity of the environment to support
life at a decent standard of living.
16. Population The theoretical saturation of people who can 20. Thomas
ceiling be supported by the carrying capacity of a Malthus'
geographical area. Theory of
Population
17. Population These keep expanding populations under
checks control; natural checks (food supply, disease),
and cultural constraints on births (delayed
marriage, birthday control, infanticide)
18. Resource
stewardship

Predicted the population would outpace the

food supply
- increase population = decline in standard of
living
-cause war, famine and disease
- concluded that poverty was unavoidable if
the population grew past that point
21. Three 1. Preserve and enhance natural capacity by
The careful and responsible management of principles controlling finite resources and balancing
resources under one's control so they are behind a renewable resource flows.
available for use by future generations. circular 2. Optimise resource yields by circulating
Requires efficient use of: economy products, materials and components - this
- Material (case study: the fish, more fish caught means designing for recycling, upcycling and
by one country, more incentive for other remanufacturing of products.
countries to compete) 3. Develop system effectiveness by
- Finances (top 1%, wealth gap, magnitude of eliminating negative externalities such as
inequality) pollution and climate change
- Information and Technology (China's ban on 22. Tragedy of How the selfish acts of individuals can destroy
information) the the resource for others.
- Energy (first world countries, factories) Commons https://www.youtube.com/watch?
- Warfare Resources (Garrett v=CxC161GvMPc
Suggests that environmental sustainability but Hardin) If a resource is communally held, what is the
also social equity over access to resources. incentive not to overgraze? How can we trust
19. Standard of The result of the interaction of natural resources others do not overgraze?
living and human resources: (Natural resources x Possible solutions:
Technology)/Population -private property
-public property regulated by state
23. Underpopulation 25. What could waste management -culture (is it
options be influenced by? acceptable?)
-economic (is it
affordable?)
-technological (can it be
achieved?)
-political (is there
support for the
strategy?)

Circumstances of too few people to

sufficiently develop the resources of a
country or region to improve the level of
living of its inhabitants. There are far too
many resources in an area than can be
used by the population.
24. Waste
management
options

-Reduce the amount of waste

Producers design for lifespan and reduce
packaging
Consumer consider lifespan and
packaging
-Reuse goods to extend their lifespan
Bring-back scheme where containers are
reused (milk, like Scooped)
Refurbish/recondition goods to extend
their useful life (reusing old car tyres to
stabilise slopes/reduce erosion)
Used goods put to another use rather
than thrown out (plastic bags as bin
liners, old clothes used as cleaning
cloths)
Charity shops pass on goods to new
owners
-Recover value
Recycle goods such as paper and glass
Compost biodegradable waste for use as
a fertiliser
Incinerate waste and collect electricity
from heat/steam
-Dispose of waste in landfill sites
Put waste into a hole or use it to make
artificial hills