2.1

2.1 Specifically

**Renewable resource**

A natural resource that can replenish with the passage of time or does not abate at all, or Resources are the stock or supply of materials that available in a given context.

* These include fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, coal, gasohol and nuclear energy


* These resources are very useful sources of energy. This energy is needed to manufacture products and provide power to businesses, factories and homes.
* The bad aspect about this is that these resources are running out and the human dependency on them is very high.

**Non-renewable resources (Ex)**

**Renewability**

This term refers to a resource that is inexhaustible, therefore can be replenished quickly enough.

* These include, solar, wind, hydro, wave, tidal, thermal and bio fuels
* A natural resource qualifies as a renewable resource if it is replenished by natural processes at a rate almost the same as its rate of consumption by humans or other users.

**Renewable resource (Ex)**

**Non-renewable resources**

A natural resource that does not replenish at a sustainable rate; a source that will run out if the rate of extraction is maintained.

* Hardwood trees (such as many rainforest species) take a fair bit of time to mature to a point where is is useable as a resource, therefore, it is considered non-renewable. On the other hand, softwoods (such as pines or conifers) mature more quickly and are considered a renewable resource.

**Renewability (Ex)**

**Reserves**

A natural resource that has been identified in terms of quantity and quality.

* A proven reserve are those resources that can be economically and technically extracted.
* Reserves exist but it might not be viable at this moment such as __gold in seawater__

**Reserves (Ex)**

Governments need to balance the economic benefits and political impact (including social aspects) of resource extraction.

The extraction of oil has been at the centre of may issues removing resource security and international treaties.

* The __Invasion of Kuwait__ in 1990 is one such example. Iraq was accusing the Kuwait government of ‘__slant drilling__‘ from the border into Iraqi reserves, thus stealing Iraqi oil. It is also thought to be that Iraq invaded in order to procure Kuwaiti oil that were  considered to be 20% of the global reserves. A third reason was that Kuwait was over producing oil this dropping the price of global oil which affect the Iraqi economy. \n

The economic and political importance of material and land resources and reserves, considering:

* *Social impact*
* *Efficiency of conversion*
* *Environmental impact*
* *Decommissioning*
* *Set-up cost*
* *Sustainable and constant supply*