Topic 7: Natural Resources (7.1 Natural resources uses + management, 7.2 More on Energy; 7.3 Solid Waste)

(7.1) Explore natural capital and renewability.

Define natural capital.

• Natural capital = (NON-manufactured) natural goods and services, provide value

  • yield NATURAL INCOME (aka RENEWABLE; harvests that DON’T deplete original capital; ):

    • ex. cherries from cherry trees

    • cacao from trees

    • fresh water from water cycle

    • timber from forests

renewable vs. non-renewable

• renewable natural capital—can be replenished by natural growth; living organisms, groundwater, ozone layer

• vs. non-renewable natural capital—fossil fuels, aquifer water, minerals, etc. (once depleted…it’s gone ‘forever’)

**How does VEGETATION make things replenishable?

*SERVICES from VEGETATION:

• water replenishment (regulating water flows, temporary water storage/slow passage)

• mitigate air/water pollution (removing excess nutrients on banks)

• carbon sequestration (+ removing sulfates, ammonia, etc.)

(7.1) To what extent HUMANS use NATURAL RESOURCES sustainably?

(7.1) To what extent humans ENERGY use equitable?

Energy use—equitable?

• Energy security = ability country afford/reliable sources of energy

  • some countries buy from others (oil from the Middle East, coal from China); increases energy security risks…

—> FACTORS for energy use

a) availability of supply (some places more oil rich than others)

b) technological development

c) politics/war

d) economics—how cheap is it to manufacture own power?

e) environmental concerns

(7.2) How can humans CLEAN energy?

Energy conservation strategies

1. Energy conservation strategies:

   1. turning off lights

   2. reducing AC

   3. more electric vehicles!! (or public transportation)

   4. smarthomes, etc.

(7.3) How can humans WASTE MANAGEMENT?

Why is WASTE generation INCREASING?

→ WHY waste generation increasing?

1. growing population

2. urbanization

3. increase tech (more e-waste)

4. more consumer shopping

WASTE. MANAGEMENT. STRATEGIES:

• reuse, reduce, recycle

  • PROS; recycling can save money (aluminum cans), reduces water usage (to pmake plastic bags, etc.)

  • CONS: not always economic benefit to recycle, difficult to recycles (plastic)

• landfills

  • PROS: cheap.

  • CONS: LOTS of decomp, + non-decomp, limited land, leaching

• incineration

  • PROS: PREVENTS plastics, etc. tfrom ending up in turtles, bioaccumulation, etc. prevents methane from decay, ash can be REUSED (in construction, etc.)

  • CONS: burniing plastic bags releases toxins

  • ==> used for waste-to-energy schemes; ex. Sweden generating 10% of heating from incineration

• composting

  • PROS: can be small scale or larger scale, reduces carbon emissions, reduces need for inroganic fertilizer

• anaerobic decomp.

  • CONS: releases GHGs, expensive, requires continuous flow waste

• exporting (international waste trade)

International Waste Trade

• International Waste Trade…leads ⬆ sickness, skin burning, toxins, etc. + environmental poisoning (heavy metals, etc.)