Unit 6 - Energy & Sustainability

Renewable resources

Resources that can generate naturally within a human lifetime (e.g. solar, wind, hydro)

Non-renewable resources

Resources that take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly (e.g. fossil fuels)

Sustainable development

Development that meet present needs without compromising future generations

Tragedy of the commons

The overuse of shared resources because individuals act in their own self interest

Peak oil

The point at which global oil production reaches its maximum rate before declining

Carbon tax

A tax on fossil fuel emissions to encourage lower carbon energy sources