Natural Resources Depletion

The human population on earth is increasing by leaps and bounds. The more people there are on this planet, the more resources they need to survive and thrive. However, the planet comes with finite resources – resources that are being consumed at an exponential rate. Even the renewable resources such as water and soil are being consumed at a far higher rate than they can be replaced. The inevitable result of this is the depletion of essential natural resources which will have some profound consequences for humanity and for the planet.

Effects of Natural Resources Depletion

We need various minerals to provide housing, clothing and food to the increasing population. The Industrial Revolution heralded large-scale exploitation of minerals and the rates of consumption have only increased since. It is projected that minerals such as gas, copper and zinc will see a decline in production over the next 20 years due to lack of availability. Aluminium, coal and iron will face a similar decline during the present century.

Oil is fundamental to today’s global industrial economy. However, oil reserves are projected to run out soon and the peak oil period, the period when we reach the maximum rate of petroleum extraction globally, is very close. Once we hit this period, oil production will start declining. The effects of this will be widespread. Prices of liquid fuel are bound to increase and those prices will be volatile. This will, in turn, affect not only economies but society and even global politics.

Forests are an essential natural resource; however, we have cut down around half of the world’s forests for agriculture, industrialization and housing. The impact of this uncontrolled deforestation is staggering. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased, water cycles have been altered, fertile layers of soil have been eroded and biodiversity has decreased.

Water is the most necessary natural resource of them all. We wouldn’t survive a week without it. Naturally, it is the resource that has seen the highest amount of exploitation. At the moment, most of our fresh water supplies come from ground-water, which is non-renewable. It is also unevenly distributed which has political, social and survival effects. Countries are ready to go to war over sources of water. People immigrate to other countries if they run out of water in their own. However, the biggest concern is the depletion of global supplies. We may soon be facing a time when we do not have enough water to drink or use for farming, causing famine on a very large scale.

Conclusion

Whenever we use something up before it can be replaced, we run out. This is basic common sense. However, in the interests of global development we have been using up our natural resources as though they are infinite, which they are definitely not. Unless we become more responsible and learn to balance preservation of resources with economic development we will soon face a time when we simply won’t have resources to exploit. Regulation and use of alternative resources is essential to halt and perhaps reverse resource depletion.