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Learning Point
Introduction of Resource Depletion
Resource Depletion
Humans are depleting the earth’s resources at an ever-increasing rate. This is the sum of an ever-increasing global population multiplied by an ever-increasing level of consumption per person.
More people on the planet lead to more:
- Sewerage and stock effluent
- Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides
- Fossil fuels extracted and burned
- Oil leaked and spilled
- Land deforested and developed
- Soil eroded and degraded
- Minerals mined
- Waste and toxic byproducts of manufacturing
All of these things deplete or degrade the earth’s natural resources. It is estimated that humanities’ eco-footprint (a measure of consumption) is one and a half times the earth’s ability to sustainably provide the resources to meet that level of consumption. That shortfall is being met through the depletion (or degradation) of natural capital – things like fresh water, soil, forest land, wetlands and biodiversity.
Natural Resources
- Water
- Air
- Coal
- Oil
- Natural gas
- Phosphorus
- Soil
- Iron
- Forest and timber
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