Resource Depletion: A growing issue with a lack of growing natural resources
The term “resource depletion” sounds anything but not an issue, so why are policy makers not being more urgent towards this problem? With the Earth’s natural resources diminishing at the amount of overconsumption that is happening today, we aren’t giving these resources time to replenish. Resource depletion creates a domino effect of more environmental issues happening including decrease in biodiversity, increase in greenhouse gases in the environment, an influx in soil erosion, deforestation, an a multitude of other environmental harms that will result in a weaker future of our environment and overall quality of living. With the lack of the correct amount of time given to replenish these resources, we are only stripping away these sources.
There are two types of natural resources, renewable and non-renewable. Examples of renewable resources are things that can be replenished in a relatively short period; trees, animals, land, and others along the lines of this. Non-renewable resources take a very long amount of time to replenish and take a long time to form in the first place. This includes coal, oil, metals, and other raw materials. When it comes to resource depletion, both renewable and non-renewable resources can be harmed. But, the difference is how detrimental the impacts on our environment will be if we don’t reduce the level of consumption that is currently happening today. In the name itself, “non-renewable resources”, it is hard to conserve and grow back the materials at hand. An article explains the seriousness of the issue at hand through some statistics, “Resource extraction has more than tripled since 1970, including a fivefold increase in the use of non-metallic minerals and a 45 percent increase in fossil fuel use. By 2060, global material use could double to 190 billion tonnes (from 92 billion), while greenhouse gas emissions could increase by 43 percent.” (UN Environment Programme).
A solution that has been talked about is monitoring consumption cycles and regulating how and when these resources can be used. This takes control and patience because of the time it takes to allow the resources to replenish naturally. Using more renewable energy and greener energy sources can help diminish the use of coal and other fossil fuels. Having these solutions take action quickly and throughout the world will help start picking up the pieces of the harm that has been caused to our environment. In March of 2019, the Natural Resources Management Act was passed and it provides a heightened protection and management over the natural resources on federal land. This has helped look over and surveil the amount of natural resources used and how they are used. Many acts have been coming into play because of the severity of this issue if we continue on as we’ve been doing.
Works Cited
“We’re Gobbling up the Earth’s Resources at an Unsustainable Rate.” UNEP, www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/were-gobbling-earths-resources-unsustainable-rate. Accessed 25 Mar. 202
“Breaking down the Natural Resources Management Act and Its Impacts on States.” National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, www.ncelenviro.org/articles/breaking-down-the-natural-resources-management-act-and-its-impacts-on-states/.
“John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.” US Forest Service, 22 Jan. 2020, www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/fire/technology/law#:~:text=The%20law%20sets%20provisions%20for. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.
1. No title.
2. The introduction portrays the issue of overconsumption as being urgent. It is successful in establishing a pressing need for a solution.
3. The thesis could be made to be clearer for the reader. The need for a solution was set up well, however no specific policy or practice is advanced. It is not clear how the rest of the argument will unfold.
4. The organizational pattern is problem/cause/solution, as the introduction states the problems and causes of overconsumption, and then the existing solutions. However, the proposed solution is vague. Types of policy instruments used is not clearly defined.