Welcome to Resource Reliance!
In this chapter, we are diving into one of the biggest questions of the 21st century: Will we run out of natural resources? We use resources every single day—from the water you used to brush your teeth this morning to the energy charging your phone and the food in your lunchbox.
But here’s the problem: the world's population is growing, and we are using these resources faster than the Earth can replace them. Don't worry if this seems a bit overwhelming at first! We’re going to break down exactly why this is happening and how we are changing our planet to keep up with our needs.
1. Why is Demand Outstripping Supply?
When we say demand is outstripping supply, it just means that people want more "stuff" (food, energy, and water) than is currently available. Think of it like a popular video game release: if 1,000 people want the game but the shop only has 100 copies, the demand is higher than the supply.
There are three main reasons why this is happening globally:
- Population Growth: There are more people on Earth than ever before. More people = more mouths to feed, more homes to heat, and more thirst to quench.
- Economic Development: As countries become wealthier (moving from LIDCs to EDCs or ACs), people have more money to spend. They buy cars (energy), eat more meat (food), and use appliances like dishwashers (water).
- Urbanisation: More people are moving to cities. Cities are "resource hungry" places that require massive amounts of energy and water infrastructure to keep running.
Quick Review: Demand is how much we want; Supply is how much we have. Currently, Demand > Supply.
2. How We Modify the Planet for Food
To make sure there is enough food for everyone, humans have had to change how we use the land and the sea. This is called modifying ecosystems.
Mechanisation of Farming
In the past, farming was done by hand or with animals. Now, we use mechanisation—massive tractors, harvesters, and technology.
Analogy: It’s like the difference between mowing a giant field with a pair of scissors versus using a high-powered sit-on lawnmower.
- The Impact: We can produce huge amounts of food (high yield), but these machines often use fossil fuels and can damage the soil.
Commercial Fishing
To meet the demand for fish, we use commercial fishing. This involves giant "super-trawlers" that use nets the size of football pitches.
The Problem: This can lead to overfishing, where we catch fish faster than they can reproduce, leaving the oceans empty.
Did you know? Some modern fishing nets are so big they could hold thirteen Boeing 747 jumbo jets!
3. How We Modify the Planet for Energy
Everything from your Xbox to the school bus needs energy. To get this, we often have to change the environment drastically.
Deforestation
We cut down vast areas of forest (deforestation) for two main energy reasons:
- To use the wood as fuel (especially in LIDCs).
- To clear space for mining or to grow crops for biofuels (fuel made from plants).
Mining
To get coal, oil, or gas, we dig deep into the Earth. Open-cast mining involves stripping away the top layer of soil and rock to get to the resources underneath. This destroys habitats and can pollute nearby water sources.
Memory Aid: Think of M.D. (Mining and Deforestation) as the "Doctors" who are actually making the planet sick to get energy!
4. How We Modify the Planet for Water
Water is life, but it isn't always where we need it to be. To solve this, humans build "plumbing for the planet."
Reservoirs
A reservoir is a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply. We usually create them by building a dam across a river.
The Plus side: It provides a steady supply of water and can create "green" hydroelectric power.
The Minus side: It floods the land behind the dam, often forcing people to leave their homes and destroying wildlife habitats.
Water Transfer Schemes
These are massive engineering projects that move water from an area that has "too much" (surplus) to an area that doesn't have enough (deficit) using pipes and canals.
Example: Moving water from the rainy mountains of Wales to the dry, crowded cities in the South East of England.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse water transfer with water cycle. The water cycle is natural; water transfer is man-made engineering!
Summary: Key Takeaways
1. The Gap: Our demand for food, energy, and water is growing faster than the supply because of more people and more wealth.
2. Food: We use mechanisation and commercial fishing to get more food, but this can hurt the environment.
3. Energy: We get energy through mining and deforestation, which can destroy animal habitats.
4. Water: We use reservoirs and transfer schemes to move water to where we need it most.
Keep going! You're doing great. Understanding how we use these resources is the first step to figuring out how we can use them better in the future.