Resources: introduction
All human activities, and therefore prosperity and welfare, depend on the earth's natural resources, in particular fossil fuels. The sustainable management of these resources is necessary to safeguard them for future generations.
Environmental pressure
Natural resources can be divided into raw materials, environmental resources (clean water, clean air, space) and biodiversity. The extraction of raw materials often has a detrimental effect on one or more environmental resources and/or biodiversity. For example, during extraction, there are often emissions (to air as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels, and to water and soil as a result of the run-off of pollutants). Extraction sites often use up space and have an adverse effect on the landscape, resulting in the depletion of biodiversity.
The transportation and the processing of raw materials also contribute to the emission of substances. When processing substances, this is particularly the case if the raw material contains pollutants with hazardous substances (for example, excessive sulphur levels).
Renewable and non-renewable resources
A distinction is made in the raw materials category between renewable and non-renewable resources. Non-renewable resources are not usually reproduced, meaning that continual extraction will ultimately lead to their exhaustion (fossil fuel energy carriers, ore products). Renewable resources are replenished through natural processes and will be available indefinitely if their exploitation and regeneration are balanced (timber, fish).
