7.1 Natural resources — uses and managementIB Environmental Systems and Societies SL: Flashcards
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Define natural resources.
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- Define natural resources.
- Raw materials and sources of energy used and consumed by society.
- Define natural capital.
- The stock of natural resources available on Earth.
- Define natural income.
- The goods and services produced by natural capital, harvested without reducing the stock.
- What perspective do the terms natural capital and natural income imply?
- That nature is an economic asset, valued for its use to people.
- Give an example of an ecosystem service.
- E.g. flood control by wetlands, carbon storage by forests, pollination, recreation.
- Define a renewable resource.
- One replaced by natural processes at a rate comparable to its use, e.g. timber.
- Define a non-renewable resource.
- One not replaced on a human timescale, e.g. fossil fuels or minerals.
- Are renewable resources infinite?
- No. All resources are finite, and renewables can be over-used and depleted.
- List types of value of natural capital.
- Aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, health, intrinsic, social, spiritual, technological.
- What does it mean that the value of natural capital is dynamic?
- It changes over time as knowledge, technology, culture and demand change.
- What is intrinsic value?
- Value something has for its own sake, regardless of its use to humans.
- When is the use of natural capital sustainable?
- When use does not exceed natural income, so the stock is maintained.
- Define resource security.
- The ability to ensure long-term availability of sufficient natural resources to meet demand.
- Name two factors affecting a society's resource choices.
- E.g. economics, technology, politics, culture, availability, environmental concern, perspective.
Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).