Resource Consumption and Rising Demand

Resource consumption refers to the use of natural resources such as water, energy, and raw materials by people and industries.

Patterns of Resource Consumption

Resource consumption varies widely across the world, influenced by economic development, population size, and lifestyle. Wealthier countries tend to use more resources per person than poorer countries.

Global variation in resource use:

• High-income countries (e.g., UK, USA) consume large amounts of resources like energy, water, and raw materials.
• Low-income countries (e.g., many in Sub-Saharan Africa) consume fewer resources per capita due to lower industrialisation and income levels.
• Emerging economies (e.g., China, India) show rapidly increasing resource consumption as they industrialise.

Factors influencing consumption rates:

• Economic development: More developed economies use more resources for manufacturing, transport, and services.
• Population size: Larger populations increase total resource demand.
• Technology: Can increase efficiency but also create new demands.
• Cultural and lifestyle differences: Wealthier lifestyles often mean higher consumption of goods, energy, and food.

Impact of economic development: As countries develop, their resource consumption patterns change:

• Shift from primary industries (farming, mining) to secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) sectors.
• Increased use of fossil fuels, metals, and consumer goods.
• Greater demand for water, energy, and food.

For instance, the UK uses about $150\,\mathrm{GJ}$ of energy per person annually, while a low-income country like Ethiopia uses less than $10\,\mathrm{GJ}$ per person.

Causes of Rising Demand

Population growth: The global population has risen rapidly, from around 2.5 billion in 1950 to over 8 billion today. More people means more demand for resources such as food, water, and energy.

Urbanisation and industrialisation:

• More people live in cities, which require infrastructure, housing, and services that consume resources.
• Industrialisation increases demand for raw materials, energy, and water to produce goods.

Changing lifestyles and technology:

• Rising incomes lead to increased consumption of goods like cars, electronics, and processed foods.
• Technological advances can increase resource use (e.g., smartphones require rare metals) but can also improve efficiency.
• Globalisation spreads consumer culture worldwide, increasing demand even in developing countries.

Example: The rise in car ownership in India has increased demand for oil and metals like steel and aluminium.

Impacts of Increased Resource Demand

Environmental degradation:

• Deforestation to clear land for farming or mining reduces biodiversity and increases carbon emissions.
• Mining and drilling cause habitat destruction and pollution.
• Overuse of water resources can lead to shortages and damage to ecosystems.
• Air and water pollution increase from industrial and domestic waste.

Resource depletion: Many resources are finite. Increased demand risks exhausting supplies of fossil fuels, minerals, and freshwater.

Social and economic consequences:

• Resource scarcity can lead to higher prices, affecting poorer people most.
• Conflicts may arise over access to resources like water and oil.
• Economic growth may slow if resources become too expensive or scarce.
• Unequal access to resources increases global inequalities.

For example, water shortages in parts of Africa and Asia cause health problems and limit agricultural production.

Challenges in Resource Management

Sustainability issues: Managing resources so they meet current needs without harming future generations is a major challenge.

• Non-renewable resources like oil and metals cannot be replaced once used.
• Renewable resources (e.g., forests, fish stocks) can be depleted if overused.
• Pollution and environmental damage reduce the ability of ecosystems to provide resources.

Balancing supply and demand:

• Increasing demand must be met by sustainable supply, requiring efficient use and innovation.
• Reducing waste and improving recycling help extend resource availability.
• Technological advances can improve resource efficiency but may also increase demand (rebound effect).

Global inequalities in resource access:

• Wealthier countries often consume more than their fair share of resources.
• Poorer countries may lack access to clean water, energy, and food.
• International cooperation is needed to manage resources fairly and sustainably.

Example: The UK imports many resources, relying on global supply chains. Disruptions can cause shortages and price rises.

For example, if a household uses 100 units of energy and reduces consumption by $15\%$, they will use 85 units after the reduction.