Running Out of Resources: Countries Need To Learn How To Do More With Less, Says The U.N.

The greatest threat to most countries, today, doesn’t come from outside forces as much as it comes from their own internal economic stresses caused by depleting resources. The world is already running out of high quality natural resources such as oil, cooper, and gold, says a new report by the United Nations Environmental Program.

A South African palladium mine. Photo by Precious Metal News.

The report found that the best and most easily accessible mineral ores and fossil fuels are being exhausted at an extremely rapid pace. It estimates that by 2050, humanity could devour an estimated 140 billion tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuel, and biomass per year – three times the current consumption rate.

These findings represented an unsustainable future in terms of both resource use and emissions. Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N.’s environmental program expressed his views in a speech saying, “People believe environmental ‘bads’ are the price we must pay for economic ‘goods.’ However, we cannot and need not continue to act as if this trade-off is inevitable.

“Transitioning to low carbon, resource efficient, green economies is needed in order to stimulate growth, generate decent kinds of employment, and eradicate poverty in ways that keep humanity’s footprint within planetary boundaries.”

The report found that, “if investments in developing countries and developed countries are made today that lock humanity into a ‘business as usual’ or moderately improved resource intensive growth path, the risks of running into ecological and supply constraints will worsen.”

Among the suggested strategies for a ‘greener’ future in developing countries is that they avoid heavy resource technologies, like much of Africa has done, by for example, bypassing hard-wired telephone services and moving directly to wireless technologies.

Another suggestion is the promotion of city-living. A trend toward urbanization is expected to help, says the report, since cities allow for economies of scale. This includes the ability to efficiently provide services, such as water distribution, waste management, recycling, energy use, and transportation.

Ernst U. von Weizsacker, co-chair of the U.N.’s environmental program’s resource panel, best summed up things in a statement where he said, “We must realize that prosperity and well-being do not depend on consuming ever-greater quantities of resources.

“It’s about doing more with less. Global resource consumption is exploding. It’s not a trend that is in any way sustainable.”

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