Consuming Resources

Consuming Resources

1. The Relationship Between Population and Resources

   • Thomas Malthus
     • Theory
       • Believed population grew exponentially (2,4,8,16 etc) ...
       • Food production to grow arithmetically (1,2,3,4 etc) ...
       • Meaning population would eventually over take food production ...
       • Leading to a natural check killing the weakest.
     • Due to Malthus, the British didn't help India during their famine as they agreed with him
   • Ester Boserup
     • Disagreed with Malthus
     • Theory
       • Believed as population grew, ...
       • They would make sure they had enough food, ..
       • By using better farming techniques and chemical fertillisers

2. Energy Secutiry

   • Having access to affordable and reliable sources of energy

3. Hydrogen

   • Advantages
     • Sustainable, clean energy
       • Readily Availible
         • No Polutants
           • People want to invest into it
   • Disadvantages
     • Need energy to collect hydrogen
       • Not going to be benefical for years
         • Environmental Damage
           • Need new fueling stations

4. Advantages and Disadvantages of using resoures

   • Coal (Non-Renewable)
     • Advantages
       • Produces a lot of electricity/energy
       • Currently there is good availability of coal around the world
       • Relatively inexpensive
     • Disadvantages
       • It is non-renewable and fast depleting
       • Burning coal produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas
   • Bio-gas (Sustainable Resource)
     • Advantages
       • Carbon dioxide is absorbed when they are grown
       • Car engines need little change to cope with bio fuels
     • Disadvantages
       • Need a huge area of land to grow the crop, often resulting in deforestation of existing land
       • Not completely carbon-neutral because the land has to be cleared first, then it has to be transported for use elsewhere
   • Wind (Renewable Resource)
     • Advantages
       • Free
       • Unlimited
       • Environmentally friendly because it does not emit greenhouse gases
     • Disadvantages
       • Inconsistent
       • Wind turbines are an eye sore
       • Do not produce huge amounts of electricity/energy unless it is very windy