Moving Towards A Cleaner Future For All

Almost everything we do involves raw materials that have been extracted, processed, transformed, bought and sold.

In short, consumption and production rely on the input of natural resources.

This includes materials like metals and minerals that are used to create products such as steel for buildings, aluminium for cars, and copper and cobalt for electronics such as smartphones.

The products and services we consume also depend on burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to generate the energy that powers machinery, factories, processing plants, transportation and the use of many products and services.

Overconsumption of Natural Resources

Many of the natural resources our society use are extremely diminishing due to overconsumption. This means that humans are continuously consuming natural resources that the planet can feasibly make. Ecosystems are unable to cope with excessive resource extraction, resulting in biodiversity loss and the deterioration of the natural world. When a resource is depleted entirely from an area, it is likely to be gone forever.

An example of natural resource overconsumption is found in the fossil fuels industry. In 2021, global oil production amounted to approximately 4.2 billion metric tons, more than 5.1 billion tons of coal and nearly 4.04 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.

Fossil fuels supply the vast majority of the world’s energy demands and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Another example is water. Lakes, aquifers, and underground sources of water are generally replenishable through rain and the gradual filtering of water through natural ecosystems.

However, water sources are being overexploited and polluted, forcing people to dig and search for new sources of water, import water from elsewhere, or buy bottled water. More than half of the world’s major aquifers are receding.

In China, more than 80% of the country’s rural water wells are polluted. Mexico city is literally sinking because it is located on top of aquifers that are being sucked dry to feed demand.

Globally, one in 10 people does not have access to clean water and it is expected that more than half of the world’s population will be living in areas with highly stressed water sources.

The Impact of Natural Resources Consumption on the Environment

Every action we take has its effects and consequences. Unsustainable consumption and production practices not only deplete natural resources through the use of material inputs but would also cause a direct impact on the environment as a result of the extraction, processing, manufacturing, consumption and waste disposal at every stage of a product or service life cycle.

These environmental impacts are driving the three major planetary crisis which is climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Climate change is primarily caused by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to create energy that powers economic activity. This energy is used for heavy machinery for mining and industrial farming factories for processing and manufacturing products; trucks, ships and planes for transporting products; energy related to consumer products and services; as well as the energy power to necessary disposal and treatment of waste leftover from production and consumption.

Other natural resources are harvested as part of industries that cause greenhouse gas emissions and carbon emissions, accelerating global warming and climate change.

The second crisis is biodiversity loss. The ever-increasing amount of land that needs to be used for production and consumption, such as for agriculture, raw material extraction, forestry, or building and infrastructure, means clearing the land and removing all natural trees and vegetation. This destroys the biodiversity of the flora and fauna on the lands.

The consequences of this biodiversity loss are dire and are already damaging the life-supporting systems of food, water and air on which living things on earth depend.

The amount of pollution that is created as a result of unsustainable production and consumption is also causing great damage to the planet’s life-supporting systems of food, water and air, resulting in harming human health and all the living things on the planet.

Pollution takes place at every stage of the value chain of a product or service, during extraction of raw resources, the processing and manufacturing of goods, as well as distribution and consumption.

These environmental impacts are deeply interconnected and affect one another For example, pollution contributes to climate change, and biodiversity loss is exacerbated by both climate change and pollution.

The Best Solution to Overconsumption

The solution to overconsumption of natural resources and protecting our planet is to monitor our consumption patterns, create new ways to preserve them, and practice resource management.

We should focus on transitioning from non-renewable resources to resources that can replenish themselves to preserve sustainability. This transition will preserve the environment, the economy, as well as the future human generation.

New technologies that improve the efficiency of sustainable energy can provide power solutions at practically cost zero to planet earth. Sustainable sources of energy such as solar and wind power can be explored more and utilized to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. Through the exploration of different sources of energy, a lot of technological innovations can be developed, which in turn could help reduce the use of natural nonrenewable resources.

Finally, small steps matter to a bigger and brighter future. Let’s play a role together in reducing our natural consumption levels by remaining aware of how our life can contribute to our ecological footprint. Each one of us has the power to protect Mother Earth if we join hand to hand to solve this problem.

Let us all walk hand in hand, become responsible consumers and maintain a sustainable lifestyle for a better future.

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