Resource and Limit of Growth :An Introduction

1. Resource and Limit of Growth :An Introduction Manish Kr. Semwal GMIS

2. Basic Questions • Is there a limit for natural resources? • Can society operate without natural resources? • Is there an interrelationship between resources? • Is there an interrelationship between the rich and the poor? • What is globalization? • What is “sustainable development”? • How can we create a world with a balance in economic activities, social stability, and environmental quality?

3. The Limit to Growth Sources Society Sinks Natural resources throughput Processing and use throughput Waste and pollution The human population and economy depend upon constant flows of raw materials such as air, water, mineral, fossil fuel from earth. The human society use those resources to produce product for consumption. The processes constantly emit waste and pollution back to the earth. The limit to the ability of the planetary sources to provide those stream of material and energy, and limits to the ability of the planetary Sinks to absorb the pollution and waste are limits to growth for the human society. In other words, the limits to growth are limits to the flow of materials and energy needed to keep the society functioning.

4. Food Determine By • 1. Socio- Cultural Setup • 2. Economical Benefits • 3. Ecological Need

5. The First Conclusion • Human use of many essential resources and generation of many kinds of pollutants have already surpassed rates that are physically sustainable. Without significant reductions in material and energy flows, there will be in the coming decades an uncontrolled declined in per capita food output, energy use, and industrial production.

6. The Second Conclusion • This decline is not inevitable. To avoid it, two changes are necessary. The first is a comprehensive revision of policies and practices that perpetuate growth in material and energy consumption (supply-side management). The second is a rapid, drastic increase in the efficiency with which materials and energy are used (demand-side management).

7. The Third Conclusion • A sustainable society is still technically and economically possible. Based on the principle of sufficient economy, it could be much more desirable than a society that tries to solve its problem by constant expansion. The transition to a sustainable society requires a careful balance between long and short term goals, and between economics, social, and environmental viability. It emphasis on sufficiency, equity, and quality of life rather than on quantity and outputs. It require more than technology; it also requires maturity, compassion, and wisdom to manage the society.

8. Sustainable Development Model Social (based on deep ecology) Environment Economic (based on sustainable economy) (based on Appropriate technology)

9. The Underlying Concepts for Sustainable Development • The concept of Sustainable Economy • The concept of Deep Ecology • The concept of Appropriate Technology and Clean Production

10. Characteristics of a Sustainable Economy • Strives for constant GDP (growth in some area of the economy, shrinkage in the others) • Stresses product durability, avoid throwaway (disposable) product • Emphasis efficiency in resources use to ensure long-term supplies • Minimizes waste and pollution in the total system, relying on reduce, reuse, recycling • Minimize transportation by decentralize certain production • Strives for equitable distribution of wealth

11. Deep ecology Harmony with nature All nature has intrinsic worth/biospecies equality Simple material need (for the purpose of self realization) Earth “supplies” limited Doing with enough/reuse/recycling Social equality Diversity The Concept of Deep Ecology • Dominant view • Dominance over nature • Natural environment as resources for human • Materialism • Economic growth for the purpose of self-demand • Earth “supplies” unlimited • High technological progress as solution for resources and waste • Consumerism • National/centralized community

12. Characteristics of Appropriate Technology • Machines size are compatible with human • Man-machine interaction is simple • Decentralized uses of material and energy • Based on local resources • Use renewable resources whenever possible • Efficient use of energy and material • Less waste or pollution • Less capital intensive • Stress meaningful work, allowing workers to perform a variety of tasks • Product are generally for local consumption • Product are durable, interchangeable, recyclable, reusable • The means of production are compatible with local norms/culture/lifestyle

13. Globalization International Agreements and politics Arousing more consumption Technology investment goods, services, recruitment Producer Consumer International money market Labour, consumption reinvestment Pollution/ waste Pollution/ waste resources resources Natural Environment

14. Major Challenges to Sustainability Pollution Poverty Depletion • greenhouse gases • -use of toxic materials • -contaminated land -scarcity of materials -insufficient reuse And recycling -urban and minority unemployment Developed economies -industrial emission -contaminated water -lack of sewage treatment -overexploitation of Renewable resources -overuse of water For irrigation -migration to cities -lack of skilled workers -income inequality Emerging economies -dung and wood Burning -lack of sanitation -ecosystem destruction -deforestation -overgrazing -soil loss -population growth -discrimination -dislocation Survival economies

15. A Framework for Sustainable Enterprise Management Problems: poverty, income disparity Solutions: - greening the supply chain - efficient income distribution Problems: pollution, externalities Solutions: - innovative technology - pollution reduction economic “eco-efficiency” “socio-efficiency” consistency efficiency sustainability sufficiency social environment “eco-justice” Problems: over-consumption, resources depletion Solutions: - fair resources allocation - equal access rights - redirection of consumer behavior

16. Population Growth Population in Billions Births & Deaths per 1000 per Year Year

17. Total Population Added Millions of People Added per Year

18. Industrial Production Year

19. 2004 Projection for 1900 - 2100 Pollution Population Food Resources

20. One Index of Overshoot - the Global Ecological Footprint Number ofEarths Required Year

21. Reserve Lifetimes in Limits to Growth Nonrenewable Resources - Petroleum • Known Global Reserves: 455 x 109 bbls (US Bureau of Mines) • Static Index: 31 years • Static Index with 5 Times Known Reserves: 155 • Average Projected Annual Growth Rate (%): 3.9 • Exponential Index: 20 years • Exponential Index with 5 Times Known Reserves: 50 • Of course the actual nonrenewable resource availability in the next few decades will be determined by factors much more complicated than can be expressed by either index.

22. The Challenge of Man’s Future • Within a period of time which is very short compared with the total span of human history, supplies of fossil fuels will almost certainly be exhausted. This loss will make man completely dependent upon waterpower, atomic energy, and solar energy for driving his machines. There are no fundamental physical laws which prevent such a transition, and it is quite possible that society will be able to make the change smoothly. But it is a transition that will happen only once during the lifetime of the human species. .. if machine civilization should, because of some catastrophe, stop functioning, it will probably never again come into existence.

23. Thank You all • Manish Kr. Semwal