3.3 Resource stewardship

Possibilities for managing resources sustainably and power over the decision-making process

Different perspectives on global resource use and the likely effectiveness of management actions at varying scales

Divergent thinking about population and resource consumption trends:

  • pessimistic views, including neo-Malthusian views
  • optimistic views, including Boserup
  • balanced views, including resource stewardship
1.4.Thomas Malthus

Exercise:

Define:

  • Finite
  • Carrying capacity
  • Optimum population
  • Overpopulation
  • Underpopulation
  • Diminishing marginal returns
  • Tragedy of the commons

Find a graph for inflation adjusted price, total production and total consumption of:

    • Oil
    • Wheat
    • Copper
    • Aluminum
    • Soy
    • Corn
    • Gold

IB Style question, short answer:

  • Explain the neo-Malthusian view of the relationship between population size and resource consumption. [4] (P1, N14)

Post your answers here

Debate

We will have a short debate with 2 teams defending the neo-Malthusian and anti-Malthusian theories.

  • 3 people will speak on each team
  • Prepare opening statements for your perspective
  • The rest of the class will comment on the debate using backchannelchat.com

Resource stewardship strategies, including:

  • the value of the circular economy as a systems approach for effective cycling of materials and energy
  • the role of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and progress made toward meeting them

This is a fitting final section for the core of the DP course since it focuses on the interconnectedness of most, if not all, of the issues we have discussed in the course: You can apply all of these issues to the idea of a multi-faceted solution, where each part has a direct impact on the others, and is indispensable to the whole.

The Circular economy

"A framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design" to go from linear to circular, like an ecosystem

The circular economy must be addressed at a variety of scales, from local to global, and from small businesses to TNCs

  • Design out waste and pollution
  • Keep products and materials in use
  • Regenerate natural systems

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Design out Waste and pollution:

Technical and Biological cycles

Keep products and material in use

  • The importance of design
  • Consider resource use
  • Consider entire supply chain


Regenerate natural (living) systems

  • Eliminate waste
  • Return it to its natural state
  • Supply the nutrient cycle

Case studies: In groups, you will explain how the circular economy's system approach is used in the production of the following goods:

Present your case studies here

Further research:

The schools of thought of the circular economy.

  • The functional service economy (performance economy), Walter Stahel
  • The Cradle to Cradle design philosophy, William McDonough and Michael Braungart
  • Biomimicry, Janine Benyus
  • The industrial ecology, Reid Lifset and Thomas Graedel
  • Natural capitalism, Amory and Hunter Lovins and Paul Hawken
  • The blue economy systems approach, Gunter Pauli.

Watch the video below for homework

The role of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and progress made toward meeting them (continued)

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

"Decoupling economic growth from resource use is one of the most critical and complex challenges facing humanity today. Doing so effectively will require policies that create a conducive environment for such change, social and physical infrastructure and markets, and a profound transformation of business practices along global value chains."

  • 12.3 - By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
  • 12.4 - By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle
  • 12.5 - By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

source

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

"Ensuring access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all has come one step closer due to recent progress in electrification, particularly in LDCs, and improvements in industrial energy efficiency. However, national priorities and policy ambitions still need to be strengthened to put the world on track to meet the energy targets for 2030"

  • 7.1 - By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
  • 7.2 - By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
  • 7.A - By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology

source

In groups, answer the following questions. Focus on goals 7 and 12.

You will relate your answers back to the class:

  • Describe one successful SDG initiative aimed at resource stewardship in Asia
  • Describe one successful SDG initiative aimed at resource stewardship in Africa
  • Describe one SDG initiative aimed at resource stewardship that is currently not meeting it's goals in Asia
  • Describe one SDG initiative aimed at resource stewardship that is currently not meeting it's goals in Africa
  • Using examples, explain the circular economy's system's approach could be used to tackle goal 7 of the SDGs
  • Using examples, explain the circular economy's system's approach could be used to tackle goal 12 of the SDGs

Add your answers and sources here

Synthesis:

Different perspectives on global resource use and the likely effectiveness of management actions at varying scales