SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

Transcription

1 SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

2 DEFINITIONS RESOURCE: Any commodity (raw material) that can be used to create other products. Commodities that are useful to us. Commodities that can be used to make money An element found on Earth that is used to sustain or improve one s life.

3 DEFINITIONS NATURAL RESOURCES: Any resource that can be found naturally on (or in) the Earth.

4 DEFINITIONS SUSTAINABLE: On-going Never ending Easily replenished, if used sparingly

5 RENEWABLE AND NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES RENEWABLE RESOURCE Are easily replenished with proper management EG: Water Air Wood NON RENEWABLE Resources that may eventually run out Resources that take millions of years to replenish EG: Coal Oil Gold

6 RENEWABLE AND NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES RENEWABLE Water Wood Air Fish Livestock Solar energy Wind NON RENEWABLE Coal Oil Natural gas Gold Silver Titanium Iron ore Platinum (PGM) Soil

7 NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES CASE STUDY: OIL Oil is a fossil fuel, meaning it is derived from decomposing organic matter carbon based. Oil eventually becomes trapped between rock layers and may then be drilled and pumped to the surface. This is known as conventional oil. Only 30% of world reserves are conventional oil.

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10 SASOL: OIL FROM COAL Sasol, a South African company, are pioneers in the oil-from-coal process Up to 25% of fuel in South Africa is derived through this process As coal is still abundant in South Africa, we should be able to continue with this process for many years to come.

11 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Your Carbon Footprint 1. Identify ALL natural resources used in a day. Trace each back to its source eg: Toast Wheat 2. What impact do each of these resources have on the environment? 3. Where the impact was negative, is there an alternative resource that could be used?

12 REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE REDUCE: REUSE: RECYCLE:

13 REDUCE This refers mainly to the reduction of waste products: Purchasing items with less packaging (fresh fruit and veg from a market) Cutting down on motor vehicle use better planning. Walk and bike when possible Composting organic material, eg: vegetable peels

14 REUSE Try to find inventive ways to reuse everyday items that would ordinarily be discarded. Plastic shopping bags Plastic containers eg: margarine or ice cream containers

15 RECYCLE Recycling Bins Recycling Many household waste products can be separated and then recycled, cutting down on waste at the landfill : Paper Glass Cans Wood

16 RECYCLE AND REUSE PROJECTS

17 RECYCLE AND REUSE PROJECTS BEFORE: SHIPPING PALLET AFTER: HERB GARDEN

18 THE IMPACT OF RESOURCE USE ON THE ENVIRONMENT Very often the use of resources may have a negative effect on the environment. These effects include the much vaunted issues of Global Warming, Acid Rain and Environmental Degradation. Economic growth and development often has to be carefully weighed up against the ultimate environmental costs that these developments may bring.

19 GLOBAL WARMIMG

20 10 INDICATORS OF GLOBAL WARMING

21 EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING Glaciers may melt Rise in sea levels Climate change: More frequent storms (eg: hurricane intensity may increase) Certain areas receive less rain and drought may occur Certain areas experience more rainfall - flooding

22 ACID RAIN FORMATION

23 ACID RAIN FORMATION Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other gases are released into the atmosphere These gases combine with rainwater to form acids. This acidic rain may fall up to 3000km from the point of origin. EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN Acids in lakes kill fish Soil quality is affected Crops and trees damaged Respiratory problems Buildings, statues and other statues are damaged

24 EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

25 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Sustainable development refers to responsible management of resources in such a way that: One is able to meet the needs of today One is able to conserve resources for future generations The environmental impact is kept to a minimum.

26 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Some ideas towards creating a sustainable world: Creating and conserving protected areas Renewable energy sources Community involvement Environmentally friendly new developments Enforce the law! Limit pollution Save and recycle

27 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

28 CURRENT ENERGY TRENDS In South Africa the majority of our electricity is supplied by burning coal at thermal power stations. Coal is abundant and relatively cheap, and an efficient source of energy Steps need to be taken to ensure sustainable, clean energy is used in the future.

29 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES SOLAR POWER

30 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES WIND POWER

31 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES GEOTHERMAL POWER

32 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES BIOMASS

33 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES HYDROPOWER

34 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES NUCLEAR???

35 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES TIDAL POWER

36 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES ADVANTAGES Renewable energies are renewable, or almost infinite sources of energy It is clean energy, most renewable energies do not negatively effect the environment. (Nuclear energy perhaps being one major exception) The more technology grows, the easier these energies will be able to be harnessed by the individual, perhaps saving lots of money on electric bills. Very low maintenance costs, which will make renewable energy affordable for the individual. RENEWABLE RESOURCES DISADVANTAGES You can t always rely on a consistent source of energy. Geographic locations and atmospheric conditions directly relate to efficiency of energy. Limitations in current technology makes for high start-up costs which significantly reduces the amount of people switching to more renewable sources. Each individual renewable energy source will have its own limitations. Could be geographical, or atmospheric