Non-renewable resources: limited and unevenly shared
Minerals and fossil fuels are non-renewable resources. They took millions of years to form, so once used they are not replaced in a human lifetime and may run out. Their use rose quickly after the industrial revolution, when machines and factories appeared. We can use resources more sustainably in several ways: renewable energy (such as sun and wind), recycling metals, saving energy, and replacing one material with another. Mining and the control of resources can leave some countries treated unfairly, a topic to discuss in a neutral way. Careful: a graph of production shows how much was taken each year; it does not show the reserves, so it cannot tell us when a resource will run out. The part of a curve after today is a forecast, not data. Sinai sand is rich in silica, which is used to make glass. In this lesson we do not name companies, and we do not guess prices.
| Resource | Renewable or not? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| coal, oil, gas | non-renewable | took millions of years to form |
| metal ores | non-renewable | limited amounts in the crust |
| sunlight, wind | renewable | keep arriving every day |
Resource audit. Write a list of ten things at home made from resources such as metal, glass, plastic or fuel. Mark which come from non-renewable resources. Choose two items and write one way to reuse, repair or recycle each. Then write two sentences discussing, in a neutral way, whether every country can share the benefit of its minerals. Do not name companies or guess prices.