Resource security - Models, theories, and world trends

Question 1

How much is the global population increasing per year?

Answer 1

Global population rising by 78 million people per year.

Question 2

Why is the population rising even though the women are having fewer children?

Answer 2

Women are having fewer children, but more women are of childbearing age than ever before.

Question 3

When was the Ehrlich-Simon wager

Answer 3

1980-1990

Question 4

What was the result of the Ehrlich-Simon wager?

Answer 4

Value of $1000 basket of 5 metals decreased by 57%, suggesting resource abundance due to innovation.

Question 5

What is the Green Revolution?

Answer 5

The Green Revolution was a period of agricultural transformation that began in the mid-20th century, marked by the introduction of high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and modern farming techniques to dramatically increase food production, especially in developing countries.

Question 6

What is the Malthusian view?

Answer 6

• Population grows geometrically (exponentially)
• Food production grows arithmetically (linearly).
• Result: Shortages, famine, conflict once population surpasses food supply (Malthusian point).

Question 7

What is the Boserupian view?

Answer 7

• Optimistic outlook on resource use.
• Food production responds dynamically to increased demand.
• Follows population growth trends, avoiding crisis through innovation (e.g., Green Revolution).

Question 8

What is the link between computer-chip production and health impacts?

Answer 8

40% higher risk of miscarriages.

Increased kidney, colon cancer, and bone diseases.

Question 9

What is Moore’s Law?

Answer 9

Moore’s Law is the observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, leading to an exponential increase in computing power and a decrease in relative cost.

Question 10

What are the five key strategies for resource stewardship?

Answer 10

1. Reduce – Minimize resource use.
2. Reuse – Extend product life through repeated use.
3. Recycle – Convert waste into reusable material.
4. Recovery – Extract useful energy or materials from waste.
5. Landfill – Last resort; least sustainable option.

Question 11

What is the Cirular Economy?

Answer 11

A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and continuously using resources by designing products for reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling

Question 12

What is the Linear Economy?

Answer 12

A linear economy is a traditional economic model where resources are extracted, used to make products, and then discarded as waste after use—following a “take, make, dispose” pattern that leads to resource depletion and environmental harm.

Question 13

Circular vs Linear economy

Answer 13

Linear: Take → Make → Waste

Circular: Materials stay in use for as long as possible.

Question 14

What are the three core principles of the circular economy model?

Answer 14

1. Eliminate waste and pollution
2. Circulate products and materials at their highest value
3. Regenerate nature

Question 15

What are the two cycles within the greater circular economy model?

Answer 15

1. Technical cycle
2. Biological Cycle

Question 16

What is the technical cycle?

Answer 16

For non-biodegradable materials:
* Metals
* Rare earth metals
* Plastics
* Polymers

Involves chemical and physical recycling

Goal: Feed materials back into the economy.

Question 17

What is the biological cycle?

Answer 17

For biodegradable materials:
* Food
* Wood
* Cotton
* Chipboard

Processed through composting and natural regeneration.