Resources and demand
- Food, water and energy are vital resources. Demand for them is rising because the population is growing and people in many countries are becoming wealthier.
- Renewable resources won't run out (wind, solar, tidal, wave, hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass). Non-renewable resources will (coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel).
- Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which causes climate change.
Energy
- Energy security means having a reliable, affordable supply of energy.
- Renewable energy produces little carbon dioxide, but some types depend on the weather: wind turbines only work when it is windy, and solar panels only when it is light.
- Islands such as Guernsey have strong winds and tides that could be used for renewable energy.
Water and food
- Water stress is when demand for water is greater than the supply. Solutions include dams, reservoirs, water transfers, desalination (removing salt from sea water, which uses a lot of energy) and saving water.
- Food miles are the distance food travels from farm to plate. Eating local, seasonal food reduces them.
- Overfishing is catching fish faster than they can breed.
Sustainability
- Sustainability means meeting our needs today without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
- A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas a person or activity produces. It can be reduced by using less energy, travelling by public transport, bike or on foot, and buying less.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle.
Key terms
- Resource
- Something useful to people, such as food, water or energy.
- Renewable
- A resource that won't run out, such as wind.
- Non-renewable
- A resource that will run out, such as coal.
- Fossil fuel
- Coal, oil or gas, formed from ancient living things.
- Energy security
- Having a reliable, affordable supply of energy.
- Water stress
- When demand for water is greater than the supply.
- Desalination
- Removing salt from sea water to make fresh water.
- Food miles
- The distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is eaten.
- Carbon footprint
- The amount of greenhouse gas a person or activity produces.
- Sustainability
- Meeting today's needs without harming future generations.