What are resources?

An increasing global population needs more resources but most resources are limited and exploitation has consequences.

The demand for resources

When people use something, it becomes a resource. At the most basic level, we need uncontaminated food and water supplies, shelter, clothing and good health. Resources are also required to make all the things that we use in our daily lives.
People in MEDCs need lots of resources to sustain their high levels of consumption. Whereas people in LEDCs sometimes have limited access to basic resources such as food and water. People in LEDCs also often have rich natural resources, such as large forests and deep deposits of valuable metals and minerals. To help them out of poverty, LEDCs can extract and sell resources to MEDCs.
This system creates a dependency that has serious implications for the environment. The more resources that MEDCs buy from LEDCs, the more money there is for LEDCs to improve living standards, but the greater the impact on the environment.

A water pump in Lulimba, DR Congo

There is an increasing demand for goods and services from a growing global population, especially those in MEDCs. The world's resources are being used up more quickly. The consumption of resources is spread unequally between MEDCs, who use more resources, and LEDCs, who use less.

Consequences of resource exploitation

Socioeconomic consequences

• Higher energy prices as sources are depleted, eg increase in petrol prices and domestic fuel bills.This can have the result of leaving the elderly and those on low incomes in fuel poverty.
• The gap between rich and poor becomes more evident.
• Funding needed for research into alternative energy, and increased costs for exploration and extraction of existing energy sources.

Environmental consequences

Cooling towers in York

• Increased carbon emissions cause global warming with consequences including climate change and sea levels rising due to melting ice caps.
• Air pollution from factories as countries industrialise and exploit resources. The economic miracle in China is exploiting resources at a rapid rate and making Chinese cities, such as Beijing, some of the most polluted in the world.
• Ecosystems such as rainforests are under threat from exploitation as countries (eg Brazil) exploit their resources for development.

Political consequences

• Global agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions, and a need for international cooperation.
• Loss of public support for governments from as domestic fuel bills and petrol prices rise. People are forced to change their lifestyle, which is unpopular.