Sec 1 GE Ch:2-2 Sustainability of Resource Use

Sec 1 GE 2-2 Resource Use and Sustainability

By Adam Chan

affects the use of natural resources.

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TWO views:

• Nature-centred

• Human-centred​

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People's Views

The physical environment with its natural resources is seen as valuable in itself

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and should be preserved​

Nature-Centred

The physical environment is valuable because humans can​ obtain materials from it

• But can lead to depletion of natural resources

• And degradation of the environment​

Human-Centred

means actions people can take

to ensure

the natural resources

we have on Earth today

continue to be

available

for future generations

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Sustainable Use

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT part of sustainability?

• Using fewer plastic bags

• Throwing away drink cans into recycling bins

• Using washable metal straws

• Finding more areas to drill for oil

OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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Conservation

• Reduce

• Reuse

• Recycle

• Recover​

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Sustainable Use

Reduce consumption to reduce the amount of natural resources used

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Environmental footprint

Measuring the land area needed to make a product and​ to absord the waste generated

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REDUCE

Reusing a product means no need to buy a new piece, using fewer resources

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REUSE

Turning used materials into new and useful ones

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Recyclable materials such as aluminium and paper​

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Reduces need for more raw materials, energy and water​

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RECYCLE

Recovering useful materials from the waste we produce

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Composting food waste

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Reduces the amount of waste that needs to be incinerated / dumped​

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RECOVER

Using technology to reduce our environmental footprint

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E.g. Solar Power​

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Technological Development

Video: Singapore's Solar Farm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w1zNXGQxGs​

​Singapore is building more solar farms to reduce its environmental footprint

Quiz Time

Which of the

4Rs

do these cases show?

How much have you understood?

Multiple Choice

Melting drink cans down to get aluminuim

• Recycling

• Reusing

• Reducing

• Recovering

Multiple Choice

Showering for 5 minutes instead of 10 minutes

• Recycling

• Reusing

• Reducing

• Recovering

Multiple Choice

Using a plastic food container to grow plants

• Recycling

• Reusing

• Reducing

• Recovering

Multiple Choice

Getting gold from used smartphones

• Recycling

• Reusing

• Reducing

• Recovering