Resources for our Future

1. Resources for our Future Grade 7 Geography: Natural Resources Around the World, Use and Sustainability

2. Resources for our Future • As we learned from our presentations, many of Earth’s resources are not renewable. Even our renewable resources can be depleted if not managed correctly. • Wise action can restore the health of the earth. • “Think globally, act locally.”

3. Sustainable Development • Definition of sustainable development: gathering and processing resources, then disposing of waste without harming the earth; and consuming resources at a rate that saves plenty for future generations to use

4. Sustainable Development • Our “throw-away” society often does not practice sustainable development.

5. Sustainable Development • Two ways of helping sustain our resources are: • 1. Conservation of Resources • 2. Energy Alternatives

6. Conserving Renewable Resources • Conservation: saving the earth’s natural resources by protecting them and using them in sustainable ways • The following slides discuss examples of conserving natural resources.

7. Conserving Renewable Resources • Aquaculture (“fish farming”): raising fish in enclosures set in the edge of water bodies • Pros: efficient, cost effective way of providing fish to consumers

8. Conserving Renewable Resources

9. Conserving Renewable Resources

10. Conserving Renewable Resources • Cons to Aquaculture: • poor water quality can lead to toxic build up • Waste build up, especially in overcrowded conditions can lead to infections, cancer and sea lice which in turn are treated with chemicals – to what effect? • Fish are confined in tight spaces (cruelty?) • Diseases can be passed onto wild fish

11. Conserving Renewable Resources • Forests: “Buying Green” – selecting products that have been made in a way that is not harmful to the environment • FSC – Forest Stewardship Council is made up of representatives from the forest industry and environmental groups of 25 countries . They certify products that have been produced with sustainability in mind.

12. Conserving Renewable Resources • Home Depot was one of the first retailers to embrace FSC products. (Why?)

13. Conserving Renewable Resources • Preserving Habitat: Help protect species • There are over a million different types of living things on earth. Everything holds an important place in the food chain. • Endangered species are a threat to the balance of life. • The biggest threat to species is loss of habitat

14. Conserving Renewable Resources • Organizations such as World Wildlife Fund campaign to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on earth and the health of ecological systems.

15. Conserving Renewable Resources • In the 1980s the United Nations recommended that every country set aside one-tenth of its territory as protected area. • Costa Rica in Central America is a world leader at 25% of its territory protected. (Canada is at about 9.5%) • Parklands are an effective way to protect species and maintain the health of the planet.

16. National Parks in Canada

17. Energy Alternatives • As we have learned in this unit, fossil fuels provide most of our energy, yet is the reason for many of the problems affecting the health of the planet. • There are two main solutions to the problems of fossil fuel resource use: • 1. energy conservation • 2. new power technologies

18. Energy Alternatives • Energy Conservation: In the science unit, Interactions in our Environment, we learned many ways to conserve energy. What are some ways you can help conserve energy?

19. New Energy Alternatives • Hybrid cars use both gasoline and electricity, making them very energy efficient

20. New Energy Alternatives • Fuel cells use hydrogen fuel which is a fuel combined with oxygen and air to produce electricity without any burning. It is made from plants such as corn.

21. New Energy Alternatives • Solar Power uses the sun to convert sunlight into electricity which is stored in batteries.

22. New Energy Alternatives • Geothermal systems use the more constant temperature underground to keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A heat pump moves fluid through the underground pipes. (see diagram on next slide)

23. New Energy Alternatives

24. New Energy Alternatives Windpower • Western Europe has invested heavily wind power, especially the Netherlands. Canada is beginning to use this resource more.

25. New Energy Alternatives • Tidal Power • As tides rise and fall, moving seawater spins large turbines linked to electrical generators. A difference of at least 5m is needed between high and low tide.