TOPIC 3.2 - RESOURCES AS

NATURAL CAPITAL

Environmental Systems and Societies

Standard Level

http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/natural-resources-for-pro-poor-economic-growth_12c2

Explain the concept of resources in terms of natural income.

● Natural resources = raw materials from nature

● Natural capital = natural resources with a value to

humans

● Natural income = growth of natural capital

3.2.1

Explain the concept of resources in terms of natural income.3.2.1

● Natural income is the growth

or yield of natural capital:

○ agricultural harvest

○ growth of timber

○ increase in herd size

● Only exists as long as the

original resource remains in

place

http://owb.ifoam.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/C%CC%A7ocuk1.jpg and http://www.imfn.net/userfiles/Shade%20grown%20coffee%20Kodagu_web.JPG and http://veenome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/sheep_herd.jpg

Explain the concept of resources in terms of natural income.3.2.1

http://www.occupy.com/sites/default/files/styles/slide_narrow/public/field/image/greenish-vallery-natural-mountains-switzerland-article.jpg?itok=QRBQN3XS

● How does this image relate to natural capital?

● What about natural income?

Explain the concept of resources in terms of natural income.

Ecological goods may be

made into products

● metal ores

● minerals

● wood

● animal products

3.2.1

Explain the concept of resources in terms of natural income.3.2.1

Ecological services aren’t

monetized:

● O2 from photosynthesis

● carbon sequestration

from respiration

● water cycling and

filtration

● flood and erosion controlhttp://www.wsl.ch/fe/oekosystem/gebirgsoekosysteme/themen/vegetation_bodenstabilitaet/Soil_Klosters.jpg and http://faculty.washington.edu/ktorii/images/research/stomata_fig1.jpg

Define the terms renewable, replenishable and non‑renewable natural capital.3.2.2

http://www.worldresourcesforum.org/files/images/natural-resources-classification.gif

Define the terms renewable, replenishable and non‑renewable natural capital.3.2.2

Renewable natural capital is self-producing (living) and self-maintaining (ecosystems).● Needs solar energy

● can be sold/marketed (wood, ethanol, food)

● some give essential services when left alone ○ elephants (habitat maintenance - NO IVORY!)

○ forests (local temperature and water filtration)

Define the terms renewable, replenishable and non‑renewable natural capital.3.2.2

Replenishable natural capital is non-living but is also often dependent on the solar “engine” for renewal.● groundwater

● wind

● ozone layerhttps://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2012-2013/ozone-layer-our-global-sunscreen/_jcr_content/mainContent/columnsbootstrap/column0/textimage_0/image.img.jpg/1368218980203.jpg

Define the terms renewable, replenishable and non‑renewable natural capital.3.2.2

Non-renewable natural capital = any use implies

liquidating (depleting) part of the stock

● minerals

● fossil fuel

● metal ores

Finite supplies will eventually run out!

http://www.altenergyshift.com/uploads/gallery/album_9/gallery_1_9_281990.jpg

Explain the dynamic nature of the concept of a resource.

Dynamic = changing status of a resource over time and/or space due to...● Cultural, economic, and

technological shifts● “Environmental value

systems”● What about ethanol, oil, solar?

3.2.3

http://www.cleanenergyinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/nuclear_cartoon.jpg

http://www.cartoonmovement.com/depot/cartoons/2011/01/iL8H1METSMm-kZiqXhb95Q.jpg

Discuss the view that the environment can have its own intrinsic value.

Intrinsic value is the “inward” value of nature regardless of its practical (economic) use to humans.● ethical, spiritual + philosophical

perspectives

● hard to quantify

● How to debate aesthetic value with an

economist?

3.2.4

Photo: Peter Stanley, www.photopoa.com

Discuss the view that the environment can have its own intrinsic value.

Intrinsic value may include● sacred spaces

● beauty (beholder’s eye)

● biodiversity

● rate of depletion

● health benefits

● societal well being

3.2.4

http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.4445686.2924/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg

Explain the concept of sustainability in terms of natural capital and natural income.

● Living on the ‘interest’ generated by natural capital.

● Using only the growth or increase in resources

● Wisely using and maintaining resources - goods

and/or services

● Not depleting natural capital

● Sustainable = may be continued indefinitely into the

future

3.2.5

Discuss the concept of sustainable development.

● Brundtland Report (1987): introduced the term “sustainable development”

● Meaning is debatable○ Economists: stable annual return on investment regardless of

the environmental impact.

○ Environmentalists: stable return without environmental degradation.

○ Environmental Value Systems…?

3.2.6

Discuss the concept of sustainable development.

● UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

● a.k.a. Rio Earth Summit (1992)○ Sustainable development○ Climate change + alternative energy sources○ Production of toxins○ Public transportation○ Water scarcity

3.2.6

http://www.un.org/geninfo/bp/enviro.html

Discuss the concept of sustainable development.3.2.6

http://www.pachamama.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rio+20-summit-cartoon.jpg

● Largest gathering of governments and NGOs in history.

● Meant to build consensus.

● Successful?

Discuss the concept of sustainable development.3.2.6

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02256/rio_2256290b.jpg

Massive activist turnout began modern wave of anti-globalization protests.

Discuss the concept of sustainable development.3.2.6

http://www.bayshoreteaparty.org/storage/A21-Tyranny-wreath.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1308525793244

● Agenda 21● Action plan for

sustainable development

● Non-binding, voluntary

● 4 focus sections

Discuss the concept of sustainable development.3.2.6

http://www.bayshoreteaparty.org/storage/A21-Tyranny-wreath.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1308525793244

1. combatting poverty

2. Protecting the atmosphere,

forests, and biodiversity

3. Strengthening youth,

women, NGOs, local

authorities, and indigenous

peoples, and farmers.

4. Implementation strategies

Calculate and explain sustainable yield from given data.

● Sustainable yield = rate of increase in natural capital○ what can be used without depleting the original stock○ must be less than natural income○ calculated according to these formulae below:

3.2.7