Core: Resource consumption and security
Resource consumption and security
This core unit examines how resources are used, why security varies and whether growth is sustainable. SL questions often ask you to evaluate Malthusian and Boserupian perspectives or compare energy mixes.
Core rules
- Resources are renewable or non-renewable. A resource is not simply a physical stock; it depends on technology, price and culture.
- Resource security means reliable access at an affordable price. Energy security is often summarised by availability, affordability, accessibility and acceptability.
- Ecological footprint measures demand on land and water in global hectares; biocapacity is supply. Earth Overshoot Day marks when annual demand exceeds annual regeneration.
- Malthus predicted population growth would outrun food supply; Boserup argued population pressure drives agricultural innovation. Both are perspectives, not laws.
- Water scarcity can be physical (low rainfall) or economic (lack of infrastructure and money). Virtual water is water embodied in traded goods.
- Food security has four pillars: availability, access, utilisation and stability. Food self-sufficiency is not the same as food security.
- Resource curse: countries rich in minerals or oil can suffer volatility, corruption and weak diversification.
Worked example
A country has large lithium reserves but low human development. Reasoning: lithium demand is rising for batteries, but extraction is capital-intensive and enclave-like. Export revenue may be volatile, and local communities may face water depletion. This is a resource-curse risk, not automatic security. A sovereign wealth fund, local processing and environmental standards could convert the resource into longer-term development. The evaluation must weigh export income against water use and weak institutions.
Traps
- Equating resource abundance with resource security.
- Ignoring access and affordability, focusing only on supply.
- Presenting Malthusian forecasts as established fact.
- Confusing food security with food self-sufficiency.