Overuse, Scarcity, and the Debate About Sustainable Development

Larissa Talmon-Gros
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Larissa Talmon-Gros: University of Hohenheim

Chapter Chapter 2 in Development Patterns of Material Productivity, 2014, pp 11-18 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter lists five exemplary areas where overuse of natural resources can be observed: those include climate change, the overuse of renewable resources, the use of nonrenewable resources and its consequences, the destruction of ecosystems, species, and landscapes, as well as threats to human health. The economic reasons for an overuse of natural resources are discussed briefly. The most important factors in this context are poorly defined property rights and public good characteristics inherent in some natural resources. Besides economic factors, a variety of other contributing factors such as population growth, economic growth, economic structure, consumption patterns, or technology are mentioned. As a consequence to the overuse of natural resources, sustainability and environmental policies, such as the Flagship Initiative for a Resource Efficient Europe by the European Union as well as “Green Growth” initiatives, for instance by the OECD or the UNEP have been initiated and their main aspects are presented.

Keywords: Natural Capital; Environmental Kuznets Curve; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Green Economy; Genuine Saving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:conchp:978-3-319-02538-4_2

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-02538-4_2

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