Chemical Technology September 2016

ENERGY

The paradox of our non-renewable resources by Philip Lloyd, Energy Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa

The Brundtland definition of sustainable development as being “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” presents problems when considering the exploitation of non-renewable resources. Because such resources are, almost by definition, finite, any exploitation must surely limit the ability of future generations to benefit from them. However, examination of the question shows that the underlying resource of many non-renewables is huge compared to the rate at which they are being exploited. The known reserves can actually increase faster than the rate of exploitation. In contrast, the rate of exploitation of many renewable resources is now faster than the rate of renewal. Thus it is the use of renewable rather than the use of non-renewable resources which is likely to deprive future generations.

I n 1987, the UN General Assembly resolved: “Sustain- able development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Resolution 42/187) [1]. This is known as the Brundtland definition [2]. It gives rise to a paradox, however. How can a non- renewable resource be exploited without ‘compromising the ability of future generations’? Almost by definition, non- renewable resources are finite. Exploiting a finite resource must surely, therefore, leave less for future generations.

Recycling may help, but 100% recycling would be difficult to achieve, and in any event the demand will grow as the population grows, so even with total recycling it will still be necessary to draw on more of the non-renewable resource. Fifteen years later, the paradox was causing so much difficulty that the World Summit on Sustainable Develop- ment in Johannesburg resolved: “We assume a collective responsibility to advance and strengthen the interdepen- dent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable devel- opment − economic development, social development and

13

Chemical Technology • September 2016