Energy Resources
A resource is a supply of something that people can use and natural resources are used to generate energy for industry and homes. They can be organised into two groups:
Non-renewable: Non-renewable energy resources exist in limited supplies and cannot be replenished in a short period of time. Non-renewable resources include fuelwood, natural gas, coal and crude oil.
Renewable: Renewable energy means it comes from a source that is constantly renewed and can be used again and again. Renewable resources include water, sun and wind. Wood can be renewable too, if replanting is managed well.
While demand for energy is increasing both in the UK and at a global level, there are important differences in patterns of energy demand across the world:
80% of the world’s population lives in a less economically developed country (LEDC) – yet LEDC’s only use 20% of the world’s energy. But development by LEDCs means they want more resources. LEDCs have traditionally relied on wood as fuel but this becomes a problem when there is an increased demand for fuel due to population growth as the cutting down of more trees leads to deforestation and possible soil erosion as the earth looses tree cover protection.
20% of the world’s population lives in a more economically developed country (MEDC) – yet MEDCs consume 80% of the world’s energy. Some MEDCs fear any attempt to get them to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels could badly affect the country’s economic growth and so they have begun to import natural resources from LEDCs as their own supplies have started to run out.