Tag: introduction to natural resources (eco)

Both photovoltaic cells and solar thermal systems are methods of harnessing solar energy, which is a renewable source.

In resource economics, Hartwick's rule defines the amount of investment in produced capital (buildings, roads, knowledge stocks, etc.) that is needed to exactly offset declining stocks of non-renewable resources.

All fossil fuels are non-renewable. Coal, crude oil, and natural gas are all considered fossil fuels because they were formed from the buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Natural gas is flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel.

Resources are assets that are used by the living systems for the survival and development.

Mere presence of a thing in certain quantity do not make a resource. But it should have a utility, value and quality by the people.

 Abiotic resources are non-living while biotic resources are living. Soils, rocks and minerals are abiotic but plants and animals are biotic resources. 

An important source of methane emissions is from enteric fermentation in farm animals. This creates 27% of human methane emissions. Animals like cows, sheep and goats are examples of ruminant animals. During their normal digestion process they create large amounts of methane. Enteric fermentation occurs because of microorganisms in the stomach of these animals. This creates methane as a by-product that is either exhaled by the animal or released via flatus.

Because humans raise these animals for food, their emissions are human-related. This is why the meat that we eat everyday has a huge impact on total methane emissions. Livestock farming creates 90 million tonnes of methane per year.

The Green Index was developed by the World Bank's Environmentally Sustainable Development division to measure the environmental impact of economic activities.

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. It is mostly used to light home, buildings and heat water.

In economics, resources are generally defined as things that are scarce and have a cost. Air, water, and sunlight are typically considered free goods (non-economic resources) because they are abundant and do not have a price in their natural state.