Natural resources such as oil, forests and fresh water are being consumed at an alarming rate. What problems does this cause? How can we solve these problems?
需可持续发展
Unprecedented demand for fuel, timber and water is putting an enormous strain on our natural resources. This creates a wide variety of issues, and it is likely that drastic action will need to be taken in order to find solutions.
Heavy consumption of oil has created shortages in some areas and gas has become considerably more expensive. As many people rely on their cars to get to work, higher gas prices have caused some hardship. It is a similar story with fresh water supplies. In the state of California in the U.S. for example, a recent drought had a devastating effect on fruit crops, which resulted in a lack of availability and higher prices for consumers. Finally, as trees are cut down, less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and this contributes to global warming, the effects of which are well-documented.
In terms of solutions, we need to come up with alternatives to fossil fuels, and this is already happening. For example, automobile manufacturers who previously only made cars that ran on gas are now making electric cars. Innovative companies are working to develop systems that will allow us to convert seawater to fresh water. However, in the meantime, we need to do a better job of conserving our water supplies by using water efficiently and minimizing waste. Another important measure is that we need to plan for a sustainable future in the logging industry. Governments should require lumber companies to replant forests after logging activities.
Although the problems involving natural resources cannot be solved immediately, they could eventually be solved with a focused effort. New technology and a commitment to sustainable development would be essential.