Imagine one classroom water fountain shared by thirty children. If a few children use far more than their fair share, others might be left thirsty. Many of the world's resources work in a similar way — there is only so much to go around.
Some resources are limited
Some resources, called finite resources, cannot be quickly replaced once they are used up or destroyed — like oil deep underground. Others, called renewable resources, can grow back — like trees or fish — but only if we do not take them faster than they can regrow.
| Resource | What happens if we take too much, too fast? |
|---|---|
| Trees / forests | New trees cannot grow back fast enough, and forests can disappear |
| Fish in the sea | Too much fishing means fewer fish are left to have babies |
| Clean water | Rivers and wells can run low if too much is used |
The word "sustainable"
Using a resource in a way that leaves enough for the future is called being sustainable. If a forest is cut down carefully, with new trees planted to replace the old ones, there will still be trees for your children and grandchildren. If it is all cut down at once, there may be none left.
Sort each action into the right group:
- Planting new trees to replace ones that are cut down
- Only catching a limited number of fish, so fish stocks can recover
- Cutting down a whole forest with no new trees planted
- Catching every single fish in a lake in one go
Sharing resources fairly around the world
Resources are not spread evenly around the world. Some countries have plenty of water or fertile farmland; others have very little. Sharing resources fairly — for example, through trade, or through countries helping each other — means people in every country have a better chance of getting what they need, not just people lucky enough to live where resources are plentiful.