Abstract

This report contains general information on some important aspects of natural resources, like the total number, handling and rate of exploitation, increase and functions. Four main natural resource categories are distinguished: chemical elements and bulk minerals, energy carriers, environmental resources (e.g. high quality air and soil) and bioresources (e.g. wood, fish, biodiversity). Resources are nearly always related to each other. Therefore, in finding solutions to exploit our natural resources in a less wasteful way, there are risks of shifting problems from one resource to another. Some preliminary exercises with scenarios indicate that in the next century limits could be reached. This could mean a shortage of soil to fulfill all functions, but also a shortage of energy carriers or certain ores. It is improbable that merely improving technology is sufficient to avoid reaching limits.