Natural resource depletion

Environmental stress (e.g. natural resource depletion, etc.) is one of the elements having an influence on security. The relationship is so complex and interrelated. 

For my first presentation made here in 1991 (HECQ, W., 1991), I began by recalling the role of the Rome Club Report, United Nations Conference in Stockholm, oil shocks which had revealed the dangers threatening western economies, i.e. pollution, natural resources depletion and a strong economic dependence on imported oil. 

Acetic acid produced by fermentation does not involve toxic carbon monoxide or methanol, nor expensive rhodium. Products from petroleum or natural gas are cheaper because they do not include the cost of natural resource depletion or of global warming. (See Chap. 17 for a discussion of such costs.) It is also possible that application of some of the newer techniques will improve the fermentations so that they give better yields and are more cost-competitive. This is one of the keys to a sustainable future.19 Industrial research in this area is increasing.20... 

Many of these processes cannot compete with the chemical routes used today. If total environmental costs of global warming, natural resource depletion, waste disposal, and such were included, more of them would be practical today. Research continues to reduce their costs by increasing yields, starting with waste biomass where both five-and six-carbon sugars must be utilized and so forth. 

A number of such movements could be cited, some in distant countries such as India (the Va-sundhara research and policy advocacy group, for example, which supports initiatives to protect local communities from pollution and natural resource depletion) and Vietnam (see Turther Reading ). More and more cases are surfacing in the United States. Some more or less spontaneous local organizations depend on the media to gain support. An example appeared in The New York Times of April 4,... 

Consumption of natural resources depletion of fossil fuels (fuel-oil, gas-oil, carbon, natural gas and oil), consumption of electricity and water. The plant consumes medium-pressure steam, while electricity generation and steam... 

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