Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Unsustainable Use of Renewable Resources (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))
Revision Note
Written by: Alistair Marjot
Reviewed by: Jacque Cartwright
Unsustainable Resource Extraction
Even if a given resource is renewable, the way it is extracted, harvested, transported and processed may be unsustainable
Resource extraction is unsustainable when it:
Damages ecosystems
Depletes resources faster than they regenerate
Harms communities and economies
Key activities involved:
Extraction or harvesting (e.g. mining, logging)
Transportation (e.g. emissions from shipping)
Processing (e.g. industrial pollution, energy consumption)
Examples of unsustainable resource extraction
Timber harvesting
Problems:
Deforestation reduces biodiversity and disrupts carbon storage
Clear-cutting damages soil, leading to erosion and desertification
Illegal logging undermines sustainable forestry practices
Example:
The Amazon rainforest suffers from large-scale deforestation for agriculture and timber
Indonesia faces habitat loss for species like the orangutan due to logging and palm oil plantations
Overfishing
Problems:
Fish stocks are depleted faster than they can recover
Destructive fishing methods (e.g. trawling) damage marine habitats
Bycatch (catching non-target species) disrupts food webs
Example:
Cod overfishing in the North Atlantic led to the collapse of fisheries in the 1990s
The Great Barrier Reef on the north-east coast of Australia suffers from pressures due to unsustainable fishing and coral damage
Mining
Problems:
Habitat destruction and pollution from toxic mining waste
High energy consumption contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
Displacement of local communities
Example:
The Congo experiences environmental degradation and human rights issues due to cobalt mining for electronics
Hydropower development
Problems:
Dams disrupt river ecosystems and fish migration
Flooding upstream affects habitats and displaces communities
Example:
The Three Gorges Dam in China displaced over a million people and caused widespread habitat loss
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Renewable does not always mean sustainable. You need to be able to differentiate between these two concepts. For example, a renewable resource can still be unsustainably managed (e.g. overfishing).
Excessive Consumption
Excessive consumption refers to using resources faster than they can regenerate
This leads to environmental degradation and resource depletion
Key issue: economic interests often promote short-term gains
Economies often focus on high production and consumption rates without considering long-term sustainability
Impacts of excessive consumption
Impacts include:
Resource depletion
Finite resources like fossil fuels, minerals, and freshwater are consumed unsustainably
Environmental degradation
Excessive production creates waste, polluting air, water, and soil
Loss of biodiversity
Overconsumption of resources like fish and timber destroys habitats
Climate change
High levels of consumption and production drive greenhouse gas emissions
Case Study
Whaling as an example of excessive consumption
Whaling is a clear example of how excessive resource consumption can lead to severe environmental, ecological, and economic consequences
Historical context
Industrial-scale whaling:
Began in the 19th century, driven by demand for whale oil, which was used for lighting, lubrication, and soap
Species impacted:
Blue whales, humpbacks, and sperm whales were hunted to near extinction
Peak exploitation:
By the mid-20th century, technological advancements in whaling ships and harpoons allowed for unsustainable levels of hunting
Environmental impacts
Population collapse:
Overhunting caused dramatic declines in whale populations
Ecosystem imbalance:
Whales play a key role in marine ecosystems:
Their faeces fertilise ocean waters, promoting the growth of phytoplankton, which absorbs carbon dioxide
Whale population decline disrupts food chains, affecting other marine species
Socioeconomic impacts
Collapse of whaling economies:
Communities reliant on whaling e.g. Japan and Norway, faced economic difficulties when populations became too depleted to sustain hunting
Global bans and conservation:
The 1986 moratorium by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling
However, loopholes for "scientific research" and "cultural hunting" are still exploited
Current challenges
Illegal whaling:
Some countries, like Japan, Iceland, and Norway, continue whaling under controversial exemptions
Threats from other human activities:
Climate change and ocean pollution now threaten whale recovery
Collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear are additional pressures
Sustainable solutions
Ecotourism:
Whale-watching industries, like those in Australia and Canada, offer sustainable economic alternatives
International cooperation:
Organisations such as the IWC and NGOs like Greenpeace work to protect whales through monitoring and activism
Marine conservation zones:
Establishing protected areas allows whale populations to recover
Economic drivers of excessive consumption
Short-term economic gains
Focus on profit: industries prioritise immediate economic benefits over sustainability
E.g. fast fashion promotes cheap, disposable clothing, creating waste and overusing resources
Advertising and consumer culture
Encourages demand: media and advertising promote consumption as a lifestyle, encouraging overuse
E.g. marketing campaigns for new smartphones and seasonal trends encourage resource-intensive production
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