Discussion
Started 27 April 2019
  • Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️

How should the use of non-renewable natural resources be reduced so that sustainable ecological development is possible?

For many years, the consumption of clean water and minerals of energy resources and strategic industrial raw materials, such as metal ores necessary for various branches of the manufacturing industry, have been growing at a faster rate. On the other hand, the pollution of the natural environment grows, the degradation of the natural environment through mines extracting energy minerals. The amount of waste on dumps of unsorted municipal waste is growing, as well as litter that pollutes the natural environment. More and more plastic waste floats in the seas and oceans. The scale of degradation of the natural environment through the development of human civilizations is increasing.
The goal of counteracting these unfavorable processes of human civilizational activity is to carry out pro-ecological reforms in the energy sector consisting in the transformation of the classical energy based on the burning of minerals for the construction of new power plants producing renewable energy. Reforming the energy sector is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the increasingly rapid global warming process. It is necessary to develop eco-innovations thanks to which plastic in packaging will be replaced with quickly biodegradable and / or consumable materials. Waste segregation systems and electromobility should be improved. More funds from public funds of the state should be allocated for the implementation of pro-ecological reforms of reclamation of a degraded civilization environment and the implementation of nature conservation programs, natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
However, all those ecological ones necessary to carry out the reform will not ensure achieving in a global perspective fully sustainable pro-ecological development if in subsequent years the consumption of natural resources, especially water and earth's energy and other minerals indispensable for various branches of the production industry. Therefore, in order for the implementation of fully sustainable ecological development to be possible in the future, the increase in the exploitation of natural resources, especially non-renewable natural resources, should be significantly reduced.
Do you agree with my opinion on this matter?
Therefore, I am asking you the following questions:
- How should the use of unrecognized natural resources be reduced so that sustainable ecological development is possible?
- Is it necessary to pursue a model of zero economic growth?
- Should the implementation of the zero-growth model be mainly based on reducing the consumption of natural resources?
- How should the use of non-renewable natural resources be reduced so that sustainable ecological development is possible?
- Will the protection of nature, natural ecosystems and biodiversity significantly increase by reducing the use of non-renewable natural resources?
Please reply
I invite you to the discussion
Thank you very much
Best wishes

Most recent answer

Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
Dear Georgios Theodosiou,
Yes. The scale of consumption of products and services generating greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced. Companies should not deliberately age their products, they should not intentionally shorten their product life cycles, as this generates overproduction and more waste, and uses more energy, water and other valuable raw materials. Moreover, it is urgent to develop the scale of the implementation of the sustainable development goals. It is also important to increase the pro-environmental awareness of citizens. The key issue is also the urgent need to carry out a pro-ecological transformation of the energy sector through the development of renewable energy sources.
Thank you very much,
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
1 Recommendation

Popular replies (1)

Ilan Kelman
University College London
We discuss aspects of the behavioural change needed in this chapter https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-017-8959-2_2.pdf as part of the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere https://mahb.stanford.edu
5 Recommendations

All replies (21)

Ilan Kelman
University College London
We discuss aspects of the behavioural change needed in this chapter https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-017-8959-2_2.pdf as part of the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere https://mahb.stanford.edu
5 Recommendations
Bayan Hussien
University of Anbar
Well,
Using non-renewable natural resources, as living organisms need to live.
Regards
2 Recommendations
Abhijit Mitra
University of Calcutta
By giving more thrust on solar, wind, geothermal energy. Also OTEC must be kept in the loop
2 Recommendations
Noah J Wescombe
Stanford University
The issue that people seem to consistently ignore is the lack of policy regularisation globally, such that the likes of China will dramatically offset even any major changes elsewhere. While China, India, Indonesia, and others, are beginning to think carefully about pollution and fossil fuels, progress is slow. A big issue is actually animal agriculture, which is growing exponentially with demand for meat and diary in these countries, but particularly China. GHGs, run-offs, and water use in animal agri is immense, rivalling fossil fuel impacts.
Behavioural change in some sectors is not enough, nor is green energy. We either go pull out all the stops and go all out across sectors with global mutualised policy for carbon neutrality (which is anti-development, and also virtually impossible due to current IR), or we do what counts for very little systems-wise (which is what we are doing now) and wait for Chinese citizens' market demands and awarenesses to rise up the Maslow hierarchy as they enhance their middle class. People who think zero growth or de-growth is going to work right now are, in my view, not sufficiently prioritising poverty and social welfare, and underplaying resilience strategies. We need to balance the risks smartly.
1 Recommendation
Nagalakshmi Radhakrishnan
SRM Institute of Science and Technology
number of renewable resources are using from 1950's onward. your statement is true but individual responsibility is only way to reduce non renewable resources. sir what about you can you contribute to reduce non renewable resources by walking some personal work, without home accessories 10 min can spent. we are the persons to start to reduce this. can we?
1 Recommendation
Carlrick Harold Runimetu
University of the South Pacific
Commenting on this topic, to me personally as the use of non-renewable resources is good but it will further creates another problem which may indirectly affect other resources. For example, a recent study shows that using of whale's oil in the nineteenth century as an input for energy or manufacturing was clearly unsustainable because human being or firms benefited a lot from the harvesting of whale especially with finance. Meaning when one non-renewable resources is used for one purposes, the harvesting and using of that resources will have great impact on another resources. Even if we have regulations or laws that will guide those non-renewable resources use-age, yet people will still harvest those resources for their own benefits.
1 Recommendation
Georgios Theodosiou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
We need to lower the pace of the modern way of life.
2 Recommendations
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG,
In line with the above, I suggest continuing the discussion on the following topic:
Urgent need to implement the principles of sustainable ecological development.
The above discussion inspired me to formulate the following question:
Is it necessary to implement the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes to slow down the global warming process?
On the basis of the above considerations and conclusions from the discussion on interesting issues discussed, I formulated the following thesis that in order to slow down the global warming process it is necessary to implement the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes. Below I have described the key determinants confirming the formulated research thesis. To the above discussion I would like to add the following conclusion formulated as a summary of my earlier considerations on this topic: the development of ecological reforms introduced as an important element of the implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes. The concept of sustainable development refers to the balance prevailing in natural biological ecosystems. In the history of the development of economic thought, natural biological organisms or ecosystems have been repeatedly referred to in the situation of explaining the functioning of economic entities, their relations with the environment and entire economic systems and the description of the functioning of national economies.
However, only since the second half of the 20th century has the significance of the concept of sustainable pro-ecological development increased significantly due to the geometrically increasing impact of negative effects of the development of human civilization on the natural environment. In recent years, the importance of the concept of sustainable eco-friendly development is growing due to the strong increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which results in an increasingly faster global warming process.
Therefore, it is necessary to implement faster and faster pro-ecological innovations, primarily in the energy sector based on renewable energy sources. In addition, it is necessary to develop electromobility in the automotive sector, improve and automate waste segregation techniques, develop recycling, eliminate plastic from packaging and replace plastic with biodegradable materials of organic origin, develop organic farming, etc. By intensifying this type of activities and increasing financial outlays for such reforms ecological, it will be possible to implement effective implementation of the principles of sustainable ecological development, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and slowdown of the global warming process.
Do you agree with me on the above matter?
In view of the above, I am asking you the following questions:
- What is the essence of the concept of sustainable development?
- Is it necessary to implement the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes to slow down the global warming process?
- What environmental reforms are being implemented in your countries?
- What ecological innovations are developed in your countries as important elements of implementing the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development into economic processes?
- Is there an urgent need to implement the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development?
- What do you think about this topic?
- What is your opinion on this topic?
Please reply.
I invite you to discussion and scientific cooperation.
Thank you very much.
Best wishes.
Dariusz Prokopowicz
2 Recommendations
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
"Electricity is ubiquitous in unlimited amounts and can power the world's machinery without the need for coal, gas or other fuels. Quite a mysterious statement breeding a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories. " Nikola Tesla
The above quote confirms that Nikola Tesla was not only a great inventor but also a visionary. Unfortunately, the 3rd technological revolution based on electricity already at the end of the 19th century began to be overtaken by the industrial revolution based on combustion energy, unfortunately.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Please reply,
I invite you to discuss
Thank you so much for participating in the discussion,
Regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
1 Recommendation
D A Gayan Nayanajith
University of Kelaniya
Use electric and hybrid vehicles ... Sarlioglu, B., Morris, C. T., Han, D., & Li, S. (2016). Driving toward accessibility: a review of technological improvements for electric machines, power electronics, and batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. IEEE Industry Applications Magazine, 23(1), 14-25.
3 Recommendations
D A Gayan Nayanajith
University of Kelaniya
Use solar energy... Ferreira, A., Kunh, S. S., Fagnani, K. C., De Souza, T. A., Tonezer, C., Dos Santos, G. R., & Coimbra-Araújo, C. H. (2018). Economic overview of the use and production of photovoltaic solar energy in brazil. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81, 181-191.
3 Recommendations
D A Gayan Nayanajith
University of Kelaniya
Move towards wind, water (hydro), biomass, and geothermal energy... Kablar, N. A. (2019). Renewable energy: wind turbines, solar cells, small hydroelectric plants, biomass, and geothermal sources of energy. Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 13, 162-172.
Bogdanov, D., & Breyer, C. (2016). Integrating the Excellent Wind Resources in North-West Eurasia for a Sustainable Energy Supply in Europe. In 15th Wind Integration Workshop (pp. 15-17).
3 Recommendations
Isam Alkhalifawi
University of Baghdad
There are four major types of nonrenewable resources: oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Oil, natural gas, and coal are collectively called fossil fuels. ... Natural gas is widely used for cooking and for heating homes. It consists mostly of methane and is found near oil deposits below Earth's surface.
4 Recommendations
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
Thank you for providing literature on the issue of renewable energy sources.
Greetings, Have a nice day, Stay healthy!
Dariusz Prokopowicz
1 Recommendation
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
That's right. You have listed the four main types of non-renewable fossil fuels used in classical energy based on the combustion of these fuels and in vehicles and machines equipped with internal combustion engines. They are the sources of human release of carbon (mainly in the form of CO2) into the atmosphere, the release of carbon stored over hundreds of millions of years in the earth's crust. The process of this release causes an imbalance in nature that has existed for many millions of years and generates the global warming process that has accelerated over the last several decades. It is therefore necessary to urgently carry out the pro-ecological transformation of the energy sector in order to replace energy based on the combustion of fossil fuels with the development of renewable energy sources.
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
1 Recommendation
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
Dear
Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak
,
I agree with you on this point. Yes, in the context of the implementation of the pro-ecological transformation of the economy, a particularly important factor is the development of energy based on renewable energy sources.
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
In the context of the implementation of the sustainable development goals and the processes of ecological transformation of the economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, counteracting adverse climate changes, counteracting the global warming process, the development of energy based on renewable energy sources plays a key role.
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
2 Recommendations
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
Dear Ilan Kelman,
Thank you very much for the links to the chapter on behavioral changes, i.e. the issues that fit well with this discussion.
Thank you very much,
Best wishes,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
2 Recommendations
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️
Dear Georgios Theodosiou,
Yes. The scale of consumption of products and services generating greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced. Companies should not deliberately age their products, they should not intentionally shorten their product life cycles, as this generates overproduction and more waste, and uses more energy, water and other valuable raw materials. Moreover, it is urgent to develop the scale of the implementation of the sustainable development goals. It is also important to increase the pro-environmental awareness of citizens. The key issue is also the urgent need to carry out a pro-ecological transformation of the energy sector through the development of renewable energy sources.
Thank you very much,
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
1 Recommendation

Similar questions and discussions

How to increase the effectiveness of environmental protection programs, natural ecosystems and biodiversity?
Discussion
54 replies
  • Dariusz ProkopowiczDariusz Prokopowicz
Protection of the environment, natural ecosystems and biodiversity should be an integral part of the concept of sustainable pro-ecological economic development?
In the context of growing and increasing environmental pollution and declining areas of natural ecosystems, the importance and need to improve environmental protection systems, natural ecosystems and biodiversity is increasing. Biodiversity is one of the most important issues of natural ecosystems and life on Earth. Maintaining high biodiversity on Earth should be a challenge and one of the main goals of human functioning on the Earth in the 21st century and in subsequent centuries.
In connection with the above, protection of the environment, natural ecosystems and biodiversity should be an integral part of the concept of sustainable ecological development. In some countries, the concept of sustainable pro-ecological economic development is implemented successively, primarily in the field of renewable energy sources, improvement of waste segregation techniques and recycling development. However, in many countries these issues are still insufficiently developed.
Still too small financial resources are allocated in many countries for the development of renewable energy sources, improvement of waste segregation and recycling techniques. In addition to the private sector, besides enterprises implementing ecological innovations, it is necessary to increase expenditures and develop strategic pro-ecological reform projects, including restructuring of the mining industry of minerals supplying classic energy sources and development of energy based on renewable energy sources. This development should be supported and coordinated by environmentally friendly state intervention, and due to the high investment costs of construction of power plants producing electricity from renewable energy sources should be co-financed from the state public finance funds.
In this way, it will be possible to slow down the ongoing global warming process in the 21st century and thus slow down the process of devastating the natural environment, draining green areas characterized by high biodiversity. Biodiversity is a very important issue in the context of the analysis of ecology, sustainable development and the protection of the natural environment, including, in particular, the natural positions of biologically complex ecosystems, i.e. those that are characterized by high biodiversity. Maintaining biodiversity of natural ecosystems is one of the most important problems and tasks for people in the 21st century.
Do you agree with my opinion on this matter?
In the context of the above considerations, the following question is still valid:
How to increase the effectiveness of environmental protection programs, natural ecosystems and biodiversity?
Please reply
I am conducting research on this issue. I have included the conclusions of my research in the following articles:
Key aspects of the negative effects of the progressive process of global warming and the associated necessary acceleration of the processes of green transformation of the economy in order to decarbonize the economy, slow down the process of global warming, protect the climate, biosphere and biodiversity of natural ecosystems of the planet I described in the article:
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT AS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE PRO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE ECONOMY TOWARDS GREEN ECONOMY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY
In the following article, I included the results of the research conducted on the connection of the issue of sustainable development, the genesis and meaning of the Sustainable Development Goals, the essence of sustainable development in the context of social, normative, economic, environmental, climate aspects, as well as human rights, etc. The research also addressed the issue of key determinants of human existential security as an element of the concept of sustainable development.
HUMAN SECURITY AS AN ELEMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
I invite everyone to join the discussion,
I would like to invite you to join me in scientific cooperation,
Thank you very much,
Best wishes,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
What are the links between the climate crisis and the ecological crisis, i.e. the key human-induced crises of the Anthropocene epoch?
Discussion
4 replies
  • Dariusz ProkopowiczDariusz Prokopowicz
What are the links between the climate crisis and the ecological crisis, i.e. the unfolding crises and human-induced acceleration of civilisation in the ongoing Anthropocene epoch?
The era of accelerated development of civilisation, significantly accelerating the scale of matter processing, production processes, the scale of environmental pollution, consumption of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, etc. is referred to as the Anthropocene epoch, the Great Acceleration and Ecological Catastrophe has been taking place primarily since the mid-20th century. The term Anthropocene has not yet been introduced into the history of the development of planet Earth by geologists, but this is likely to happen soon. In the Anthropocene epoch, humans are increasingly transforming the biosphere into the technosphere. However, the scale of consumption of non-renewable raw materials is steadily increasing. The stocks of biodiverse forest areas that absorb part of the CO2 emitted by humans are continuing to decline rapidly. The supply of clean drinking water is also declining in increasingly large areas inhabited by humans. On the other hand, the scale of waste separation and recycling is still negligible and does not even compensate for a significant part of the consumption of raw materials and hardly reduces the level of waste pollution. The scale of the ongoing green transformation of the economy, including the implementation of a pro-environmental and pro-climate transformation of the classic growth, brown, linear economy of excess to a sustainable, green, zero-emission growth and closed loop economy is still too small to significantly reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the level of environmental pollution, implement reforestation processes and counteract the accelerating process of global warming is too small. It is essential to integrate a key aspect of the circular economy into the green transformation of the economy, i.e. the concept of zero growth consisting of zeroing out economic growth. This zeroing of economic growth should be implemented in a multi-faceted and multi-year perspective. It is not about zeroing economic growth in the short term (a few months) or in the medium term (a few years), i.e. as a periodic slowdown in economic growth occurring cyclically, within business cycles of several years during economic crises. It is about permanently resetting the rate of economic growth with the recognition of this issue as a key factor in a circular economy. Consequently, the economics of economic growth should be changed into the economics of zero growth, i.e. according to the concept of zero growth already known for several decades but not applied. An important issue of the Anthropocene epoch is also the rapidly progressing and human-induced extinction process of many species of flora and fauna referred to as the great 6th extinction in the history of the development of life on the planet. Consequently, the scale of the loss of biodiversity of the planet's natural ecosystems is progressing rapidly. Paradoxically, the great extinction of millions of species of flora and fauna was caused by just one species of living organisms - homo sapiens. Paradoxically, homo sapiens, which is responsible for this, is widely acknowledged to be the most intelligent species of life forms found on planet Earth. On the other hand, it is assumed that 99 per cent of the species that have lived on Earth over the last 3.5 billion years are extinct or have evolved into other species. But it is extremely difficult to estimate both the number of species and the duration of their existence for those of many millions of years ago and in the context of the evolutionary process. However, an extremely paradoxical and sad all at once process taking place in the Anthropocene epoch is that the acknowledged most intelligent single species of life form on Earth, which is homo sapiens, due to its robbery, combustion economy and rapid development of civilisation based on unlimited greed and disrespect for the surrounding nature, is causing the degradation of both the climate and the biosphere of the planet. Therefore, what has recently been described as a climate crisis should be studied, described, etc. in connection with the ecological crisis determined by the rapidly progressing process of deforestation, degradation of the biosphere, pollution of the natural environment, extinction of many species of flora and fauna life forms and, as a consequence, a rapidly decreasing level of biodiversity of the natural ecosystems of the planet Earth. Thus, the main negative effects of the development of a predatory, combustion-based civilisation and the key attributes of the Anthropocene epoch include not only a climate crisis but also an ecological crisis. The human-induced crises can thus be collectively referred to as the climate-ecological crisis. These crises should be considered, studied, analysed, described, etc. together because there are many relationships between them, synergistic processes, analogous and mutually influencing. By analogy, the process of a future climate catastrophe, which may already occur at the end of this 21st century if man does not manage to bring about a complete green transformation of the economy by 2030, should also be studied, analysed, projected, described, etc., in conjunction with the loss of biodiversity, the degradation of the biosphere, the extinction of species, etc., and thus the ecological catastrophe of the planet. By combining these issues, it is therefore possible and necessary to study, analyse, forecast and describe the future climatic-ecological catastrophe of the planet. If this catastrophe occurs in an extremely negative scenario then the Anthropocene epoch will be over.
I am conducting research on this issue. I have included the conclusions of my research in the following articles:
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT AS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE PRO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE ECONOMY TOWARDS GREEN ECONOMY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY
HUMAN SECURITY AS AN ELEMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
In view of the above, I address the following question to the esteemed community of scientists and researchers:
What are the links between the climate crisis and the ecological crisis, i.e. the developing crises and those caused by the acceleration of civilisation in the ongoing Anthropocene epoch?
What do you think about this?
What is your opinion on this subject?
Please respond,
I invite you all to discuss,
Thank you very much,
Warm regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
What eco-innovation can be used in the future to protect the environment and biodiversity?
Discussion
22 replies
  • Dariusz ProkopowiczDariusz Prokopowicz
Innovations in energy technologies are being developed, technologies for renewable energy sources, electromobility, waste segregation, purification of contaminated water in rivers, ecological material innovations, eg replacement of plastic packaging for biodegradable materials, etc. are developed and improved.
All this constitutes an element of systemic sustainable pro-ecological economic development based on the concept of green economy.
Thanks to the dissemination of systemic sustainable ecological development in the future, it will be possible to slow down the unfavorable warming of the Earth's climate and increase the scale of environmental protection and biodiversity.
Dissemination of systemic sustainable ecological development in the near future can save the planet Earth, many species of plants, animals and people from destruction, which may occur at the end of the 21st century, if the above-mentioned pro-ecological reforms are not introduced universally, globally, ie in all countries.
Do you agree with my opinion?
In connection with the above, I would like to ask you:
According to you, which eco-innovations are the most important for future protection of the environment and biodiversity?
Which ecological innovations do you think should be developed universally and to the greatest extent possible?
Please reply
I pointed out the high level of relevance of the issue taken up in the above question in the article:
Please respond with what do you think about the issues described in this article?
Best wishes
Dariusz Prokopowicz

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