Nurturing Scarce Resources – Urban and Rural Necessities

Our world, now home to over 8 billion people, is grappling with increasing resource scarcity. To ensure a sustainable future, we must prioritize resource efficiency and recycling. Fossil fuels, which currently power much of our world, are non-renewable. A 2020 analysis reveals that coal reserves will be depleted in 139 years, while oil and gas reserves may remain only for half a century: 50 years!

The excessive use of fossil fuel not only endangers the reserves left, but also heightens climate change issues. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific body under the United Nations Environment Programme, has already cautioned that fossil fuel emissions must be halved within 11 years to limit rise in global temperatures. But things are going the other way round, as the world is on track to produce more fossil fuels by 2030 than we can use.

“As we seek to reboot economies following the COVID-19 pandemic, investing in low-carbon energy and infrastructure will be good for jobs, for economies, for health, and for clean air,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

This statement clearly puts in brief that we all (government, businesses, and consumers) need to adopt a prudent approach, if we are to build a better future. Urban societies have been quick to realize this. Perhaps, the heavy toll of urban pollution coupled with urban heating has forced a mindset change among the urban population. 

Sustainable Methods Applied

Some countries have deployed novel methods to process waste sustainably. The Singapore government, reduces its waste volume by 90%, by burning about 8,200 tons of garbage each day. The heat produced by the burning of such massive amounts of garbage, results in the production of over 2,500 MWh of energy each day, enough to light up nearly 900 homes daily. In Songdo, a smart city built in South Korea, the city’s trash gets pulled into an automated waste collecting plant through underground pipes. Once the waste reaches the facility, it is either recycled, burned for energy or buried deep underground. 

In terms of resource conservation, we can see innovative methods being deployed by countries like the US. In the state of Pennsylvania, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing technical and financial assistance to urban growers in areas of soil health, weed and pest management, and water conservation and irrigation improvement. Moreover, the state has also initiated a garden movement, that provides funding to local communities to develop urban gardens. This initiative not only addresses the issues around food diversity and security, but also helps bring the community together, fostering both social and environmental upgradation.

While urban societies are taking significant strides in resource conservation and sustainable practices, rural communities lack in these areas. Understanding and nurturing the scarcities within rural areas is not only essential for the wellbeing of these communities but also for the benefit of society as a whole.

Educating the Villager

The adoption of sustainable practices in rural areas requires consistent education and community engagement. Some of the effective methods include education programs, empowering change agents, leveraging technology, and providing financial incentives.

Rural areas are the hub of agricultural production, so it is imperative that resources in rural areas are preserved and the next generation of farmers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to farm sustainably.

The US’ National Institute of Food and Agriculture is empowering rural farmers by providing resources and training to enhance financial management, promote sustainable land stewardship through scientific knowledge, and advocate for policies that support farmers’ interests. Additionally, NIFA is fostering innovation by encouraging the adoption of new technologies and driving agricultural research to improve crop production and marketing methods.

Corporations are also playing a significant role in promoting sustainable agriculture. Walmart and PepsiCo, for instance, have joined forces to implement regenerative agricultural practices on 2 million acres of North American farmland. ADM, a global leader in sustainable agriculture supply chains, is expanding its regenerative agriculture program to cover 2 million acres in North America in 2023, with a global goal of 4 million acres by 2025.

In the pursuit of sustainable development, rural and urban communities must collaborate to create a balance that nurtures shared resources. For rural areas, protecting scarcities like water, soil, and forests while fostering human capital is key to building resilience and self-reliance. A thriving rural economy, built on sustainable practices, strengthens not just local communities but also the global movement towards a circular economy. Now, more than ever, rural and urban prudence must work hand in hand to ensure our planet’s most scarce and valuable resources are preserved and nurtured.

Photo Caption: The excessive use of fossil fuel not only endangers the reserves left, but also heightens climate change issues.