Sustainable Development and Natural Resource Scarcity by Dave Flynn, Ph.D.

Sustainable Development and Natural Resource Scarcity

byDave Flynn, Ph.D.

http://people.hofstra.edu/dave_flynn/

Growth Rates

• China's economy expected to grow 8% annually from 2008 to 2010 (Xu Dashan (China Daily) Updated: 2005-03-21 06:45)

• China’s GDP grew 11.5% in 2007 (National Public Radio, 24 January 2008)

Table 1: Economic Growth in the People's Republic of China (All figures are in billions of RMB or percent unless otherwise indicated)

Main indicators 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)(RMB in billions)

7,446.3 7,834.5 8,206.8 8,946.8 9,731.5 10,479.1 11,669.4 13,651.5

Real GDP growth (%) 8.8 7.8 7.1 8 7.5 8 9.1 9.5

Table 1: Comparative China, India, and U.S. Data

ChinaSize total: 9,596,960 sq km land: 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km Population: 1,313,973,713 (July 2006 est.)GINI Index: 44 (2002)Water Poverty Index Ranking (WPI): 103rd

Falkenmark Index: 2.2 (thousands of cubic meters of water per capita (kcm))

IndiaSize total: 3,287,590 sq km land: 2,973,190 sq km water: 314,400 sq kmPopulation: 1,095,351,995 (July 2006 est.)GINI Index: 32.5 (2000)WPI: 97th

Falkenmark Index: 1.9 kcm

United StatesSize total: 9,631,418 sq km land: 9,161,923 sq km water: 469,495 sq km note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia Population: 298,444,215 (July 2006 est.) GINI Index: 45 (2004)WPI: 32nd

Falkenmark Index: 8.9 kcm

Source: CIA World Factbook, 2007.

Water Shortages Throughout the World Threaten Our Survival, i.e. Peak

Waterhttp://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/09/28/world/asia/choking_on_growth_2.html#story4

“Still Life” – Days of Doom on the Yangtze

“Still Life” by Jia Zhang-ke

The connections between the natural landscape and the man-made one [often collide]… yet another reminder of a disposable, commodified past (Dargis, M., NY Times, 18 Jan. 2008).

China Says Its Seafood is Now Safer and BetterBut after years of spectacular growth, this country’s seafood industry is being threatened by water shortages, contaminated water supplies and illegal veterinary drug use.

China offers plan to clean up Its polluted lakes (Bradsher, K. (NYT, 23 January 2008, A8)

The algae on Lake Tai [Lakes Chaohu & Dianchi, as well] last year signaled a crisis that is threatening fishers’ livelihood.

The north of China is drying up as rampant development has exploited a diminishing resource – one must drill 600 feet to find a water table.

Tianamen Square (Winter, 2007)

China relies on coal for 80% (approx.) of their energy needs.

http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-02/st_infoporn

Some communities, cities, and countries begin green initiatives.

Solutions for the Developing World • Green supply chain management (GSCM): a

key approach for enterprises seeking to become environmentally sustainable.

• Urban versus suburban development: a more efficient and arguably, sustainable means to satisfy the growing demand for housing.

• Subsidize rural green energy solutions.• Encourage sustainable agricultural.