This book focuses on providing an overview of all our available natural resources, considering the sustainability and potential for power generation of each. Energy efficiency prospects of each natural resource are examined in the context of society’s key energy needs- Heating/cooling, Electric Power, Transportation and Industrial Production. Geography, climate and demographics are all discussed as key vectors impacting the comparative opportunities for self-sustenance around the globe. The authors provide in-depth coverage of renewable energy upscale and energy efficiency improvements in industry and society within a historical context, including a keen look at the variable effectiveness of different policy tools that have been used to support the transition away from unsustainable resource use. Finally, suggestions for more sustainable futures are provided, from improved policy measures, to new technological horizons in areas from offshore wind and marine energy to biogas and energy storage.

The workshop was designed to bring together key people from futures research and renewable natural resources in a setting where they could systematically consider the future. The objectives were to: identify probable global, national, and regional trends and developments over the next 6 to 50 years, (2) assess the nature and magnitude of their impacts; and (3) suggest strategies, policies, roles, programs, and organizational and research priorities for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Renewable Resources in Our Future is a collection of illustrated papers that discusses various renewable energy sources. The opening chapter discusses the concepts involved in relying solely on renewable energy, including the advantages and disadvantages. The succeeding chapters cover various renewable resources, such as solar, water, and soil. The book also details both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The last chapter talks about alternative future, such as nuclear-powered society and space cities. The text will be of great interest to individuals concerned with the world energy situation.

On a Sustainable Future of the Earth’s Natural Resources is divided into three sections, with individual chapters contributed by experts on diff erent facets of the earth sciences, natural resources management and related issues. The first section focuses on the status of Earth’s resources; land, water, biota and atmosphere. Reviews on the rate of exploitation and the need to conserve these resources for future sustenance are also covered in this section. Th e following section includes chapters elucidating environmental, ecological, climatological and anthropological pressures on sustained nourishment with the Earth’s resources. The last section describes management practices, issues and perspectives on sociological, legal, administrative, ICT and strategic efforts that need to be implemented in order to sustain our natural resources. This book covers a broad spectrum of the Earth’s resources and sustenance, offering a comprehensive perspective on their past, present and future.

With unprecedented attention on global change, the current debate revolves around the availability and sustainability of natural resources and how to achieve equilibrium between what society demands from natural environments and what the natural resource base can provide. A full understanding of the range of issues, from the consequences of the changing resource bases to the degradation of ecological integrity and the sustainability of life, is crucial to the process of developing solutions to this complex challenge. Authored by world-class scientists and scholars, The Encyclopedia of Natural Resources provides an authoritative reference on a broad spectrum of topics such as the forcing factors and habitats of life; their histories, current status, and future trends; and their societal connections, economic values, and management. The content presents state-of-the-art science and technology development and perspectives of resource management. Written and designed with a broad audience in mind, the entries clearly elucidate the issues for readers at all levels without sacrificing the scientific rigor required by professionals in the field. Volume I – Land includes 98 entries that cover the topical areas of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources such as forest and vegetative; soil; terrestrial coastal and inland wetlands; landscape structure and function and change; biological diversity; ecosystem services, protected areas, and management; natural resource economics; and resource security and sustainability. Natural resources represent such a broad scope of complex and challenging topics that a reference book must cover a vast number of subjects in order to be titled an encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia of Natural Resources does just that. The topics covered help you face current and future issues in the maintenance of clean air and water as well as the preservation of land resources and native biodiversity. Also Available Online This Taylor & Francis encyclopedia is also available through online subscription, offering a variety of extra benefits for researchers, students, and librarians, including: Citation tracking and alerts Active reference linking Saved searches and marked lists HTML and PDF format options Contact Taylor and Francis for more information or to inquire about subscription options and print/online combination packages. US: (Tel) 1.888.318.2367; (E-mail) e-reference@taylorandfrancis.com International: (Tel) +44 (0) 20 7017 6062; (E-mail) online.sales@tandf.co.uk

Between 1988 & 1993 over fifty nations have either enacted new mining legislation, had such legislation pending adoption or were in the process of drafting new or revised legislation. In almost every case, this legislation carried with it changes in the fiscal regimes. The ability to attract mineral investment, be it in either a developed or a developing country, is partly dependent on the legislative & fiscal systems which regulate the industry. In the light of the changes taking place, this new reference work is timely & provides essential reading for those with an interest in mining taxation. The first part of the book analyses general topics which are applicable to understanding the taxation of mineral enterprises, while the second part provides a comprehensive & detailed account of actual taxation systems & methods.

Resources, Society and the Future is a report on resources and raw materials and their implications for the future of the Swedish society. This report aims to create a framework for a continuous dialogue in Sweden between the general public and their political representatives, the scientific world and interest groups of all kinds. Two debates in Sweden are considered, one of them centering on national interests, that is, Sweden's needs for industrial production and exports, and the other concerning long-term questions of human survival (environment, resource base, and questions of equity between industrialized and developing countries). This book is comprised of seven chapters and begins by outlining the motives for a futures study of resources and raw materials, followed by an explanation of what resources and raw materials mean, along with a general description of the volume of raw materials produced and consumed worldwide. Subsequent chapters focus on the global demand and supply of resources; energy and raw materials in Sweden; and aims and means of a raw materials policy. Instruments of a raw materials policy and measures to reduce the use of scarce raw materials and to increase the supply of raw materials are discussed, along with the relationship between the environment and the supply of raw materials. This monograph will be a valuable resource for policymakers concerned with energy and natural resources and their impact on society.

Resources Society and the Future

This book focuses mainly on strategic decision making at a global level, which is rarely considered in approaches to sustainability. This book makes a unique contribution as the work looks at global consequences of mineral exhaustion and steps that can be taken to alleviate the impending problems. This book highlights how sustainability has become one of the most important issues for businesses, governments and society at large. This book explores the topic of sustainability as one that is under much debate as to what it actually is and how it can be achieved, but it is completely evident that the resources of the planet are fixed in quantity, and once used, cannot be reused except through being reused in one form or another. This is particularly true of the mineral resources of the planet. These are finite in quantity, and once fully extracted, extra quantities are no longer available for future use. This book argues and presents evidence that the remaining mineral resources are diminishing significantly and heading towards exhaustion. Once mined and consumed, they are no longer available for future use other than what can be recycled and reused. This book demonstrates that future scarcity means that best use must be made of what exists, as sustainability depends upon this, and best use is defined as utility rather than economic value, which must be considered at a global level rather than a national level. Moreover, sustainability depends upon both availability in the present and in the future, so the use of resources requires attention to the future as well as to the present. This book investigates the alternative methods of achieving the global distribution of these mineral resources and proposes an optimum solution. This book adds to the discourse through the understanding of the importance of the depletion and finiteness of raw materials and their use for the present and the future, in order to achieve and maintain sustainability.