Limits to Growth Revisited - Natural Resources Cast into a Global Perspective

Mining & Minerals - Evaluations / Off-World Exploration, Mining, & Technology

Date posted: 10/18/15

Ragnarsdottir and Sverdrup opine that in 1971, at the request of the Club of Rome, an MIT systems engineering professor Jay Forrester developed a model for the future economy, showing that a resource crisis could be imminent. Aurelio Peccei, an Italian economist and industrialist and former boss of FIAT and Olivetti, realized that a more comprehensive study was needed to address the interplay between three factors exponential population growth, global resources and environmental pollution. But the worldwide debate soon became derailed, because LTG suggested curbing economic growth, an unwelcome idea to those who have a large stake in the status quo. Governments fear dwindling tax revenue, while mainstream economists resist any change to the paradigm of eternal growth. As any businessman knows, managing growth is a lot easier than either of the alternatives. Meanwhile, neither public nor policymakers appear to grasp that resources form the basis for economic growth. In an Earth of limits, planning for further economic growth is a fools policy that will fail. Many influential people remain stuck in denial of the finite nature of resources, and this is a significant problem. A global population too large for an Earth where resource extraction has physical constraints will, most likely be one living in great poverty. As resources decline and population rises, the situation will worsen. It is one of the largest challenges ever faced by mankind...along with climate change issues. Long after all the gold mines have been exhausted, gold will remain with us because of recycling, because gold is scarce and has high value. If this is possible for gold, then it is possible for other metals. The key is systemic recycling for all metals and materials. Every problem is a challenge, every challenge is an opportunity, every opportunity turned into a solution is a success. Solutions must be found...and off world is one of the obvious answers for people and for resources.