Non-Renewable Resource Depletion

[Spoonius]

One simple question: what non-renewable planetary resource(s) do you see running out within the next few hundred years and causing dependency problems? More specifically, which such resource(s) might nations go to war over?

.

A few notable exceptions that you should ignore for the purposes of this thread:

- Power (and any fuels used solely for power generation)
- Food

 

[DarthRiko]

Food really isn't much of an issue. As we continue to genetically modify crops to survive harsher climates and create larger yields, less people will be starving globally. In fact, the efforts of Norman Borlaug have be said to have saved over one billion lives already.

 

[thespyisdead]

when silicone runs dry, we won't be able to have anything electronic.


however, if we do run out of it, we should turn to Pamela Anderson... she has way more, than she needs

 

[DefunctTheory]

Food really isn't much of an issue. As we continue to genetically modify crops to survive harsher climates and create larger yields, less people will be starving globally. In fact, the efforts of Norman Borlaug have be said to have saved over one billion lives already.

The US government STILL pays farmers not to grow crops. To hell with genetic crops, we still have plenty of land left to use.

As for the original question... tungsten. When the worlds supply has been exhausted to give everyone cheap, indestructible wedding bands, what will we fashion into telephone poles and thrust valiantly from the skies into our enemies? Uranium? We need that for armor!

 

[DarthRiko]

The US government STILL pays farmers not to grow crops. To hell with genetic crops, we still have plenty of land left to use.

Yes, they do. It's called farm subsidy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_subsidy

Think globally though. How many people are starving in America compared to Africa? Not many. You know why? Because in many areas of Africa, they don't have any land that crops can grow in. Genetic engineering is helping to change that.

 

[GundamSentinel]

when silicone runs dry, we won't be able to have anything electronic.


however, if we do run out of it, we should turn to Pamela Anderson... she has way more, than she needs

That, and it's the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust. But yeah, getting highly pure silicon is getting problematic.

I'd say iridium could become a real problem. Used in flat-panels and touch-screens, but it's scarce, it's not mined for its own sake (always a byproduct) and there aren't many viable alternatives yet.

 

[Avaholic03]

when silicone runs dry, we won't be able to have anything electronic.


however, if we do run out of it, we should turn to Pamela Anderson... she has way more, than she needs

I know you were just making a joke, but that's really not an issue. There are plenty of alternatives for semiconducting materials, even if by some miracle we go through all the silicon on Earth.

I'm going to say that there's not a single resource that is truely non-renewable. If it exists, then it can be made. If we desperately need it, we'll find a way to make it. The only trick would be getting the manufacturing cost down.

 

[Spoonius]

Revised the OP a little.

 

[RicoGrey]

Helium.

It's not just for balloons, Helium is also used in the manufacturing of many electronics. We CAN extract Helium from the atmosphere, but it will be ten times the price it currently is. Oh, and it won't take 100 years, it will happen within a few decades.

 

[Esotera]

Water, and the rare earth metals (damn ipads, squandering the earth's resources in useless devices). Water because of fertilisers leaching from farmland, and the world's population is set to go up, so we're going to have to distribute to a larger amount of people.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Well as counties are now using rain-forest acreage to offset their carbon emissions it's conceivable that countries rich in that particular commodity could become frequently contested.

But that's probably a bit too down-to-earth. Am I right in guessing this is research for your literary project, Spoon?

 

[Von Strimmer]

MWAHAHAHA the correct answer is OZONE!

joking aside I reckon gold, or diamonds. Or perhaps Thorium.

Human intelligence?

It doesnt matter life finds a way and we will find other ways to do stuff.

 

[Spoonius]

Am I right in guessing this is research for your literary project, Spoon?

Haha... yeah.

:|

Still fishing for ideas.

 

[Von Strimmer]

A few notable exceptions that you should ignore for the purposes of this thread:

- Fuel
- Food

Food is not a non renewable resource and as for fuel thats not actually a natural resource either.

Geothermal energy and hydro power would like to have a word with you. Dont go outside because solar power (which is useless) and wind energy (even more useless) are also waiting for round 2.

Edit* Oh and as for food? everything is edible. Including people I kid I kid

 

[Viral_Lola]

Helium, water, coal, and gasoline. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Belaam]

Water.

High rainfall years used to determine the amount of development a particular area can support, so actual rainfall leaves what is called "drought conditions" for years and years, but are actually not so much drought conditions as they are developers overestimating water supplies as a rationale to build extra housing, farm more land, etc.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

when silicone runs dry, we won't be able to have anything electronic.

actually, that silicon is grown in labs.

diamonds. Or perhaps Thorium.

diamonds are renewable, we can make them in labs. they're just compressed carbon. you can compress people's ashes into them. and thorium i believe is a possible by-product of fission of uranium-238. if we do run out, theres always Plutonium and Americium, which are lab-made.

water, prolly. until we perfect piss-to-water transmutation or use dilution in all drinks, its going to go away.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

>Awkward question<

Haha... yeah.

:|

Still fishing for ideas.

Ok, well let's see...

What angle are you wanting on this shortfall? Has this problem existed for hundreds of years, growing more and more severe with time, or has the invention of X thirty-seven years ago lead to an unanticipated demand for previously worthless Y?