Everything human beings use is made from resources taken from the earth; from the clothes you're wearing, the desk you're sitting at, or the computer you're reading this on. Humans have become very good at extracting materials and turning them into useful things, however at what cost? Currently in order to meet current global demand for resources we would need 1.6 earths! Clearly this isn't very sustainable. In this session we begin to unpick what sort of resources we are extracting and in what quantities. We will consider the impacts of this extraction on the environment and the people who live there, with specific focus on the Amazon rainforest and we will begin to look at some sustainable alternatives.
Course aim
To meet current global demand for resources we would need 1.6 planets. This session aims to identify the issues with resource extraction, which materials we are extracting and why and to begin looking at sustainable alternatives.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Understand what sort of resources we are extracting from the planet
- Consider the impact of resource extraction on both humans and the environment
- Start to consider sustainable alternatives to current practices.
What else do I need to know?
This is a lecture for beginners and as such no prior knowledge is required
View full course information sheet
