Earth and Space Science - Sustainable Resource Management

Sustainable development is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Natural resources are classified into renewable (e.g., solar, wind, biomass) and non-renewable (e.g., fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas composed of $CH_4$).

The Greenhouse Effect involves gases such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), methane ($CH_4$), and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) trapping infrared radiation in the atmosphere.

The Ecological Footprint measures the biologically productive land and sea area required to provide the resources a population consumes and absorb its $CO_2$ emissions.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a process used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product through its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.

Water management strategies include desalination, rainwater harvesting, and reducing the contamination of $H_2O$ sources by industrial runoff.

Soil sustainability requires managing $pH$ levels and nutrient concentrations (like Nitrogen $N$ and Phosphorus $P$) to prevent land degradation and desertification.