Rising global resource consumption is a key issue in IB Geography, particularly within the Global Resource Consumption and Security unit. Over recent decades, the demand for energy, water, food, and raw materials has increased rapidly. This trend is driven by a combination of demographic, economic, and social factors that vary across regions.
One major reason for increasing resource consumption is population growth. As the global population grows, more resources are required to meet basic needs such as food, water, housing, and energy. Even modest increases in population size can significantly raise total resource demand, particularly in regions where access to resources is already limited. Population growth therefore places increasing pressure on ecosystems and resource supplies.
Economic development is another key driver. As countries move from low-income to middle-income status, resource consumption per person increases. Industrialisation, urbanisation, and rising incomes lead to greater demand for electricity, transport, manufactured goods, and improved diets. Middle-income countries, in particular, are experiencing rapid growth in resource use as millions of people adopt more resource-intensive lifestyles.
Changing consumption patterns and lifestyles also contribute to rising demand. In many parts of the world, diets are shifting toward higher meat and dairy consumption, which requires more land, water, and energy to produce. Increased car ownership, air travel, and use of electronic devices further raise energy consumption. These lifestyle changes are closely linked to globalisation and consumer culture.
Technological development can both increase and reduce resource consumption. On one hand, new technologies improve efficiency and reduce waste. On the other hand, technological advances often lead to higher overall consumption as products become cheaper and more widely available. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as the rebound effect, means efficiency gains do not always reduce total resource use.
Globalisation also plays a role by increasing trade and connectivity. Goods are produced, transported, and consumed on a global scale, requiring large amounts of energy and raw materials. Resource extraction often occurs far from where resources are consumed, making the environmental impacts less visible to consumers.
In IB Geography, it is important to recognise that rising resource consumption is uneven. High-income countries continue to consume far more resources per person than low-income countries. This raises questions about sustainability, equity, and responsibility for managing global resources.
Overall, global resource consumption is increasing due to population growth, economic development, changing lifestyles, and globalisation. These trends create challenges for resource security and environmental sustainability, making effective management and stewardship increasingly important.
RevisionDojo helps IB Geography students understand why resource consumption is rising by linking demographic and economic drivers to sustainability debates and exam-style evaluation.
