Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition

Schellens, Marie K.Stockholms universitet,Institutionen för naturgeografi,University of Iceland, Iceland (författare)

Critical Natural Resources : Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition

Studies on critical natural resources have grown in number over the last decade out of concern for resource availability and its potential impacts. Nonetheless, only a handful of studies explicitly define criticality for natural resources. Through a systematic literature review, we identified four main perspectives in the descriptions of critical natural resources: (1) economic importance is overemphasized at the expense of sociocultural and ecosystem support functions of natural resources; (2) a Western perspective dominates the research discourse; (3) apart from the field of economics, the debate lacks input from social sciences; and (4), non-renewable resources are overrepresented compared to renewables. Based on the current discourse and its apparent inclinations, we propose a new definition of criticality for natural resources aligned with risk theory. We argue for the need to balance out the perspectives described above to provide decision-makers with impartial information for the sustainable management of natural resources.

Gisladottir, JohannaStockholms universitet,Institutionen för naturgeografi,University of Iceland, Iceland(Swepub:su)jogi4517 (författare)
Stockholms universitetInstitutionen för naturgeografi (creator_code:org_t)

Om ämnet

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.