English Abstract This report contains general information on some
important aspects of natural resources, like the total number, handling and
rate of exploitation, increase and functions. Four main natural resource
categories are distinguished: chemical elements and bulk minerals, energy
carriers, environmental resources (e.g. high quality air and soil) and
bioresources (e.g. wood, fish, biodiversity). Resources are nearly always
related to each other. Therefore, in finding solutions to exploit our
natural resources in a less wasteful way, there are risks of shifting
problems from one resource to another. Some preliminary exercises with
scenarios indicate that in the next century limits could be reached. This
could mean a shortage of soil to fulfill all functions, but also a shortage
of energy carriers or certain ores. It is improbable that merely improving
technology is sufficient to avoid reaching limits.
