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 m...
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doaj-7d0880611b384260aa5079c1ba9f1ee92020-11-24T22:52:32ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762018-12-01747910.3390/resources7040079resources7040079Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic DefinitionMarie K. Schellens0Johanna Gisladottir1Department of Physical Geography, Environment and Resource Dynamics Group, Stockholm University, 114 19 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography, Environment and Resource Dynamics Group, Stockholm University, 114 19 Stockholm, SwedenStudies 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/7/4/79criticalcriticalitydefinitionnatural capitalnatural resourcesraw materialssystematic mapping |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Marie K. Schellens Johanna Gisladottir |
spellingShingle |
Marie K. Schellens Johanna Gisladottir Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition Resources critical criticality definition natural capital natural resources raw materials systematic mapping |
author_facet |
Marie K. Schellens Johanna Gisladottir |
author_sort |
Marie K. Schellens |
title |
Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition |
title_short |
Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition |
title_full |
Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition |
title_fullStr |
Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Critical Natural Resources: Challenging the Current Discourse and Proposal for a Holistic Definition |
title_sort |
critical natural resources: challenging the current discourse and proposal for a holistic definition |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Resources |
issn |
2079-9276 |
publishDate |
2018-12-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
critical criticality definition natural capital natural resources raw materials systematic mapping |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/7/4/79 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT mariekschellens criticalnaturalresourceschallengingthecurrentdiscourseandproposalforaholisticdefinition AT johannagisladottir criticalnaturalresourceschallengingthecurrentdiscourseandproposalforaholisticdefinition |
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1725665590866083840 |