Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (Coal and Petroleum) should be a priority for the present world. Coal and petroleum are the most common and highly used natural resources. However, coal and petroleum are non-renewable sources of energy. That means we have only a limited amount of these resources available on the planet. So, sustainable Management of Natural Resources (Coal and Petroleum) becomes critical to save the resources for future generations. The Five R’s strategy of sustainable development includes Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle.

Need to manage our resources:

• To meet exponentially increasing demand for resources because of the increase in the human population
• Ensuring equitable distribution of resources so that only a few rich and powerful people do not benefit from the development of these resources
• To minimise the damage caused by exploring natural resources to the environment
• Mining causes pollution because a large amount of waste is discarded
• Sustainable Development means resource management plans for the safe disposal of these wastes
• To adhere to the present-day global concerns for Sustainable Development and conservation of natural resources
• To conform to our country’s long tradition and culture of nature conservation
• Vedic period: Useful, just as defensive parts of timberland vegetation were accentuated
• Later Vedic period: The idea of a social scene like sacrosanct woodlands and forests, hallowed passages, and an assortment of ethnic-ranger service rehearsals were advanced
• Post-Vedic period: A wide range of ethnic-forestry practises were infused with the traditions, customs, and rituals and followed as a means for the protection of nature and natural resources

Check out the UPSC Notes

Coal and Petroleum:

• Coal and petroleum were formed millions of years ago by biomass degradation
• These resources are exhaustible. There is a need to search for elective wellsprings of energy
• Various estimates about known petroleum resources suggest that petroleum will last for about forty years and coal and petroleum for another two hundred years
• These resources contain hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur and, on burning, produce carbon dioxide, water, oxides of nitrogen, and oxides of sulphur
• When burning happens in deficient air (oxygen), carbon monoxide is produced rather than carbon dioxide
• Sulphur, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide oxides are toxic in high concentrations, and carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas 
• An increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to intense Global Warming

Also see: UPSC Preparation Books

The five R’s Strategy to Save the Environment

• Refuse: It means to say ‘No’ to things that are not required. Refuse to buy products that could harm you and the environment. Deny dispensable plastic convey sacks
• Reduce: It aims to be useless. Save electricity by turning off unnecessary lights and fans. Save water by repairing leaky taps. Do not waste food
• Recycle: This aims to collect plastic paper and recycle these materials to make valuable items instead of synthesising or separating new plastic, paper, glass, or metal. The initial phase in reusing is the segregation of wastes
• Reuse: This is superior to reusing because the most common way of reusing utilises some energy. In the ‘reuse’ technique, things are utilised over and over
• Repurpose: This implies when an item can presently not be utilised for the first reason, consider cautiously, and use it for another practical reason. ‘Being in harmony with nature is known to us. It is related to our long-standing practises, customs, arts and crafts, festivals, food, beliefs, rituals, and folklore. Sustainable life has forever been a necessary piece of Indian custom and culture

Also read about How to Prepare for UPSC without Coaching

Global Warming

One of the harmful impacts caused by indiscriminate use of non-renewable resources is Global warming. Global warming is a phenomenon of an overall rise in the temperature of Earth and unusual weather conditions. Coal and petroleum burn to produce energy. Along with energy, their burning also releases harmful gases into the environment. The accumulation of these gases results in the trapping of harmful UV rays in the Earth’s atmosphere. This increases Earth’s temperature, thus Global Warming. The Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (Coal and Petroleum) can help reduce harmful emissions and thus control Global Warming.

Conclusion

The concept of sustainable development encourages the development that meets current basic human needs while conserving resources for the needs of future generations. The Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (Coal and Petroleum) is a crucial indicator of our efforts to save the planet. Coal and petroleum are non-renewable sources and will get finished one day. The conscious use of these resources while keeping up with development is a challenge. However, the Five R’s strategy of sustainable development offers a roadmap to save resources. These include refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle.