and other chemicals are being extracted from increasingly lower grade reserves (3-6). Increasing the power available for metals production by a factor of two (line E, Table 2) would permit adequate metals extraction from essentially unlimited low grade resources (2). This would increase present U.S. power usage by only 20% or so. Non-fuel Demandite usage is approaching the largest rate of natural materials introduction — formation of ocean crust at rift boundaries (6). Industrial scrap is a major, but economically volatile fraction of global economic resources (7). However, the 11-13 kw lifestyle is only comfortable if the carbon (line 1 in Table 1) is readily available and can be used (8). Citizens of advanced countries now require approximately 10 tons/year of carbon (total coal equivalent) for direct energy and for supplying the other 55% of Demandite. The small pile of coal in Fig. 3 depicts this annual usage on a human scale (9). It approximates the appearance of the ten tons of coal which would be used annually in obtaining Demandite from low grade sources. However, note (line F, Table 2) that greater efficiency in the non- Demandite activities can probably offset the expenditures for using low grade resources. How far an urban world could reduce its per capita energy use is not clear (10-13). Perhaps a factor of two decreases are possible. However, it would require massive changes in most industrial and human activities. Inordinately large investments would be required in research and development and implementation to produce the more energy efficient industrial world. Outlays by automobile companies provide an example. Much of the chemical sector is efficient when the trade-offs of energy versus capital costs are considered (14). On the other hand, advanced agriculture is energy intensive. Man puts somewhat more energy into crops than the crops return to him as food. Human and institutional resources are finite even on a worldwide basis. Therefore, it is prudent to seek new, less demanding, sources of energy and materials even while pursuing new conservation and efficiency options (15). 2. EARTH'S BIOSPHERE, INDUSTRY AND HUMANS The first really significant restraint on human burning of carbon may come from the biosphere of Earth. Notice in Fig. 2 that by early in the 21st century mankind will be processing as much mass each year as does the biosphere of Earth. Table 3 places this use of biosphere recycled (renewable?) resources on a worldwide per capita basis assuming a 6 E + 9 (E X = 10 to the X power) population in the early 21st century. Biosphere magnitudes no longer seem as large. From line 3 in Table 3 we see that per capita recycling of carbon through the biosphere could be about the same as the coal burned to support an individual in an advanced country. Market forces in the world economy can make it very difficult to change the use of a basic commodity like carbon in even a few decades (16). Considering the influence of 6 E+9 people worldwide trying to achieve a better physical existence, it seems likely the usage of coal will increase. It is difficult to see how mankind can avoid becoming a significant if not the major component in the world carbon cycle early in the next century. Perhaps the only alternative would be to develop a source of sufficiently inexpensive power (low unit costs) that people would generally find it extremely attractive to use and industries would have to adopt it to remain competitive. Of course, the new power source would have to be brought on line quickly within the economic constraints of the competitive world. Table 3 (columns B and C; 17) reveal that human beings (6 E+9 people) will be a significant fraction of the biosphere. People will breathe and eat approximately 1.5%
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