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Putting Phosphorus First: The Need to Know and Right to Know Call for a Revised Hierarchy of Natural Resources

Author

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  • Friedrich-W. Wellmer

    (Formerly Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Neue Sachlichkeit 32, D-30655 Hannover, Germany)

  • Roland W. Scholz

    (Department for Knowledge and Communication Management, Danube University Krems, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria
    Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Nobelstraße 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to develop two concepts regarding phosphorus that will serve as a contribution fulfilling the call for intergenerational equity: to improve knowledge of future resources and to develop a framework by setting priorities for maximizing availability with a hierarchy of natural resources. The increasing human demand for minerals and metals is causing persistent concern about long-term supply security. This holds true particularly for phosphorus. Phosphorus is bioessential; it cannot be substituted. There are no unlimited resources for phosphorus. The question of how large the reserves are and the potential for finding additional reserves and resources for a long-term supply are, therefore, of interest to numerous stakeholders, from governments to individuals. We examine governments’ needs and individuals’ rights to know private exploration data. Because of the essential nature of phosphorus, we emphasize the public’s special right to know as much as possible about phosphate reserves, resources and the geopotential for new discoveries, based upon the basic human right to feed oneself in dignity. To fulfill the call for intergenerational equity, however, knowledge alone is not enough; guidelines for management have to follow. This can be achieved by defining a hierarchy of natural resources for setting priorities. For humankind’s technological and cultural development, a sufficient supply of energy resources must be considered the key element; therefore, efforts to maximize information that will enable best decisions to be made have been the strongest. A hierarchy of natural resources with fossil and nuclear energies at the top was proposed. However, with the new development of renewable forms of energy and the decreasing role of fossil-fuel energy, the hierarchy of natural resources that defines priorities must be revised. We propose a hierarchy that replaces fossil-fuel energy at the top with phosphorus.

Suggested Citation

  • Friedrich-W. Wellmer & Roland W. Scholz, 2017. "Putting Phosphorus First: The Need to Know and Right to Know Call for a Revised Hierarchy of Natural Resources," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:6:y:2017:i:2:p:20-:d:100495
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Davidsson, Simon & Grandell, Leena & Wachtmeister, Henrik & Höök, Mikael, 2014. "Growth curves and sustained commissioning modelling of renewable energy: Investigating resource constraints for wind energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 767-776.
    2. Friedrich-W. Wellmer & Roland W. Scholz, 2015. "The Right to Know the Geopotential of Minerals for Ensuring Food Supply Security: The Case of Phosphorus," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(1), pages 3-6, February.
    3. Krausmann, Fridolin & Gingrich, Simone & Eisenmenger, Nina & Erb, Karl-Heinz & Haberl, Helmut & Fischer-Kowalski, Marina, 2009. "Growth in global materials use, GDP and population during the 20th century," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(10), pages 2696-2705, August.
    4. Scholz, Roland W. & Wellmer, Friedrich-Wilhelm, 2015. "Losses and use efficiencies along the phosphorus cycle. Part 1: Dilemmata and losses in the mines and other nodes of the supply chain," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PB), pages 216-234.
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    Cited by:

    1. Geissler, Bernhard & Steiner, Gerald & Haneklaus, Nils & Mew, Michael, 2023. "Phosphate price peaks and negotiations – Part 1: Fundamentals and the 1975 peak," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    2. Patrice Christmann & Pierre Toulhoat & Jacques Varet, 2022. "Building a European vision in a global world: a tribute to Pr. F. W. Wellmer’s contribution, from a French perspective," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 35(3), pages 355-359, December.
    3. Mew, Michael & Steiner, Gerald & Haneklaus, Nils & Geissler, Bernhard, 2023. "Phosphate price peaks and negotiations – Part 2: The 2008 peak and implications for the future," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Roland W. Scholz & Gerald Steiner, 2022. "The role of transdisciplinarity for mineral economics and mineral resource management: coping with fallacies related to phosphorus in science and practice," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 35(3), pages 745-763, December.

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