Historically, humans have separated phenomena into distinct categories.1 Psychology refers to this as "categorical perception" (CP), and this tendency has helped us make sense of our complex environments. Other research indicates that Western cultures tend to value independence, while Eastern cultures often emphasize interdependence.

Modern theory considers CP as a general learning mechanism of the brain, perhaps influenced by culture. For example, "Westerners" usually think of resource use as an independent phenomenon, but in fact it is intertwined with human well-being/poverty, and with education/information. Since the Industrial Revolution, this interdependence has become increasingly apparent. Today, many people recognize the interdependence of phenomena.

Resource use

Human use of resources has expanded rapidly and globally since 1950. At first, this rise also boosted living standards and overall well-being for much of the global population.2 Biomass (from agriculture), fossil fuels, and metal ores constitute the most critical resources.

Most research reports annual data on resource use. However, cumulative resource flow data show that initially, resource use mainly occurred in North America and Western Europe. Now, 39% of the cumulative flow of resources occurs in China. Despite regional differences, global material extraction has tripled over the last 60 years, with developed countries using six times as many resources as low-income countries. However, a large portion of the worldwide population still lives in poverty.

Hunger and poverty levels

Between 2010 and 2018, the number of people living in poverty declined from about 1.09 billion to 667 million.3 The exploitation of natural resources was a driving force behind this reduction and brought about significant economic and social progress, for example, improvements in health, well-being, and education. However, over the last 20 years, global poverty rates have changed significantly.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased global poverty, with an estimated 50 million additional people in extreme poverty between 2019 and 2020.4 As of 2025, approximately 800 million people live in extreme poverty.5

These trends highlight the ongoing struggle against poverty, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where poverty rates remain high. By 2030, it is projected that 574 million people will still be living on less than $2.15 a day, indicating ongoing challenges in eradicating extreme poverty6. When a variety of poverty measures are used, 1.1 billion people live with multiple deprivations, such as a lack of education and basic services.

Even in the United States, the official poverty level in 2024 was less than 15,060 for an individual and 31,200 for a family of four7. This represented 35.9 million people, about 10.6% of the US population.8

In the early 2000s, many at the UN recognized the interdependence of resource use and other critical human phenomena and, consequently, developed the Millennium Development Goals and, in 2016, adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).9

These seventeen goals call for a sustainable future by 2030. The SDGs are integrated, that is, they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others. The first four goals are most relevant to this paper:

  1. No poverty.

  2. Zero hunger.

  3. Good health and well-being.

  4. Quality education.

The UN SDGs require that development must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Through the pledge to Leave No One Behind, countries have committed to fast-track progress for those furthest behind first.10 Recent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple wars, inflation, and economic instability have slowed progress toward helping those who are furthest behind first.

Several organizations have attempted to fill the gaps, including the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, Oxfam, Care, the World Bank Group, and foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Open AI, Google, 2025). Some hope that the Information Age will remedy the poverty divide between developed nations and underdeveloped regions of the world.

Technology, education, and information acceleration

Technology and the Internet have driven a dramatic increase in the production of information, and about 5.6 billion people are currently online, roughly 2/3 of the world's population.11 However, worldwide, this information is distributed unevenly. 2.2 billion people are not online, with disparities in availability across regions, countries, and income levels. People living in extreme poverty, many of whom are illiterate, are unable to access or utilize this expanded information.12

For this discussion, those with information and technology can be separated into three "camps": those who will use the access to increase resource use significantly, those who monitor resource use and communicate the impacts of resource development, and thirdly, the typical consumers of all this information who are unsure what to do, if anything, about it.

The reader will note that I just used categorical perception, dividing Internet users into separate independent groups. More importantly, I recently moved from the third camp to the second. This paper is my first attempt to use the Internet, via Meer, to alert those of us lucky enough to have access to it to recognize how resource use affects everything and all beings on this planet. As a former member of the third camp, I heard messages about the three Rs: reuse, recycle, and reduce.

Now, how shall I use this knowledge beyond implementing the three Rs in my daily life? As one becomes aware of the interdependence of all phenomena on earth, it is easy to become overwhelmed and do nothing. I have found it helpful to stop and look more deeply before acting when I'm shocked or overwhelmed.

I often pose questions to ChatGPT to gather additional information. I close this short paper by sharing what I learned from such an inquiry. My inquiry was: "Our planet is being stripped of its material resources at an alarming rate. What are some systemic ways we can reduce this trend?"

Reducing the alarming rate at which our planet's material resources are being stripped requires systemic approaches across various sectors. Here are some effective strategies:

  1. Sustainable resource management: implement policies that promote sustainable extraction practices, ensuring that natural resources are used at a rate that allows for their replenishment.

  2. Circular economy: shift towards a circular economy where products are designed for reuse, recycling, and recovery. This reduces waste and minimizes the need for new raw materials.

  3. Regulatory frameworks: establish strict regulations and incentives for industries to adopt sustainable practices. This includes limits on resource extraction, penalties for over-exploitation, and rewards for companies that demonstrate sustainability.

  4. Technological innovation: invest in research and development of new technologies that improve resource efficiency and create alternatives to resource-intensive materials. Innovations such as biodegradable plastics and advanced recycling technologies can make a significant difference.

  5. Consumer awareness and education: educate consumers about the importance of sustainable consumption. Encouraging mindful purchasing decisions can reduce demand for over-exploited resources.

  6. Support for renewable resources: promote the use of renewable resources (like solar, wind, and sustainable timber) over finite resources. This includes investing in renewables and reducing subsidies for fossil fuels. Promote the use of renewable resources (like solar, wind, and sustainable timber).

  7. Ecosystem restoration: engage in efforts to restore ecosystems that have been depleted or damaged. Healthy ecosystems can provide natural resources more sustainably.

  8. Collaboration and partnerships: foster collaborations between governments, businesses, NGOs, and communities to share best practices and strategies for resource conservation and sustainable development.

  9. Waste reduction initiatives: implement programs aimed at reducing waste across all sectors, which can help decrease the demand for raw materials.

  10. Global agreements: support and participate in international agreements focused on sustainability, resource conservation, and climate change to ensure collective action on a global scale.

By adopting these systemic approaches, we can work towards reducing the rate at which our planet's resources are being depleted while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship.

(ChatGPT Response, OpenAI., version 4.0, 2025).

If we were to implement these systemic interventions vigorously, we could also reduce poverty, increase well-being, and improve access to education and information. I suggest one more systemic intervention: prohibit nations from waging war! It is a very ambitious, some would say naïve, suggestion. And, how to enforce it? Still, it would reduce resource extraction, reduce poverty, increase well-being, and support more uniform access to information and education. I can dream, and some say that what humans can dream, they can make real.

Notes

1 Laurent Bonnasse-Gahot, Jean-Pierre Nadal, 2022.
2, 3 Andreas Mayer, Willi Haas, Dominik Widenhofer, 2017.
4 World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform, 2024.
5, 6 UN SDGs Report, 2025.
7 Department of Health and Human Services, 2024.
8 U.S. Census Bureau, 2024.
9 Sustainable Development Goals at United Nations.
10 United Nations Environment Program, 2024.
11 UN Division of Inclusive Social Development, 2025.
12 The World Economic Forum, 2022.