ressourcerne

Ressourcerne is a Danish term meaning “the resources” and is used to refer to the materials, energy and capabilities that an economy or society relies on to function. The concept encompasses natural resources (naturressourcer) such as minerals, fossil fuels, water and land; human resources (arbejdskraft) including labor, skills and knowledge; and produced resources such as capital, infrastructure and technologies. In economics, resources are inputs into production and are assessed by scarcity, productivity and marginal opportunity costs. The distinction between renewable and non-renewable resources is central to sustainability discussions.

Resource management involves monitoring stock and flows, investing in efficiency, and balancing current use with future availability. Environmental concerns arise when resource extraction causes degradation or external costs, leading to policy approaches like taxation, quotas or rights-based management. The concept also intersects with the circular economy, where resource efficiency, recycling and redesign aim to extend the useful life of materials.

In policy and planning, ressourcerne are assessed through indicators such as resource productivity, reserves-to-production ratios and material footprint. Critics caution against treating resources as mere economic inputs, noting ecological limits, distributional effects and the need for social and environmental considerations in defining value. The term remains a broad umbrella for discussions about how societies access, use and sustain their essential inputs for growth and well-being.