Natural resources

Natural resources are things that humans need and use, and which occur naturally in nature, undisturbed or unchanged by people. Water and air are essential for our survival, while...

Water supply

The total mass of water over, on and under the surface of a planet is called the hydrosphere. The volume of water in Earth’s hydrosphere is 1.4 billion cubic kilometres (320...

Mining

Mining is the extraction of useful minerals, including metals, from the surface of the Earth. Rock that contains enough metal to make it profitable to be extracted is known as ore...

Oil and gas

Oil is used as a fuel in power stations, cars, ships and aircraft. It is also essential for many chemical industries. Natural gas is used for domestic heating and cooking...

Coal

Along with oil and gas, coal is a fossil fuel. It is a rock that was formed from the remains of living things that died millions of years ago and are preserved as fossils. Coal was...

Deep-sea mining

At the bottom of the deepest oceans are craggy underwater mountains, trenches and plains. They are the least explored environments on Earth. Just as on the continents, the rocks...

Fishing

People have been catching fish from the sea, rivers and lakes for thousands of years. Fishing is still a source of food, and an important industry for many people living near the...

Forestry

Wood is an important material, with many uses in the timber industry (construction and products) as well as for fuel. The world's forests are a vital renewable resource. Logging is...

Industry

The word “industry” describes an activity that produces the goods or services that people need or want. Industries fall into three groups. Primary industries are those that...

Tourism

Tourism—travel for pleasure either within a country or to another country—has, since the mid-20th century, become a major service industry. Providing transport and supporting...

Industry A-Z