✅ 3.2.5.6 RESOURCE SECURITY - Resource Futures Flashcards
Why current water use isn’t sustainable
Excessive withdrawal has led to severe depletion of freshwater supplies, e.g. many aquifers have had so much freshwater removed that they have now filled with seawater, especially in low-lying islands- can kill forests.
Plus acquifers can’t recharge as fast as they are depleted, causing subsidence. E.g up to 9m in parts of Californian agricultural areas.
Water stress is expected to increase in the future
Globally, water demand is likely to exceed the current supply by 40% by 2030.
It’s predicted that by 2050, around 2.5 billion people will be living in areas of water scarcity.
Water stress is likely to be most severe in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, western USA, eastern Australia, western Asia, northern China and Chile.
Increased water stress would lead to problems for people
Insufficient drinking water is a threat to human life- where water is scarce, supplies of drinking water often become polluted, e.g. by sewage. This can cause death or disease.
A lack of water for irrigation limits food production-this could lead to reduced incomes and malnutrition.
Competition over remaining water resources is likely to cause more conflict.
Water futures will be affected by Technological developments
Increasing water supply - improvements to desalination (e.g. using graphene oxide sieves that efficiently filter salt from seawater) may mean that freshwater can be obtained from seawater more cheaply than at present and with minimal energy use.
Appropriate technology - e.g. in arid countries such as Kenya, sand dams can be constructed on seasonal rivers to trap water, making it available all year round.
Reducing water waste-e.g. nanotechnology could be used to purify polluted water, allowing more to be recycled. Smart monitoring of distribution networks could catch leaks early so that less water is wasted.
Water futures will be affected by Economic developments
More economically developed countries use more water per person. This means that as more countries become more developed, global water demand will increase.
However, as more countries become more developed, they will also be able to afford the technology and infrastructure to obtain more water and deliver it to where it’s needed, so more people will have reliable access to clean water.
Water futures will be affected by Environmental developments
Climate change, dry areas are likely to become drier and wet areas wetter. Water management strategies will need to take this into account. However, global efforts to minimise climate change may help to limit its impacts on the water supply.
Integrated catchment management looking at all aspects of a river catchment (e.g. geology, ecology and land use) can help to ensure that water supply and use are sustainable.
Water futures will be affected by Political developments
Cooperation - countries with abundant water supplies can help countries with water shortages. There can also be agreements between countries that withdraw water from the same source about how much they take, so that overall withdrawal is sustainable.
Policies - government policies can encourage people to use less water, e.g. water meter installation could be compulsory, so people have to pay for the water they use.
Technological developments in energy
Improving traditional renewable energy sources e.g. making wind turbines more aerodynamic and creating transparent solar panels that can be used as windows would increase their efficiency so more energy would be generated.
Developing new renewable sources - e.g. a scheme in Bihar, India uses rice husks (a waste product from rice production) in small, local power plants to generate electricity.
Improving nuclear power - nuclear reactors are becoming smaller, cheaper, safer and more efficient.
Reducing energy consumption e.g. developing more energy-efficient appliances and vehicles.
Environmental developments in energy
Public opinion - increasing environmental awareness may put pressure on governments and TNCs to develop and use more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Climate change- the Paris Agreement (2015) is a global climate deal that aims to reduce global carbon emissions, e.g. by taxing carbon emissions. This may change the global energy mix and force companies to use greener energy sources and more efficient technologies. However, the USA’s withdrawal from the deal in 2017 may affect its success.
Economic developments in energy
Energy costs-energy costs may rise as unconventional fossil fuel sources (e.g. fracking) make up more of the supply. This could lead to fuel poverty, where people can’t afford to adequately heat their homes. Higher energy costs may also affect industry, hindering economic development.
Carbon markets - countries have to pay for their carbon emissions. Prices may increase to make the use of renewable sources more attractive.
Technological developments in copper
Discovery of reserves using remote sensing, 3D imaging
Phytomining, when plants are grown to absorb copper compounds from the soil, then burnt o extract copper, allow access to lower grade copper
Demand may reduce due to alternatives such as fibre optics in wires
Environmental developments in copper
As more resource frontiers are exploited, more ecosystems, such as in the deep sea, may be disrupted. Fragile ecosystems may be exploited, e.g, China invested in large scale mining operations in Tibetan Plateau
More waste will be created to extract lower-grade ores when higher-grade ores are depleted
Economic developments in copper
Recycling is costly
LICs would lose access first if prices rise as supply falls
More investment needed to extract lower grade ores
Resource futures in China
China have seen an opportunity to present themselves as an environmental leader since the US left the 2015 Paris Agreement- cancelled plans for 103 coal -fired power stations in 2017
North-South Transfer scheme to address water demand, most use for agriculture - 60%
China imports 50% of their copper
Has invested in 150 mines in Africa across 12 countries such as Zambia to exploit potentially undiscovered reserves in Africa
