9GE03 decision making Flashcards
Explain the differences between hazard and disasters (4)
Hazard is an event that hasn’t occurred but poses a threat/risk to life or environment whereas disaster is something that has occurred and has caused damage to the environment.
Analyse the similarities and differences in the location and sizes of SIDS (8)
The carribean is the largest total land area of the SIDS, the larger countries have more variation in population and economy…
Differences - Caribbean SIDS are less dispersed compared to Pacific and AIMS. This is confirmed by the remoteness index
Not all of the SDS are developing, but some are such as Singapore and Bahrain
Similarity - SIDS countries are not powerful enough to have much global influence making their populations very vulnerable. They are too small to make their own industries and have large economy so are dependent on strong neighbouring countries. Such as Maldives relying on Sri Lanka and India.
Analyse the social consequences for countries with small land areas and small populations (8)
Small land area means a limited range of resources and thus a limited range of employment types.
Small land areas and small populations means more emigration, as not enough job opportunities or services available. For example, the Maldives rely heavily on international tourism - which peaks during the summer period. Seasonal jobs, mean not enough income hence forcing people to emigrate.
However the views on emigration is controversial, as some families find it difficult to join a new culture and a different environment with sometimes racism which causes negative impacts on their mental health.
Tourism although brings in economic revenue to a country, it can also cause environmental impacts - Jamaica - directly causing health issues - social impact
Tourism tend to be European/American - low income - racial divides - local carribean people may feel uncomfortable as history of slavery.
Small population have less variety of skill, which impacts economy and hence affects health and education with SIDS being the largest brain drain rates.
Evaluate the view that geographical isolation has been the main barrier to the sustainable development of SIDS (18)
Isolation causes more impact, when most of the world is more connected and have greater interdependence. It affects the country economically, socially and environmentally.
Sustainable development is finding new ways of developing as environmental exploitation comes at a cost - climate change. So developing technology for natural resources but SIDS do not have the funding or education for this, and all they have is marine or coastal resources - which many countries have moved away from causing isolation.
Pandemic occurs, heavily relying on tourism - no visitors so isolated, as no other source of income. Figure 8 - shows that the events of 2020 were damaging to SIDS because of their challenges of which are located to their location
Structure, physical landscape makes it difficult - enhancing tourism , more people for awareness. But this causes more greenhouse gas emissions, low lying countries (Maldives) will sink quicker so less sustainable.
Figure 2 - SIDS score poorly in HDI
Figure 7 - natural hazard has more affect
Evaluate the view that without significant global action to address climate change, the future of SIDS is one of decline (24).
Climate change requires mitigation at a global scale
SIDS face many issues due to CC - which many are part of a larger global issue causing biosphere destruction rather than just a country itself.
For example, burning of fossil fuels for industries and long haul flights cause more greenhouse gases to be emitted - increasing temp - glaciers melting - sea level rising and causing some SIDS to be at risk e.g. Maldives
Specific attention needs to be focused on countries with the largest carbon footprint.
65 million people in SIDSare less than 1% of population, so them themselves cannot be the only reason to save the SIDS future.
Emigration causes more havoc and impact, rather banning products. For example, microbeads are no longer in cosmetics.
Figure 11 - shows that despite agreements greenhouse gas emissions have continued to climb which threatens the SIDS.
