Carbon 2.5

Question 1

Discuss energy pathways of coal

Answer 1

Largest producers- India, US and China - also import coal. Indonesia and Australia export coal to China, India, South Korea and Japan

Question 1

Discuss energy pathways of oil

Answer 1

significant pathways.
Main supplies are clearly Middle East (no.1 producer) to Europe and Asia and Russia to Europe

Question 2

Discuss energy pathways of gas

Answer 2

Similar pathways to oil
Can either be transported via pipelines, such as Russia to Europe or converted to LNG and transported by ship such as Middle East to Europe

Question 3

What was the transfer of gas from Russia to Europe like before the Ukraine war?

Answer 3

Russia is the second largest producer of gas and much of its exports once went to Europe via four pipelines

Question 4

Why can the recent attempt to annex Ukraine potentially be justified by energy pathways?

Answer 4

Alongside the threat of Ukraine joining NATO, three of the four pipelines transferring gas to Europe cross Ukraine, meaning Ukraine could threaten to increase the price of transfer through its territory. If they annexed Ukraine, this would no longer be of concern

Question 5

How has the supply of oil and gas to Europe from Russia changed since the beginning of the war?

Answer 5

-EU banned Russian oil import by sea
-Russia only receive 48 pounds per crude oil barrel
-EU cut gas imports by 2/3rds within a year of the start of the war

Question 6

What shows that the EU was successful in reducing natural gas from Russia?

Answer 6

In 2021, Russia supplied EU with 40% of natural gas but this dropped to 17% by August 2022

Question 7

Where are European countries now getting gas from instead of Russia?

Answer 7

Looking to ship LNG, with 12 ports planning to be built around Europe (although this raises concerns about long term reliance on fossil fuels)

Question 8

Where are Russia now exporting fossil fuels to instead of Europe?

Answer 8

Moscow is still losing $175m a day from fossil fuel export restrictions, but it’s instead transporting oil to India and China, making up 70% of all Russian crude oil flows by sea

Question 9

In 1985, how much was the Treasury earning every hour from North Sea reserves?

Answer 9

2.5m

Question 10

How did the changing price in oil contribute to a global recession in 2008?

Answer 10

In the 1980s, large amounts of oil was discovered, making the price of oil cheaper than bottled water. This meant economies became reliant upon oil. However, by 2006, the population was demanding 4x as much oil compared to 2000 causing prices to rise . By May 2008, it cost 147 per barrel, showing demand outstripped supply as standard of living increased. This caused recession

Question 11

What % of global energy mix still comes from fossil fuels?

Answer 11

86%

Question 12

By what % has global energy consumption increased by since 1990?

Answer 12

50%

Question 13

What makes energy pathways vulnerable?

Answer 13

eight global chokepoints - over half the world’s oil goes through here including Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz. If they are blocked energy prices can rise quickly

Question 14

Examples of unconventional fossil fuels?

Answer 14

Tar sands
Oil shale
Shale gas
Deepwater oil

Question 15

What are tar sands?

Answer 15

a mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen

Question 16

What are Canada’s tar sand resources like?

Answer 16

World’s largest reserves of tar sands, covering an area larger than England. By 2030, 4 million barrels could be produced a day

Question 17

What are the social benefits of tar sands?

Answer 17

-by 2030, could meet 16% of North America’s oil needs
-could provide $4tn for the Canadian economy
-151,000 jobs creation
-an oil sands community alliance has been set up to provide services/facilitate local people, especially first nation (indigenous) people

Question 18

What are the social costs of exploiting tar sands?

Answer 18

-Expensive - only viable when price of crude oil exceeds US$40 a barrel
-energy and water intensive to create
-caribou (reindeer species) populations have declined sharply in the area and local population expected to be extinct by 2040

Question 19

What are the consequences of extracting tar sands on the environment?

Answer 19

-forests and peat bog destroyed reducing biodiversity
-about 1.8 million tonnes of toxic waste water produced everyday
470km squared of taiga has been removed

Question 20

What are the consequences of extracting tar sands on the carbon cycle?

Answer 20

Carbon emissions rise due to their extraction, production and use. By 2030, 14% of Canada’s greenhouse emissions will come from tar sand operations
Carbon absorption falls due to deforestation (removal of taiga)

Question 21

Who are the different players in tar sands operations and how do they feel about operations?

Answer 21

environmentalists call for the end of industrialisation of indigenous territories

oil companies cite tremendous economic impacts in Canada

governments encourage tar sands to secure energy supply and grow the economy

local communities gain new jobs, but there’s increased pollution, disruption to traditional ways of life and a housing crisis as more people move in

Question 22

How has shale gas increased in the US?

Answer 22

In 2015, shale gas provided nearly 25% of the US’s gas supply, meaning it’s new a key determinant in US’s energy security and influences global pricing. Increased production is due to the growth of fracking to release oil and gas that would otherwise be too difficult to drill

Question 23

What are the environmental consequences of fracking?

Answer 23

contamination of groundwater and production of pollutants such as methane and sulphur dioxide

Question 24

What % of UK energy is imported?

Answer 24

60%