Energy Security Flashcards
Why would those in HICs be unwilling to switch to renewables? X2
- subsidies would need to be in place to make it cheaper than fossil fuels
- less reliable
Sub-saharan average energy use per annum
under 140kWh
European average energy use per annum
11,000kWh
What % of Africa’s energy is powered by wood?
78%
What % of Africa’s energy needs are powered by hydro?
2%
What fraction of the world’s hydro electric potential does Africa have? Why is this locked up?
1/3
highly expensive mega-engineering projects required to harness hydro cost effectively
What is going to happen to Africa’s population by 2040?
will double
Why is it bad that so much of Africa’s energy comes from wood?
- deforestation
- indoor air pollution
- health risks
Switch to fossil fuels in Africa would lead to what positive?
eliminated indoor air pollution for 150million people
China’s energy consumption has increased by what since 1981?
500%
Poverty levels have decreased from what % to below 10% since 1981?
from 90% to 10%
What may happen in terms of the cost of renewables in relation to poverty?
one day renewables may be more affordable to access and run than fossil fuels and so can lift more people out of poverty than fossil fuels can
Quote on global warming and why LICs should be allowed to use fossil fuels
The solution to global warming does not lie in hypocritically closing a path out of poverty to the world’s poor
X2 physical reasons for declining energy security
- natural hazards pose a threat to distribution and supply lines
- exhaustion of natural reserves
X2 environmental risks to energy security
- protests about environmental change
- global warming / natural hazards disrupting supply
X3 geopolitical risks to energy security
- political instability in energy producing hotspots
- disputes over sovereignty
- disputes over transmissions / pipelines / in transit countries
Why is energy security a high government priority? X3
- essential for attracting investment
- necessary for domestic businesses to continue
- necessary for quality of life for public
What is a measure of energy security?
Energy Security Index
Definition of energy security index
the extent to which a country may look forward to a reliable and affordable source of energy
What does a high energy security index suggest?
a lower risk and greater energy security
What X3 things does the energy security index take into account?
- Availability
- Diversity
- Intensity of demand
What is characterised as ‘extreme risk’ on the ESI?
give an example
below 2.5
e.g Northern Africa
What is characterised as high risk on the ESI? Give an example
- 5-5
e. g USA, Japan
What is characterised as a low risk on the ESI? Give an example
Above 7.5
Canada, Russia, stable Middle Eastern States
Where is Europe on the ESI?
middle risk
5.0-7.5
Medium sized, developed nations tend to have what type of risk and why?
low-medium risk
due to vast diversity of sources
Why does the majority of Africa have a low level of risk?
due to low consumption and untapped resources
