Energy Security

Question 1

Why would those in HICs be unwilling to switch to renewables? X2

Answer 1

• subsidies would need to be in place to make it cheaper than fossil fuels
• less reliable

Question 2

Sub-saharan average energy use per annum

Answer 2

under 140kWh

Question 3

European average energy use per annum

Answer 3

11,000kWh

Question 4

What % of Africa’s energy is powered by wood?

Answer 4

78%

Question 5

What % of Africa’s energy needs are powered by hydro?

Answer 5

2%

Question 6

What fraction of the world’s hydro electric potential does Africa have? Why is this locked up?

Answer 6

1/3

highly expensive mega-engineering projects required to harness hydro cost effectively

Question 7

What is going to happen to Africa’s population by 2040?

Answer 7

will double

Question 8

Why is it bad that so much of Africa’s energy comes from wood?

Answer 8

• deforestation
• indoor air pollution
• health risks

Question 9

Switch to fossil fuels in Africa would lead to what positive?

Answer 9

eliminated indoor air pollution for 150million people

Question 10

China’s energy consumption has increased by what since 1981?

Answer 10

500%

Question 11

Poverty levels have decreased from what % to below 10% since 1981?

Answer 11

from 90% to 10%

Question 12

What may happen in terms of the cost of renewables in relation to poverty?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Quote on global warming and why LICs should be allowed to use fossil fuels

Answer 13

The solution to global warming does not lie in hypocritically closing a path out of poverty to the world’s poor

Question 14

X2 physical reasons for declining energy security

Answer 14

• natural hazards pose a threat to distribution and supply lines
• exhaustion of natural reserves

Question 15

X2 environmental risks to energy security

Answer 15

• protests about environmental change

- global warming / natural hazards disrupting supply

Question 16

X3 geopolitical risks to energy security

Answer 16

• political instability in energy producing hotspots
• disputes over sovereignty
• disputes over transmissions / pipelines / in transit countries

Question 17

Why is energy security a high government priority? X3

Answer 17

• essential for attracting investment
• necessary for domestic businesses to continue
• necessary for quality of life for public

Question 18

What is a measure of energy security?

Answer 18

Energy Security Index

Question 19

Definition of energy security index

Answer 19

the extent to which a country may look forward to a reliable and affordable source of energy

Question 20

What does a high energy security index suggest?

Answer 20

a lower risk and greater energy security

Question 21

What X3 things does the energy security index take into account?

Answer 21

1. Availability
2. Diversity
3. Intensity of demand

Question 22

What is characterised as ‘extreme risk’ on the ESI?

give an example

Answer 22

below 2.5

e.g Northern Africa

Question 23

What is characterised as high risk on the ESI? Give an example

Answer 23

2. 5-5

e. g USA, Japan

Question 24

What is characterised as a low risk on the ESI? Give an example

Answer 24

Above 7.5

Canada, Russia, stable Middle Eastern States

Question 25

Where is Europe on the ESI?

Answer 25

middle risk

5.0-7.5

Question 26

Medium sized, developed nations tend to have what type of risk and why?

Answer 26

low-medium risk

due to vast diversity of sources

Question 27

Why does the majority of Africa have a low level of risk?

Answer 27

due to low consumption and untapped resources