GCSE 2.C - The Challenge of Resource Management Flashcards
Resource
Stock or supply of something that has value and purpose
Energy Mix
the range and proporitons of different energy uses within a country
Energy Security
The ability to secure sufficient, affordable and consistent energy supplies
What are the 3 main resources needed for basic human development?
Food, Water, Energy
-> Affects the economic and social well-being of people and countries
How does lack of access to food distrupt basic human development?
When people dont have access to safe, nutritious food, they cant eat the right balance of nutrients. -> Malnutrition including undernourishment
Healthy Pop needed to support country
What is undernourishment?
When people dont get enough food of any kind
How can malnourishment limit children’s development?
By causing non-communicable diseases such as iron deficiency
Aslo increases the likelyhood of getting ill - 1/3 of all under 5s (globally) die from diseases linked to malnourishment
How is water a vital resource?
1) People need clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and washing
2) Without proper sanitation, water sources get polluted by raw sewage
-> Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid kill many people each year
3) Water is needed to produce food, clothes, and many other products - big impact on lifestyles
Why is energy a vital rescource (HICS)?
1) Countrys need energy for industry and transport, as well as homes
2) Electricity can allow countries to develop industry - jobs/wealth
3) Lifestyles in HICs depend on large stable supply of electricity
4)
Why is energy a vital rescource (LICS)?
3) LICs without access may use other resources
-> Burning wood local deforestation - walk further to find fuel
-> Kerosene stoves can release harmful fumes
4) Electricity can also provide energy to power pumps for wells and provide safe water for communities
How can a lack of vital resources affect people?
Affect their ability to go to work or school
-> prevent people from learning or using skills needed to help their countries develop
What do countries often have to do to access resources not close to them?
Import them or find technological solutions to produce more
e.g. Building desalination plants to produce freshwater from seawater - expensive
How does consumption of resources vary in a HIC?
- Consumption of resources is greater in HICs - can afford to buy the resources they need and expect a higher standard of living
E.g. Luxembourg import majority of the energy they use
How does consumption of resources vary in an NEE?
Consumption of resources in an NEE is increasing rapidly - China
Industry is developing quickly (requires lots of energy) and population are also increasing rapidly
How does consumption of resources vary in an LIC?
Lower - Cant afford to
- Export avaliable resources
- Import lacking resources
What types of food in the UK becoming more popular?
High Value Foods
Seasonal Products
Organic Produce
Why are high-value products becoming more popular?
As peoples incomes have increased, exotic fruits, vegetables, spices and coffee. These foods are often grown in LICs e.g. Ethiopia then exported back to HICs e.g. the UK
Why are seasonal products becoming more popular?
- Theyre only avaliable in the months they grow
- Fruit and vegetables are imported to meet the demand for seasonal products all year round
- E.g. Strawberries from Mexico
Why are organic products becoming more popular?
People are becoming more concerned about the environmental impacts of food production, and how chemicals can affect their health. As organic food production is strictly regulated (e.g. no artificial fertilisers are used), demand is growing. Some organic food is produced in the UK, but lots is imported.
How is the carbon footprint of our food growing?
- Growing, packaging, and processing of food costs CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
Up to 10% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emmisions in 2017 came directly from agriculture - Transporting food
- The amount of greenhouse gases produced is called its carbon footprint
How is the transport of food causing a growth in our carbon footprint?
Transporting food from where it is grown to where it is sold costs CO2.
The distance food is transported to market is called food miles. More food miles mean more CO2 produced.
What does a higher carbon footprint cause?
More global warming
Why can imported foods cause a larger carbon footprint?
They need to be transported a longer way
How are people becoming aware of food productions carbon footprint?
- Becoming aware of the environmental issues caused by transporting food. This leads to people to look for food, such as farmers markets, farm shops, and locally produced vegetable boxes.
How is agriculture becoming more industrialised?
Since the 1960s, there has been a growth in agribusiness in the UK
What is agribusiness?
Large-scale, Industrial farming where all processes, from the production of seeds and fertilisers to the processign and packaging of the food, are controlled by large firms.
How has agribusiness in the UK changed?
- Farm sizes have increased - many small farms have been taken over and field sizes increased so that food can be produced more cheaply
- The amount of chemicals used in food production have been increasing - large quantities of artificial fertilisers and pesticides are applied to crops, and animals give special feed to encourage growth
How has the number of workers in agriculture changed?
fell to just over 1.1% of the UK’s employment in 2017. This is partly because of the greater use of machinery e.g. in planting and harvesting
How does the demand for water vary throughout the UK?
The places with a good supply of water ( UK average annual rainfall) aren’t the same as the places with the highest demand (UK population density)
How is UK’s average annual rainfall dispersed?
The North and West of the UK have high rainfall. These are areas of water surplus ( there’s a greater supply than demand)
How is the UK’s population density distributed?
How does this relate to demand for water?
The South East and the Midlands have high population densities, so there’s a high demand for water. There are areas of water defecit ( there’s a greater demand than supply )
How is the UK’s demand for water increasing?
Since 1975, the amount of water used by households in the UK has gone up by about 70%
-> Partly due to appliances that use water e.g. dishwashers or washing machines
** 1. Population **
How is the UK’s population affecting the demand for water?
The UK’s population is predicted to increase by over 6 million people by 2040, to total 73 million.
Population densities are also changing - there are plans to build lots of new homes in the south east where there is alreasy a water defecit.
Why does water pollution need to be managed?
Polluted or low quality water reduces the amount avaliable for use, putting pressure on water resources
What are the main problems affecting the quality of river water in the UK?
- Nitrates and phosphates from crop fertilisers are washed into
rivers and groundwater - Pollutants from vehicles are washed into water sources through runoff when it rains.
- Chemical and oil spills from factories can pollute local water sources and groundwater
How is pollution affecting the UK’s water sources
Up to 80% of water in parts of Southern England comes from groundwater, but pollution is affecting up to 50% of groundwater used for public supply in the UK
-> Many groundwater sources have closed or have needed expensive treatment to make them safe to use
What strategies have been used to manage water quality?
- Improving drainage systems and imposing regulations on the amount and types of fertilisers and pesticides used.
- WATER TRANSFERS
How can water transfers help maintain water supplies?
- This is transferring water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit
- > E.g. Birmingham is supplied with water from parts of wales
What issues can water transfers cause?
- Dams and aqueducts that are needed are expensive to build (e.g. The Birmingham Resiliance Project has estimated costs of 300m)
- It can affect wildlife that lives in rivers (e.g. Fish migration can be disrupted by dams)
- There may be political e.g. people may not want their water transferred
