Global Hazards - The Future

Question 1

What is causing global risk and uncertainty to increase and what does it lead to

Answer 1

Hazards are increasing in magnitude and frequency

Threatens major disruption to people and the environment

Question 2

One problem is water shortages

What does it lead to

Answer 2

Reduced food security (availability and access to food)

Question 3

Example of how global warming is causing water shortages and reduced food security

Answer 3

1. Global warming causes changes in precipitation and temperature patterns
2. In some areas - it results in drier conditions, which leads to water shortages and decreased ability to grow food
3. Some poorer parts of the world are affected like this eg. sub-Saharan Africa
4. Poorer areas have less money to find technological solutions, such as dams, or to import sufficient food supplies
5. Dehydration and famine can occur in areas where global warming has affected a vulnerable environment with a vulnerable population

Question 4

How affect does global warming affecting the supply of water and food have on developing countries

Answer 4

They have increasing populations so vulnerability of population is increased and the risk of disaster is higher

Question 5

What could the impact of climate change head to

Answer 5

Conflict

Question 6

What have problems of water shortages and food security caused

Answer 6

Political disputes between countries - even lead to armed conflict

Question 7

Example of how conflict can escalate as risk and uncertainty increase because of hazards like global warming

Answer 7

1. Egypt relies heavily on the river Nile for water supply
2. Two main tributaries that feed the Nile flow through Ethiopia and Sudan
3. Egypt built a dam called the Aswan High Dam, which created a large lake to store water in (Lake Nasser)
4. Droughts in the 1980’s left to famine in Ethiopia and Sudan, but Egypt was not affected because they had enough water stored in the Lake Nasser
5. If global warming continues to cause shortages of water, and Ethiopia and Sudan increase their water use, Egypt’s supply may be reduced
6. Egypt has stated that it is ready to use force to protect its access to the waters of the Nile

Question 8

Where can conflict occur between

Answer 8

Within countries or between countries where any type of resources is not enough to support the population - will get worse as climate change affects the supply of resources

Question 9

How do conflict, famine, poverty and climate change make managing global hazards more difficult

Answer 9

1. They increase the vulnerability of the population -they become poorer and less healthy, infrastructure to provide help may become inadequate
2. Risk is increased where the population is vulnerable -hazard may become a disaster
3. A country suffering other problems, like famine, will not have the resources to manage the impacts of any other global hazards, such as global warming -priority will be to feed he nation, rather than reduce greenhouse gas emissions or stop deforestation
4. A downward cycle can occur where the hazards cause problems that eventually increase the risk of more hazards

Question 10

What may be the greatest hazard to life and property

Answer 10

Global warming

Question 11

Explain how global warming is considered to be one of the greatest challenges the world has faced

Answer 11

1. Global problems like family, poverty and conflict cause massive loss of life but global warming has the potential to cause much more loss of life and damage to property
2. Can be the cause of many other global problems and hazards (eg. Famine, poverty, conflict) and worsen their effects -context hazard
3. Long-term hazard and the impacts may be permanent and irreversible
4. Global warming affects the entire planet, whereas other problems rend to occur more localised

Question 12

What are strategies that have been proposed and are currently being used to cope with the impact of global warming

Answer 12

1. Increasing energy efficiency -making energy we produce do more
2. Energy consumption -use less energy
3. Decreasing carbon emissions -directly scowling rate of global warming
4. Increasing alternative energy use -using sources that produce less greenhouse gases
5. Reforestation -replanting trees to increase CO2 uptake from atmosphere

Question 13

Why will global warming be the most difficult and costly to manage of all problems

Answer 13

1. The Stern Review (2006) looked at the economics of climate change
2. Concluded that an investment of 1% of the world’s GDP would be needed to prevent the worst effect of global warming
3. If this investment is not made, GDP could be reduced up to 20% in the future

Question 14

What should solutions to hazards focus on

Answer 14

Risk and vulnerability

Question 15

What do solutions to a hazardous world need to focus on

Answer 15

Assessing and altering the risk the hazard poses and the vulnerability of the population

Question 16

What did the UN set up in 1992 and what is is

Answer 16

Programme called Agenda 21 - outlines action to be taken at global and local level to help sustainable development
First section-vulnerability combating poverty, changing consumption, promoting better health
Second section-reducing risk by changing emissions, working against deforestation and protecting environments

Question 17

What is the world becoming increasing

Answer 17

Hazardous