Global Resource and Consumption Security

Question 1

Shanty Town

Answer 1

Densely populated urban areas characterized by substandard housing, inadequate access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity, and often lacking formal land tenure or legal recognition.

Question 2

Reasons why countries have limited access to freshwater

Answer 2

Physical Geography: Countries located in arid or semi-arid regions may have limited water resources due to low rainfall, lack of rivers or lakes, or limited groundwater availability.
Water Scarcity and Competition: Population growth, increasing industrialization, and agricultural demands can strain water resources, leading to scarcity and limited access to water in some countries.
Inadequate Infrastructure: Insufficient infrastructure for water storage, treatment, and distribution can result in limited access to clean and safe water, particularly in rural areas or informal settlements.
Political and Economic Factors: In some cases, limited access to water can be attributed to political conflicts, inadequate governance, or economic disparities that hinder investment in water infrastructure and management.

Question 3

Circular Economy

Answer 3

Economic model that aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency by keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible through recycling, reuse, and regeneration.

Question 4

Advantages of circular economy

Answer 4

Resource Conservation: By promoting the reuse and recycling of materials, the circular economy reduces the need for extracting new resources, conserving natural resources and reducing environmental degradation.
Waste Reduction: The circular economy model aims to minimize waste generation by designing products for durability, repairability, and recyclability, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills or incineration.
Economic Opportunities: The circular economy can stimulate innovation, create new business models, and generate economic growth through activities such as recycling, remanufacturing, and the development of sustainable technologies.
Energy Efficiency: Recycling and reusing materials often require less energy compared to extracting, processing, and manufacturing new materials, leading to reduced energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Resilience and Sustainability: The circular economy promotes a more resilient and sustainable approach to resource management, reducing reliance on finite resources and contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious society.