Resorce Management Flashcards
How does access to water affect the economic and social well being of people and countries
People need water for drinking cooking and washing
Without proper sanitation, water gets polluted with disease and kills people
Some people have to walk long distances to get water and takes up time that they could spend working and earning money
How does access to food affect the economic and social well being of people and countries
People can become malnourished if they can’t access food
Malnourishment increases likelihood of disease
People who don’t eat enough can’t learn well at school or work to earn money so the economy of their country is harmed
How does access to energy affect the economic and social well being of people and countries
Electricity allows industries to develop
The way of life in HICs depends on having a large supply of energy
Without energy, people will burn wood for cooking which increases deforestation
Why is consumption of resources greater in HICs
They can afford to buy the resources they need and expect a higher standard of living
How is resource consumption increasing rapidly in NEEs
Industry is developing very fast which requires lots of energy
Why is resource consumption low in LICs
They can’t afford to exploit the resources they have or to import resources if they are lacking their own
How has demand for different types of food changed in the Uk?
Before the 1960s, most of the fruit and veg on sale were local and seasonal
Since then there has been a growing demand for seasonal products all year round so things are being imported
There has also been increasing demand for high value food eg coffee and spices
Organic produce is also getting more popular as people are concerned about the effects of chemicals on health
How is the carbon footprint of food growing
The growing processing and packaging of food accounts to almost 10% of the uk’s greenhouse gas emissions
Imported foods have to travel a long way so have high food miles
What is a food mole
The distance food is transported to the market to be sold
How are farmers markets and shops becoming increasingly popular
People are becoming concerned of the environmental issues caused by transporting food over long distances
How has farming become more industrialised
Field sizes are increasing so food can be produced more cheaply
The amount of chemicals used is increasing to encourage growth
The number of workers employed is falling because more machines are being used that do their jobs
What are the environmental impacts of industrial farming
Hedgerows are being removed which looses biodiversity
Heavy machinery is causing soil erosion
What is the supply of water like in the uk
The north and west have high rainfall so there is good supply (water surplus)
The south east and midlands have high population densities and low water supply so they are areas of water deficit
How has the demand for water increased in the uk
Since 1975 the average water use has increased by 70% due to introduction of dishwashers and showers
The uk population has also increased which requires more water
Population densities are changing, lots of new homes are being built in areas of water deficit
What are the reasons for water pollution in the uk
Nitrates and phosphates from fertilisers used on crops are being washed into rivers
Pollutants from vehicles are being washed into water sources when it rains
Accidental chemical and oil spills are polluting local water sources
What have the UK done to improve water pollution
Groundwater stores are having expensive treatment
Regulations are put in place on the amount and types of fertilisers that farmers can use
What is water transfer
When water is moved from areas of surplus to areas of deficit
What are the problems with water transfer
Dams and aqueducts (bridges for transporting water) are expensive to build
Can affect wildlife eg fish migration disrupted
Might be political issues
How has the UKs energy mix changed over time
In 1970, 90% of all our energy came from coal and oil
In 1980, large gas reserves were found in the North Sea so then 25% of the energy came from gas
Recently the uk has turned towards reusable fuels such as bioenergy and wind, with reusable sources taking up 20% in 2014
When are all coal power stations in the uk going to close
2025
What is happening to the UKs supplies of coal oil and gas
Oil and gas reserves are rapidly being used up
The uk still has coal reserves but production has called hugely as there has been decline in demand due to an effort to reduce co2 emissions
What are the economic issues with the uk exploiting energy sources
Extracting fossil fuels is expensive
Producing nuclear and renewable fuel is also expensive
Renewable sources aren’t reliable enough so UK still has to import from other countries
What are the environmental issues of the uk exploiting energy sources
Burning fuels released greenhouse gases
Fracking causes earthquakes
Ecosystems are damaged by renewable energy generators
Powerstations and wind farms are eye sores
What does energy security mean
Having a reliable, uninterrupted and affordable supply of energy available
What does energy surplus mean
Producing more energy than is required by the population
What is energy deficit
Not having enough energy to meet people’s needs
How is global energy production unevenly distributed
Some countries produce lots of energy because they have the reserves and money to exploit them eg Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia
Some countries produce little energy because they have few resources or not enough money to exploit them eg Ireland and Sudan
How is global energy consumption unevenly distributed
There is a strong relationship between wealth and energy consumption
Eg USA Australia and Sweden consume lots of energy
Poor countries don’t consume much energy because they haven’t got the money to and don’t rely on it eg Mongolia
How is the global demand for energy increasing
The population is increasing
Technological advances create more devices that need energy eg phones and tablets
What physical factors affect energy supply
Some countries have fewer resources of fossil fuels
Variations in climate and geography affect the potential for use of renewable fuels
Natural disasters can damage energy infrastructure and affect what sources can be used
What economic factors affect energy supply
It is expensive to extract fossil fuels
Prices of fossil fuels is very varied
Some LICs may have potential energy sources but can’t afford to exploit them
What political factors affect energy supply
War can affect ability to export resources
Climate change has resulted in international agreements to reduce burning fossil fuels
What technological factors affect energy supply
Some countries are unable to exploit their energy resources as the technology requires is unavailable or too expensive
What are the impacts of energy insecurity
Energy shortages reduce industrial output - factories have to relocate risking jobs
There is potential for political instability eg gas supplies from Russia to Ukraine have been disrupted because of war
