Resource Management Flashcards
how is water impactful on social and economic well-being
- retrieving it takes time so women can’t be educated/work
- disease spread from drinking unclean water and not being able to wash
- lower life expectancy
how is energy impactful on social and economic well-being
- heating
- transport/machinery
- tech advances make life more efficient
- making bricks for houses
how is food impactful on social and economic well-being
- enough calories to be able to work and be productive
- for animals which we then eat
what is the global distribution of food
countries such as Europe, Asia, north and south America have a food surplus helped by moderate climates, fertile soils and advanced technology
countries like Africa are in a food deficit. due to:
- hostile physical conditions
- political instability
- low levels of technology
what is the global distribution of water
- countries such as Africa and the Middle East are prone to water shortages and drought
People have to spend a significant time seeking water which has significant impacts on their well being - india - monsoon season
what is the global distribution of energy
- the availability of coal in Europe had a huge influence over early economic development
- in theory, renewable energy such as wind and solar is more evenly distributed however many countries are too poor to build the infrastructure to harness it
give an overview of food resources in relation to the UK
moderate climate, fertile soils, mild temperatures, plenty of rainfall, gentle relief, advanced technologies = UK is one of the worlds most efficient producers of food
give an overview of water resources in relation to the UK
despite an imbalance of supply and demand, water supply is rarely an issue
(surplus: north and west, deficit: south and east
give an overview of energy resources in relation to the UK
UK has large resources of fossil fuels such as oil and gas, several nuclear power plants, and the potential for a range of renewable energies such as wind, solar, tidal, and hydro-electric power
how do LICs benefit from exporting their food to the UK
- wages for locals working in farming, packaging and transport
- taxes raised which funds facilities such as schools and hospitals
what are the disadvantages of LICs exporting their foods to the UK
- less land for the locals to grow their own food
- increased pressure on water supplies
- farmers are exposed to pesticides without protective clothing
why is there still demand for high value food imports in the UK
it can still be cheaper for food to be grown in low income countries and transported to the UK, despite the increased food miles
why is organic produce more expensive
because yields tend to be lower
In what ways is organic food grown without the use of chemicals
- natural predators to control pests (ladybirds eat blackfly)
- natural fertilizers(compost)
- crops are rotated to maintain soil fertility
- animals are not fed drugs (hormones to increase growth)
what percentage of the UKs food was imported in 2013
47%
why is importing our food sometimes better for our UK carbon footprint
because some foods such as tomatoes require heated greenhouses in the cold months so it has less of an impact on the climate if they are flown in from warner climates
in what way does food contribute to the UKs carbon footprint (statistics)
- at least 17% UKs carbon footprint is due to food of which 11% is because of its transport
65% of the carbon footprint created by food is due to its transport
in what four ways can we reduce carbon emissions using local sourcing
- we then only have to import foods not able to be grown in the UK
- eat seasonal UK produce
- eating locally produced food from local farmers’ markets or farm shops
- home-growing food
what is agribusiness
Treating farming like a large industrial business to increase food production. they increase the size of their farms by removing hedgerows, using machines and chemicals.
what are some advantages of agribusiness
crop production is quicker and they are higher quality so less is thrown away
advantages of organic produce
- less food miles
- supposedly healthier
- biodiversity
- sustainability
disadvantages of organic produce
- expensive
- lower yields
- more waste when they aren’t high quality
how is the demand for water changing in the UK
the amount of water used by the average household in the UK has risen by 70% since 1985
why is there a growing demand for water in the UK
increase in:
- UK population
- wealth
- hygiene
- industrial production (including using more water-intensive products like washing machines)
- leisure use (golf courses)
- demand for out of season food (requiring watering in greenhouses)
where are the areas of water deficit and surplus in the UK
Annual rainfall is greatest in the west while the southeast holds one third of the UKs population and is the driest part of the UK
why are there areas of water deficit and surplus in the UK
The UK receives enough rainfall to meet the UKs demand for water. Unfortunately the rainfall does not occur evenly throughout the UK or where there are most people;
What is the economic concern of putting in a national water grid in the UK
enormous cost
what is the social concern about putting in a national water grid in the UK
local communities would be displaced
what are the environmental concerns about putting in a national water grid in the UK
- dams and reservoirs would disrupt ecology and block migrating species
- increased carbon emissions pumping water over long distances
Example of an existing water transfer scheme in the UK
Kielder reservoir in Northumberland pumps water into the North Tyne River to supply Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough
How good is the UKs water quality
UK waters are cleaner than they have ever been, but only 27% has been classified as “good status”
Causes of water pollution in the UK
- chemical pesticides and fertilizers running from farm land
- hot water from cooling processes in industry
- oil from boats and ships
- untreated waste (containing metals and chemicals) from industries
- gritting salt runoff from roads
- sewage
effects of water pollution in the UK
- pesticides kill aquatic wildlife
- fertilizers speed up the growth of algae leading to eutrophication
- increased water temperatures can kill wildlife
- drinking water can be poisoned
- Poisoned wildlife can be eaten by humans which can lead to birth defects and even cancer
- fisherman need fish alive for their livelihood
how are water quality and pollution levels managed
- Green rooves on buildings filter out pollutants in rainwater
- pollution traps such as reed beds
- Strict laws limiting the amount of discharge factories can put into rivers
- education campaigns
- waste water treatment plants
how is the UK’s energy demand changing
energy consumption is lower than in 1970 despite there being 6.5 million more people in the UK.
The only areas of increase has been in transport as people get richer
What is the UK’s energy mix now?
31% coal
25% gas
22% renewables
19% nuclear
what is are the economic issues of fossil fuels
- non-renewable so eventually the cost will become too high
- miners often suffer job-related diseases which incur cost to the health service
- costs increase to deal with the effects of climate change and adaption to it
what are the economic issues of using nuclear power
- plants are expensive to build and decommission
- costs to transport and store nuclear waste is high
what are the economic issues of renewable energy
- high set up costs
- biomass energy means land not being used for food production -> increase price of food
- Tourism declines as environments lose their visual appeal
- low profitability
environmental issues of renewable energy
- wind turbines can affect bird migration and bat life
- hydro-electric dams flood land upstream
- water held behind dams changes temperature killing aquatic life
- habitat loss