Resource security Flashcards
A resource
any aspect of the natural environment that can be used to meet human needs
Resource security
the ability of a country (or whole world) to ensure safe, reliable and sustainable flow of resources to maintain existing levels of development and allow future generations to advance
Exploitation
the action of using natural resources to the fullest or for the most profitable use
Exploration
the process of searching an area with the intention of finding and mapping natural resources
Flow resources
resources that are renewable and can be replaced, examples include fresh water and timber - commonly expressed in terms of the annual rates at which they are generated
Reserves
the part of the resource that is economically, legally and technically viable to extract. Resources can be converted reserves if there is technological advancement
Resource frontier
areas with natural resources exploited for the first time –> difficult to extract
- geographically remote
- environmentally sensitive
- politically unstable
e.g Chad, Africa
Arctic
Resource peak
this marks the point when the maximum production rate of a resource occurs with production declining in subsequent years
Stock resources
non-renewable resources which can be permanently expended - their quality is expressed in absolute terms e.g. oil
‘fixed’ and finite supply once they are used they cannot be replenished
Non-renewable energy resources
are those that have been built up, or have evolved over time. They cannot be used without depleting the stock because their rate of formation is so low that it is meaningless in terms of human lifespan
they include primary fossil fuels and uranium which is used in nuclear energy
Renewable energy resources
yield a continuous flow that can be consumed in any given period of time without endangering future consumption, as long as current use does not exceed renewal during the same period
includes solar power, hydroelectricity power, geothermal energy, wave and tidal power, wind power and biomass sources
Critical renewable energy resources
sustainable energy resources from forests, plants and other biomass, may be depleted by overuse e.g. if they are exploited at a faster rate than they are replaced
Non-critical renewable energy resources
everlasting resources such as tides, waves, running water, wind and solar power
Resource management
involves controlling the exploitation and use of resources in relation to the associated economic and environmental costs
involved with sustainable development for example, water can only truly be considered renewable at any location when there is carefully controlled usage, treatment and release
what does the 2D McKelvey Reserve Box show
The degree of geological certainty and economic feasibility of reserves and resources
what is security of supply of resources?
it relates to a combination of physical risks (the accessibility of the resources available in an area or country) and geopolitical risks (include the concentration of production in a relatively small number of countries, and confidence of any individual country has in trading with producers who will seek to exert their market power)
what do physical risks depend on?
the quantity of the resource that has been found
the quality of the resource in that reserve
its physical location and accessibility
the technology available to access the resource economically
give an example of a resource frontier on a national scale
in the UK, Scotland could be identified as a ‘peripheral’ region far away from the core in Southeast England, however development of North Sea oil reserves from 1980s saw the northeast of Scotland become a resource frontier - the local economy boomed as it became a base for the oil industry
How is a resource peak represented?
by a bell-shaped curve on a graph of production (Hubbert)
what is conventional oil and gas?
refers to petroleum, or crude oil, and raw natural gas extracted from the ground by conventional means and methods
what is unconventional reserves?
hydrocarbon reserves that have low permeability and porosity and so are difficult to produce. They require enhanced recovery techniques such as fracture stimulation e.g. shale deposits, tar sands and heavy oils
What did Hubbert accurately predict?
That conventional oil production from the 48 mainland states of the USA would peak between 1965 and 1970 and then enter a decline which suggests that, at any scale, the rate of oil production tends to follow a bell-shaped curve
US mainland oil production followed Hubbert’s predictions, peaking at 9.6 million barrels per day in 1972 and by mid 2000s had fallen to 1940 levels
Why is the sustainability of resource development a concern?
as low income countries develop, their resource use will increase
the environmental impact of current levels of resource use is an issue (goes beyond the carrying capacity of the environment)
there needs to be careful management of current resource use so that future generations can have access to the resources that they require
what is resource depletion?
the use of resources faster than they can be replenished and is a concept that mostly applies to non-renewable fossil fuels
what is supply-side management?
involves seeking methods of increasing the supply of resources
increasing exploration efforts for existing non-renewable resources
increasing research efforts to develop: more sustainable alternative or substitute resources to replace unsustainable ones, new technologies that are more sustainable and cause less environmental impact
what is demand-side management?
involves reducing consumption of resources, individually and at all other geographical scales
changing individual behaviour and lifestyle to discourage wasteful and/or extravagant use of resources
developing technology to enable more efficient use of resources
recycling
reducing population growth so there is less pressure on resources e.g. China’s one child policy
regulatory controls and frameworks as part of global governance e.g. Agenda 21, Kyoto Protocol
how may environmental impacts be managed?
Technological advances such as catalytic converters on vehicles, reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Flue-gas desulphurisation (FDG) plant and carbon capture storage reduced emissions of sulphur and carbon into the atmosphere from power stations
seeking alternative supplies of resources, particularly for energy
what is a cost-benefit analysis?
a systematic analysis of the advantages and disadvantages likely to result from a development project, where an objective value is allocated to all economic, social and environmental aspects identified
what strategic strategies does the global energy system face in the 21st century?
the continued depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels
the growing risk of disruptions to energy supplies
the threat of environmental damage caused by energy use
the persistence of energy poverty in less developed countries
what percentage of the three major fossil fuels do developed countries consume?
75%. As China and India industrialise their consumption continues to increase
how long are each of the fossil fuels expected to last?
oil expected to last for 40 years
natural gas for 60 years
and coal for over 100 years
what percentage do fossil fuels contribute to world energy production?
80%. Energy rich nations have the wealth and technology to exploit these reserves and many are also large consumers of their own energy resources e.g. USA and China