Section C: The Challenge of Resource Management Flashcards
explain the significance of food, water and energy to economic and social well-being
these resources are essential for basic survival, and contribute to people’s social and economic well-being
give an overview of global inequalities in the supply and consumption of resources
in a NEE such as China, there is fast growing population and industries so demand for resources is increasing rapidly
in a HIC such as UK, there is high levels of development so they require lots of resources - the UK is a wealthy country that can afford the resources to enjoy a high standard of living
in a LIC such as Mali, although they have plenty of resources, there climate, unreliable water supply and poor infrastructure make it difficult to develop their economy.
give an overview of water in relation to the UK - changing demand for water
changing demand for water:
- domestic use: as wealth increases, more people can afford appliances such as washing machines which use a lot of water
- population growth: the UK population is expected to grow by 3.6 million, which will significantly increase the demand for water
- agriculture: water is vital in agriculture - demand for seasonal food means that crops require extra watering
give an overview of water in relation to the UK - matching supply and demand
overall, the UK has a water surplus - however areas with the greatest population density and highest demand for water do not have the greatest water supply.
give an overview of water in relation to the UK - the need for transfer to maintain supplies
water transfer schemes are being used to resolve the UK’s supply and demand problem. Water is transported from areas of surplus to areas of deficit.
give an overview of water in relation to the UK - water quality and pollution management
over 70% of the UK’s water is considered polluted or of poor quality.
causes:
- agriculture: chemicals such as nitrates from fertilisers and pesticides can be washed into rivers
- sewage: raw sewage that contains harmful bacteria is often pumped into rivers and seas
toxins and pollutants can destroy ecosystems by poisoning wildlife and marine life - bacteria in sewage can also result in the spread of diseases
management strategies:
- education: people continue to be educated about the damage caused by littering in rivers and how to dispose of waste properly
- water treatments: water treatment plants filter polluted or poor quality water - the water is treated to kill harmful bacteria and make it safe to drink
give an overview of energy resources in relation to the UK - changing demand for fuel
traditionally, the UK’s energy mix has consisted mainly of fossil fuels coal, gas and oil - however fossil fuel reserves are declining and efforts are being made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
give an overview of energy resources in relation to the UK - supplies of coal, gas and oil
coal is no longer the UK’s main source of energy
the UK has natural gas and oil reserves in the North Sea.
however, these supplies are rapidly running out - one possible resource is shale gas reserves, but to access this gas, the controversial process of fracking is required
give an overview of energy resources in relation to the UK - economic and environmental issues
economic:
- the initial set up of renewable energy resources and nuclear energy are expensive
- fossil fuels will become more expensive as they become scarcer and harder to extract
environmental:
- fracking of shale gas can cause pollution and small earthquakes
- when burned, fossil fuels release carbon-dioxide which contributes to the greenhouse effect
give an overview of food in relation to the UK - changing demand
foods were eaten according to the seasons in which they were grown: for example - strawberries in the summer
a rise in demand for seasonal foods al year round has led to an increase in food imports
higher incomes, more varied diets and increased immigration have led to a more demand for high-value organic foods and exotic foods produced in LICs
give an overview of food in relation to the UK - carbon footprints
a huge increase in food imports into the UK has significantly increased its carbon footprint.
each year in the UK, food travels around 30 billion km before it is consumed
carbon-dioxide is also released when food is grown, processed and packages therefore an increase in the demand for food has led to an increase in carbon-dioxide emissions
give an overview of food in relation to the UK - agribusiness
farms are treated like industrial businesses, producing large amounts of food as efficiently as possible to reduce costs
this has several impacts on the local environment and the economy:
- manual labour is replaced by machinery, leading to job losses and greater greenhouse gas emissions
- chemical pesticides and fertilisers increase pollution and kill wildlife
describe areas of surplus and deficit - global patterns of calorie intake and food supply
people in HICs have food security and often have a surplus of food, as they can produce their own food or pay to import it from other countries
many NEEs have extreme wealth inequality - as a result, many people are often malnourished and have food insecurity
people in LICs have food insecurities - they often have a food deficit as they cannot produce enough food or afford to import food
explain reasons for increasing food consumption
population growth:
the global population is increasing rapidly and to meet growing consumption demands, more food will be required
economic development:
- people in countries that are experiencing rapid economic growth have more wealth and can afford to eat more food and a greater variety of it.
describe some factors affecting food supply
- climate: some countries have climates that are not suited to farming or growing sufficient crops.
- diseases and pests: pests can consume an entire crop and diseases can wipe out a whole herds of cattle or sheep
- poverty: people who cannot afford land must instead buy their food, which can be expensive
- conflict: can destroy farmland and force people to flee their homes, leaving them without stable food resources
