The challenge of resource management Flashcards
Outline one way that each of the following are important for wellbeing: food, water, energy.
Food, water and energy are needed for basic human development.
Food
- when people can’t access enough safe nutritious food, they can’t eat the right balance of nutrients. Can cause malnourishment.
- malnourishment can limit children;s development. Increases likelihood of getting ill. Globally 1/3 of all under 5s die from diseases linked to malnourishment.
Water
- People need clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and washing.
- Without proper sanitation water sources get polluted by raw sewage.
- Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid kill many people each year.
Energy
- Countries need energy for industry and transport, as well as for use in homes.
- Electricity can allow countries to develop industry, creating jobs and wealth.
- Lifestyles in HICs depend on large, stable energy supplies.
- Without electricity, LICs and NEEs may use other resources. Burning wood can lead to deforestation so people have to walk further to find fuel. Kerosene stoves can release harmful fumes.
- Electricity can also power pumps for wells and provide more safe water for communities.
Define water security.
Areas with high rainfall and/or low population density.
Describe the global pattern of water insecurity.
Wate is not very scarce in Europe. Most of Asia, Oceania, North and South America are mostly not scare but have a few inconsistensies. Africa mostly contains water scarcity.
Define energy insecurity.
Not having a reliable, uninterupted and affordable supply of energy.
Having less energy than required is called an energy deficit - can cause energy insecurity.
Give one physical reason and one economic reason for the global inequality of energy supply.
4 notes. PF, CoEaP, T, PF
EXPLAIN each one
Physical factors
Fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago. New supplies of fossil fuels are sometimes found, but only in places that have the right
geology
.
Cost of exploitation and production
Wages count towards the overall cost of energy production. This has led to some resources being unprofitable, eg the UK has coal supplies, but it is too expensive to exploit them. When the global price of oil increases, drilling becomes profitable in many harder to reach locations
Technology
Improvements in technology can open up new opportunities for energy use. Fracking is the process of extracting shale gas. The USA now carries out fracking, which has increased their energy supplies. Wind turbines and solar panels are becoming more efficient and so these are being used in more countries.
Political factors
War can destroy energy resources or make them difficult to exploit. Corruption can mean that money is spent on things other than energy projects.
Give one reason why the UK’s changing pattern of food consumption has led to a larger carbon footprint.
Our demand for food drives greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the food supply chain including from agriculture, food processing and transportation. In the UK this demand is projected to grow towards 2050 as a function of high current levels of demand and population growth.
How has water demand in the UK changed?
The changing demand for water
In the past, people used far less water. Water use has increased as more people wash cars, take longer showers and water their gardens. The average person uses around 150 litres of cleaned and treated water every day. Farming and industry also use large quantities of water.
Give one reason why water transfers are needed in the UK.
Our most densely populated areas and much of our key farmland is located in the more water scarce areas of the south and east, whereas the water abundant areas are in the north and west. Therefore, like many other countries, we require strategies and systems for moving our water around.
How is use of renewables changing the UK’s energy mix?
The use of nuclear power increased during the 1990s. However, a decline in reserves of oil and gas now means the UK is reliant on imported fossil fuels. However, there are still considerable resources that can be exploited, though these tend to be in remote areas. All coal-fired power stations are due to close by 2025.
Give one reason why the UK’s domestic supply of coal has reduced.
Cost of exploitation and production
The overall cost of energy production is very high. This has led to some resources being unprofitable, eg the UK has coal supplies, but it is too expensive to exploit them.
Give two problems associated with the extraction of shale gas in the UK.
Explain why economic development is causing increased food consumption.
Economic development.
As countries become wealthier, people can afford to eat more food. People in Chad and Somalia eat less than 2,850 calories a day, whereas those in the USA and Italy consume more than 3,440 calories a day. Many HICs have high levels of food wastage. because people buy more food than they need.
Give two factors affecting food supply.
7 things
- **Population increase. **
As birth rates increase and health care improves, the population will increase. This leads to a greater demand for food. This can threaten food security. -
Changing diets.
As diets have changed around the world, people no longer eat the food that is found in their region and have began to rely on importing food. This means that some of the most scarce resources are spread around. There is also increased meat and fish consumption and animal farming. -
Pests and pathogens.
New pests and pathogens have developed that crops and animals are no longer immune to. This threatens food security. An example of this is the H1N1 swine flu that gripped the world in 2009. -
Environmental changes.
As the environment changes, there is increased rainfall and increased droughts in different places. This can lead to crop failures, threatening the food security. - Increased costs of agriculture. As land becomes more and more expensive and agriculture is requiring more inputs e.g. fuel for transport and crops are becoming cheaper, farmers are moving professions in search of greener pastures. This threatens food security.
- Conflict. War and conflicts in areas can threaten the supplies of food and water. The annexation of Crimea for example, has led to a massive shortage of water in this region.
- Sustainability issues. More renewable sources of energy are being used one of which is using biofuel. Land is used to grow crops for biofuel instead of food crops.
Describe one impact of food insecurity.
Food insecurity and the lack of access to affordable nutritious food are associated with increased risk for multiple chronic health conditions such as diabetes , obesity, heart disease, mental health disorders and other chronic diseases
How can use of biotechnology increase food supply?
Biotechnology and appropriate technology
(GM) of plants and animals to produce specific traits. Both involve mixing two species, both of which have beneficial characteristics. Selective breeding has been used on dairy cows to increase milk yields. GM has been used on wheat to produce crops that are disease resistant.
