The Challenge of Resource Management Flashcards
Importance of Food
Without food, people become malnourished which affects children’s growth;
Likelihood of diseases increase ;
Affects a country’s development, as people can’t work, or may not perform well at school
Importance of Water
Water is needed for cooking, drinking, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, etc.;
Waterborne diseases can wipe towns out;
Access must be easy as people sometimes have to travel miles to collect water when they should be working or going to school instead
Importance of Energy
Energy is needed for transport and industry;
Energy helps countries develop —> industrial revolution;
Renewable energy —> solar, wind, geothermal, hydro
Food: Changing Demand
Increasing population;
Migration has increased demand for certain typical foreign food;
LIC farmers produce for cheaper;
Demand for seasonal products all year;
Transport is cheaper and faster than what it was;
UK produce can be expensive because of poor harvests and the price of animal feed;
Increased food miles mean having to ship it over releases a lot of CO2 and increases our carbon footprint
Food: Impact of Importing (Food Miles) — Positives
Jobs are created, eg. Farming, packaging, and transport;
These jobs supply wages for local people;
From the wages, taxes are paid to the government, which can then fund facilities for the country such as schools and hospitals
Food: Impact of Importing (Food Miles) — Negatives
Less land available for locals to grow food to eat;
Often these crops need huge amounts of water in areas where the water supply is unreliable or poor;
Sometimes the people growing the crops are exposed to chemicals such as pesticides without protective clothing
Food: Agribusinesses
Treating food production from farms like a large industrial business, making it large-scale, capital intensive, commercial activity;
Biodiversity decreases, amount of pesticides and fertilizers increases;
Provides jobs, food for masses;
Include: Removing hedgerows, Increasing field sizes and combining smaller family farms, Using modern production methods, Increased mechanization, Using the latest technology, better seeds, and increased use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers
Food: Organic Produce
A method of farming that does not include the use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers;
Aim is to protect the environment and wildlife by using natural predators to control pests;
Farmers maintain fertility of the soil by rotating crops and using a variety of natural fertilizers, including green manure and compost;
Weeds are controlled by mechanical weeding rather than using chemical weed killers;
Animals are farmed without the use of antibiotics and the regular use of drugs such as hormones to increase growth
Water: Changing Demand
47% in homes, 21% leakage, 13% services, 5% manufacturing;
Growing population;
Showering more regularly;
Demanding out of season foods;
Middle class —> purchase washing machines/dishwashers;
More recreational time = more golf courses/swimming pools;
Climate change —> shortage;
South has water deficit (demand exceeds supply);
North and West have water surplus (supply is greater than demand)
Water: River Pollution
Chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers run off from farm land;
Hot water used for cooling processes in industry may be pumped into rivers;
Untreated waste from industries;
Runoff from roads (oil, heavy metals from vehicle exhausts, salt from road gritting);
People putting inappropriate items such as waste engine oil into the water disposal system;
Sewage containing bacteria;
Garbage;
Pollution such as oil from boats and ships
Water: Water Quality
Toxic waste can poison wildlife which can sometimes be transferred to humans;
Supply of drinking water can be poisoned;
Increased temperatures can lead to death of wildlife and disrupt habitats;
Increased fertilizers can increase nutrients in the water —> eutrophication (not enough oxygen in water and algae blocks out sunlight to other plants);
Pesticides kill important parts of the ecosystem;
Micro bacteria in sewage can cause spread of infectious diseases;
People whose livelihoods depend on a clean water supply may suffer
Water: Managing Water Quality
Legislation — strict laws that limit the amount and type of discharge factories and farms put into the rivers;
Education campaigns — inform the public on how to dispose waste properly;
Waste water treatments — local water treatments remove solids from the water;
Building better treatment plants and investing in new infrastructure — prevents spills and accidents;
Pollution traps — to trap and filter out any pollution from newly built roads, for example;
Green roofs and walls — reduces risk of flooding by reducing runoff from the roof and increase absorption of CO2
Energy: Changing Demand
UK’s energy mix in 2015: 31% coal, 25% gas, 22% renewable, 19% nuclear, 3% other;
Industry has declined since 1970s, so less energy is required in manufacturing -> more service sector;
Policies established both nationally and internationally have changed the constitution of UK’s energy mix
Energy: Fossil Fuels (Economic)
Expensive to mine;
Coal must be imported from other countries, eg. South Africa;
Mining causes environmental problems (waste, spoil heaps) which are expensive to clean up;
Miners suffer from respiratory illnesses which incur a cost to health services;
Expensive to explore more remote areas and underwater drilling;
Costs of climate change (flooding);
New jobs;
Support industries;
Brings money and jobs to an area —> multiplier effect
Energy: Fossil Fuels (Environmental)
Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change and cause acid rain;
Waste heaps form mining cause visual pollution;
Opencast coal mines are unsightly and create dust and noise which affect both people and wildlife;
Use huge areas of land;
Access roads and support industries will destroy wildlife;
Fracking;
Environmental opportunities:
Carbon captive storage (CCS) is more efficient but expensive
