the challenge of resource management

Question 1

Why do countries need food?

Answer 1

necessity of food:

• if no safe, nutritious food, malnourishment, increasing likelihood of getting diseases
• 1/3 of all under 5’s die from diseases linked to malnourishment
• not enough to eat means not perform as well at schools, so lack of skills for economic development
• can prevent people from working, harming their personal economic well being, harming the country’s economy

Question 2

Why do countries need water?

Answer 2

necessity of water:

• for drinking, cooking and washing
• without proper sanitation, supplies get polluted by raw sewage, which cause water borne diseases like cholera
• walking long distances for clean water means less time working, and children may not be able to go to school
• water is needed to produce clothes, food and others

Question 3

Why do countries need energy?

Answer 3

necessity of energy:

• needed for industry, transport and homes
• allows industries to develop, creating jobs and making countries wealthier
• the way of life in HICs depends on a large, stable supply of energy
• without electricity, people may burn wood or kerosene for cooking and light or heat, which leads to deforestation and harmful gases being released
• can be used to power pumps for wells to provide safe water

Question 4

Give four reasons why the global distribution of resources is uneven.

Answer 4

uneven distribution:

• some countries don’t have their own energy reserves
• dry climates or environments unsuitable for food production
• bad transport links
• less money to buy and trade resources

Question 5

Why is the consumption of resources higher in HICs?

Answer 5

The consumption of resources is higher in HICs as they can afford to buy the resources and need and expect a higher standard of living.

Question 6

What is the consumption of resources like in NEEs?

Answer 6

The consumption of resources in NEEs is increasing rapidly as the industry is developing fast (which requires lots of energy) and population and wealth are increasing.

Question 7

Why is the consumption of resources lower in LICs?

Answer 7

The consumption of resources is lower in LICs as they either can’t afford to exploit the resources they have or to import the resources if they’re lacking their own.

Question 8

Recently, why have some fruits and vegetables been imported?

Answer 8

Before the 1960s, most fruits and vegetables in the UK were produced locally and seasonal. However, since then, demand for seasonal food is all year, so now, the UK imports. For example, apples from South Africa and strawberries from Mexico.
There is also an increasing demand for exotic fruits and vegetables, coffee and spices, as people’s incomes have increased. These are usually imported from LICs.

Question 9

Why is organic food becoming increasingly popular in the UK?

Answer 9

increasing popularity in organic food:

• they are produced according to strict regulations (eg. banning of artificial fertilisers)
• people are becoming more concerned about the environmental impacts and the effects of chemicals on their health.
• some is made in the UK, but lots is imported.

Question 10

In terms of resources, what increases the carbon footprint? What percentage of emissions came from growing food?

Answer 10

increases the carbon footprint:

• growing, processing and packaging food
• 9% of greenhouse gas emissions came from growing food in 2013
• transporting food also increases CO2 levels

Question 11

What are food miles?

Answer 11

Food miles is the distance food is transported from the place it is produced to the market.

Question 12

What is agribusiness?

Answer 12

Agribusiness is large-scale, industrial farming where all processes to do with the food (production of seeds and fertilisers, processing and packaging of food) is controlled by large firms.

Question 13

How does agribusiness affect farming today?

Answer 13

agribusiness affecting farming:

• farm sizes are increasing, so that it is cheaper and a higher yield of food
• more artificial pesticides and fertilisers are used
• animals are given special foods to help growth
• number of workers falling, machines increasing
• more hedgerows destroyed for larger farms, so less biodiversity
• heavy machinery causes soil erosion

Question 14

Describe the pattern of low and high rainfall in the UK.

Answer 14

The north and west of the UK have high rainfall, so there’s a good water supply. These places are in water surplus.

Question 15

Where in the UK is there the largest population densities?

Answer 15

The south east and the Midlands have high population densities, so there is a higher demand for water. These places are in water deficit.

Question 16

Define water deficit.

Answer 16

Water deficit is when there is a greater demand for water than there is supply in that area.

Question 17

Define water surplus.

Answer 17

Water surplus is when there’s a greater supply for water than there is demand in that area.

Question 18

Give three reasons why water demand in the UK is increasing.

Answer 18

water demand increasing:

• since 1975, the water used by households in the UK has risen by 70% as more appliances require water, like dishwashers
• population increase (by 10 million by 2040)
• population density is increasing

Question 19

Give three problems with trying to increase the quality of water in the UK.

Answer 19

problems with increasing water quality:

• nitrates and phosphates from fertilisers are washed into rivers
• pollutants from vehicles are washed into sources of water through runoff when it rains
• accidental oil and chemical spills at factories pollute

Question 20

What is the problem with using groundwater as a source for water in the UK?

Answer 20

Up to 80% of water in parts of south England use groundwater, but pollution affects nearly 50% of groundwater sources, and they require expensive treatment to become potable.

Question 21

Give three problems with transferring water from places in surplus to places in deficit.

Answer 21

problems with transferring from surplus to deficit:

• dams and aqueducts (bridges used to transfer water) are too expensive
• can affect wildlife in rivers (dams)
• political issues (may not want water transferred)

Question 22

How has the UK’s energy mix changed? (for fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy)

Answer 22

change in UK’s energy mix:

• in 1970, 91% of energy was coal and oil
• in 1980, 22% of energy was gas due to the discovery of massive reserves under the North Sea
• the use of nuclear energy increased in the 1990s
• recently, shift towards renewables
• all coal stations are due to close by 2025
• in 2014, 19% of energy came from renewables (wind and biomass being the largest)

Question 23

What is fracking? Why is it useful?

Answer 23

Fracking is the process of pumping fluid into shale rock at high pressures, causing it to crack and release shale gas, used for energy. This can be a dangerous process, but it is another available resource.

Question 24

Name five economic issues with exploiting energy sources.

Answer 24

economic issues with exploiting energy sources:

• extracting fossil fuels is expensive, more expensive the less available they become
• expensive to produce oil in the North Sea
• relatively high cost of producing nuclear and renewable energy
• money is needed to research alternative energy sources
• many renewables don’t provide reliable enough energy, so the UK has to pay to import energy

Question 25

Name five environmental issues with exploiting energy sources.

Answer 25

environmental issues with exploiting energy sources:

• burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases
• fracking can pollute groundwater and cause mini-earthquakes
• accidents, like oil spills and nuclear disasters, leak toxic chemicals into water sources, soil and atmosphere
• natural ecosystems damaged by renewable energy generators
• power stations and wind farms are not pleasing to look at

Question 26

What is energy security?

Answer 26

Energy security means having a reliable, uninterrupted and affordable supply of energy available.

Question 27

What three factors does energy security depend on?

Answer 27

energy security depends on:

• the supplies available
• the size of the population
• the typical amount of energy a person uses

Question 28

What is energy surplus?

Answer 28

Energy surplus is when there is more energy than what is needed for the population. This can be exported to other countries.

Question 29

What is energy deficit?

Answer 29

Energy deficit is when there is too little energy than what is needed for the population.

Question 30

Name six countries which have lots of energy, due to large reserves and having the money to exploit it.

Answer 30

countries with lots of energy:

• Iran, Saudi Arabia - large oil reserves
• China, Australia - large coal reserves
• UK, Russia - large oil and gas reserves

Question 31

Name two countries which have little energy, due to low reserves and/or having little money to exploit it.

Answer 31

countries with little energy:

• Sudan - politically unstable and little money
• Ireland - few resources to be exploited

Question 32

What is the correlation between wealth and energy consumption?

Answer 32

correlation between wealth and energy consumption:

• wealthy, developed countries tend to consume lots of energy per person because they can afford to
• they have access to heating and electricity, and use energy-intensive devices, like cars
• for example, USA, Australia, Sweden
• poorer, less developed countries consume less energy per person as they can’t afford to
• less energy is available and lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption
• for example, Mongolia

Question 33

Give three reasons why the global demand for energy is increasing.

Answer 33

increasing global demand for energy:

• population is increasing (9 billion by 2040)
• more economic development in poorer countries, so they will need more energy
• technological advances, becoming more popular

Question 34

Give four physical factors that affect energy supply.

Answer 34

physical factors affecting energy supply:

• unequal distribution of fossil fuels
• fossil fuels are non-renewable, so will run out
• variation in climate and geography affect use of renewables (wind, solar, hydroelectric, wave, tidal)
• likelihood of natural disasters that could damage energy infrastructure affects what energy sources can be developed and used

Question 35

Give one technological factor that affects energy supply.

Answer 35

technological factor affecting energy supply:

• technology can be too expensive or unavailable in areas, so they can’t exploit their energy
  (eg. Niger has lots of uranium, but don’t have the technology to build nuclear power plants)

Question 36

Give four economic factors that affect energy supply.

Answer 36

economic factors affecting energy supply:

• the non-renewable sources that are left are becoming increasingly difficult to reach, so more costly
• prices of fossil fuels tend to fluctuate
• some LICs have potential energy sources but cannot afford to exploit them
• the cost of building new energy infrastructure can be very high

Question 37

Give three political factors that affect energy supply.

Answer 37

political factors affecting energy supply:

• wars and political instability in countries with large energy reserves can affect their ability to export
• climate change linked to fossil fuels has resulted in international agreements (eg. Kyoto Protocol) to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions
• concerns over the safety of nuclear power and waste disposal results in stricter regulations, so it is harder to build power stations and generate electricity

Question 38

Give three impacts of energy insecurity.

Answer 38

impacts of energy insecurity:

• have to exploit fossil fuels in more difficult and environmentally sensitive areas so that they can have more energy, which increases the cost of producing energy and risks damage to environment
• energy shortages and higher energy costs reduce industrial output
• potential for political instability or conflict between countries with energy surplus and deficit

Question 39

Name seven renewable energy sources.

Answer 39

renewable energy sources:

• biomass
• wind
• solar
• hydroelectric
• tidal
• wave
• geothermal

Question 40

What is biomass? Why is it good for LICs?

Answer 40

biomass:

• wood, plants and animal waste are burnt for power or to produce biofuels
• this doesn’t require much technology, so good for LICs
• only renewable if the biomass used is managed sustainably

Question 41

What is wind energy? Give an advantage and disadvantage.

Answer 41

wind:

• turbines use the energy of the wind to generate electricity
• no greenhouse gas emissions once built
• not reliable

Question 42

What is solar energy? Give an advantage and disadvantage.

Answer 42

solar:

• energy from the Sun used to heat water and solar cookers, or generate electricity using solar panels
• solar cookers and water heaters are cheap
• solar panels are expensive

Question 43

What is hydroelectric energy? Give two disadvantages.

Answer 43

hydroelectric:

• uses the energy from falling water
• water is trapped by a dam and allowed to fall through tunnels, which turn turbines to generate electricity
• building dams is expensive
• building dams can destroy environments

Question 44

What is tidal energy? Give an advantage and disadvantage.

Answer 44

tidal:

• currents or changes in water levels caused by tides turn turbines to generate electricity
• can’t generate electricity all day
• cycles can be reliably predicted

Question 45

What is wave energy? Give two disadvantages.

Answer 45

wave:

• wind blowing across water makes waves, which drive turbines to generate electricity
• turbines are quite expensive and don’t produce much energy in calm conditions

Question 46

What is geothermal energy? Give two advantages and one disadvantage.

Answer 46

geothermal:

• water is pumped into the ground, where heat deep in the crust turns into steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity
• the steam can be piped to homes for hot water and heating
• cheap to set up
• works best in tectonically active areas, which is few and far between

Question 47

Give three ways to increase the energy supply from fossil fuels.

Answer 47

increasing energy supply from fossil fuels:

• by searching for new resources to exploit
• by exploiting reserves that have been discovered but not used yet
• with technology, we can now extract resources that were previously difficult or costly to use

Question 48

Give two ways to increase the energy supply from nuclear energy.

Answer 48

increasing energy supply from nuclear energy:

• improving the efficiency of reactors by developing new technology
• new breeder reactors can generate more fuel

Question 49

What is nuclear energy? Give one advantage and two disadvantages.

Answer 49

nuclear:

• generates a large amount of energy from a small amount of fuel
• expensive to build and decommission
• waste must be stored safely for 1000’s of years, and accidents can be catastrophic

Question 50

What is sustainable energy?

Answer 50

Sustainable energy provides energy today without preventing future generations from meeting their energy needs.

Question 51

What is the carbon footprint?

Answer 51

The carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases an individual’s activities produce. This includes direct and indirect emissions.

Question 52

What are direct emissions? Give examples.

Answer 52

Direct emissions are produced from things that use energy. For example, having the heating on, using electrical appliances, commuting and air travel.

Question 53

What are indirect emissions? Give examples.

Answer 53

Indirect emissions are produced from making things that we buy. For example, making food and clothes.

Question 54

Give four examples of how sustainable design can reduce energy use.

Answer 54

sustainable design to reduce energy use:

• insulation - less energy required to heat
• modern boilers - more efficient
• switching to electric - better than petrol and diesel
• solar panels

Question 55

Give four examples of how increasing efficiency can reduce energy use.

Answer 55

increasing efficiency to reduce energy use:

• hybrid cars, vans and trains combine diesel and electric to increase efficiency
• regenerative braking - devices that store the energy lost under braking to be used later or returned to the national grid
• engine manufactures are making more efficient engines in response to rising fuel costs
• power stations are switching to gas

Question 56

Give two examples of how to reduce demand to reduce energy use.

Answer 56

demand reduction to reduce energy use:

• encouraging people to do alternatives
• improving public transport

Question 57

Name four advantages of fracking.

Answer 57

advantages of fracking:

• lots of shale gas in the UK
• less polluting than other fossil fuels (releases half the CO2 of coal)
• cheaper than some renewables
• the technology has been tested and works, unlike some renewable sources

Question 58

Name six disadvantages of fracking.

Answer 58

disadvantages of fracking:

• gas is not sustainable - releases CO2
• risk of pollution of groundwater, drinking water and air
• uses lots of water, a limited resource
• causes small earthquakes
• public opposition has stopped its use in the UK
• investment in fracking may slow down the investment in renewable energy