The challenge of resource management Flashcards
What three resources do people need?
Food, water and energy
What happens if people don’t get food, water or energy?
It can affect a person’s ability to attend school or work. This can prevent people from learning and using skills to help their country’s economic development
How are the global resources uneven?
Some countries don’t have energy reserves
Others have dry climates that can’t grow crops or have water
What problems does wanting food from other countries create?
Exotic food, spices and coffee from LICs have gotten more popular so they need to be imported from LICs
Seasonal food (strawberries and mangos) are only available in the months that it grows but are wanted all year round
People are worried about how the chemicals in organic produce affect their health so food has to be produced naturally
How is the carbon footprint of our food growing?
The growing, processing and packing produces CO2
Up to 10% of UK carbon emissions came from agriculture
Transporting food releases carbon - more miles, more carbon
People are becoming aware of the carbon footprint and so are buying locally instead
What is ‘agribusiness’?
Large-scale, industrial farming where everything is controlled by large firms
What does agribusiness mean for the UK?
Farm sizes have increased - small farms have been taken over
The amount of chemicals in food has increased to produce more and animals are given special feed to encourage growth
The employment rate in agriculture feel to 1.1% of total employment as more machines are being used
What is the difference between the north and south of the UK in terms of water?
The north gets lots of water but has low population so has more supply than demand
The south gets little water but has a higher population so the demand is greater than the supply
Why is the demand of water increasing in the UK?
The amount of water households use has increased by 70% due to more appliances like dishwashers using water
Population increase is causing more houses to be built in the south - where there is already a water deficit
Why does water pollution need to be managed in the UK?
Polluted water limits the amount of clean water, putting pressure on the supply
80% of water comes from groundwater and pollutants are affecting 50% of groundwater used - many facilities have closed or are expensive to maintain now
How is water getting polluted in the UK?
Crop fertilisers are leaking into the groundwater and rivers
Pollutants from vehicles are caught in the runoff when it rains
Chemical and oil spills from factories polluted local water sources
How can water transfers help maintain supplies of water?
Transferring from a surplus area (Wales) to areas of deficit (Birmingham) would solve the supply and demand issue
What’s challenging about transfer of water?
The dams needed to collect it are expensive and cost around £300 million
It can affect the wildlife around and in the rivers
People might not want their water transferred to another area
How has the UK’s energy mix changed?
In 1970 91% was coal and oil
In 1980, the discovery of gas in the North Sea meant 22% of UK was gas
In 2014, 19% of energy is renewable (wind and bio energy)
All coal power stations are due to close by 2025
What economic issues come with burning fossil fuels?
It’s expensive to dig up and as it becomes less in supply, the cost goes up
North Sea oil is the most expensive and could be sold for less than they produced it for
It is cheaper for the consumer than renewable energy sources
Not enough in the UK, so we have to pay for people to import it
What environmental issues come with burning fossil fuels?
Burning produces CO2, aiding climate change
Fracking could pollute groundwater and cause mini earthquakes
Accident like oil spills can leak toxic chemicals
Natural ecosystems can be damaged by large wind farms or hydroelectric dams
Wind farms are considered to be eyesores
Why is global food supply uneven?
Different climates produce different amounts of food (Africa is dry so can’t grow a lot - Asia produces lots of food as it is wet)
Different countries eat more - HICs eat a lot and want a variety of food whereas LICs eat less as it’s unaffordable and less available
What is ‘food security’ and ‘food insecurity’?
Food security - When people are able to eat enough to stay healthy and active
Food insecurity - when people can’t get enough food to stay healthy as they can’t grow enough or afford to import anything
Why is global food consumption increasing?
There is a rising population (expected to reach 9 billion by 2040)
Economic development means countries have more disposable income to spend on food.
They buy a variety and greater amounts of food than they need
HICs can import food all year round so people no longer only eat things that are seasonally available
Industrialisation means countries can produce more food cheaper.
How is food supply affected by environmental factors?
Climate - too dry or cold to grow crops. Weather hazards destroy crops
Water stress - little rainfall or not enough water
Pests and diseases - locust swarms and other pests can destroy crops
Diseases can spread through animals and crops, destroying them
How is food supply affected by human factors?
Poverty - they don’t have land to grow crops and can’t buy fertilisers - also can’t afford to import food
Tech- machines make farming more efficient and increase the yields and help protect plants from disease
Conflict - fighting damages land and access to food becomes difficult to those running. Trade routes are disputed and political relationships break down so they can’t import
What are the negative impacts of food insecurity?
Famine - starvation and death due to a serious lack of food
Under nutrition - not having a balanced diet, could cause stunted growth.
Soil erosion - people who don’t get enough food might not use effective agricultural practices, which reduces plant cover leaving soil vulnerable to wind and rain
Rising prices - less food means demand is higher, so prices go up, rising prices damage an LIC even further
Social unrest - lack of food can cause riots and civil wars
What are examples of technologies that can increase food supply?
Irrigation - artificially watering the land
Hydroponics and Aeroponics - methods of growing plants without soil
Biotech - genetically engineering crops crops to improve production
New green method - increasing yields by sustainable methods
What are the three main types of irrigation?
Gravity flow - digging ditches to transport ground water to fields
Sprinklers - spraying water across fields
Drip systems - dripping water from small holes in pipes directly into the soil around the roots of the plant
How do hydroponics and aeroponics work?
In hydroponics, plants grow in a nutrient solution, supported by minerals like gravel
In aeroponics, plants are suspended in air, water containing nutrients is sprayed on the roots, the water drains off the roots and is used again
Plants are monitored closely and nutrients adjusted to maximise crop yield
Less water is required than plants grown in soil
Very expensive so these methods are only used for high value crops
What are the pros and cons of Biotech?
Higher yields
Resistance to drought, disease and pests
Higher nutritional value
Reduce biodiversity because fewer varieties of crops are planted
GM plants could interbreed with other plants, disrupting ecosystems
Give examples of green revolution ideas for growing crops
GM crops - need fewer resources and have less environmental damage whilst being cheaper
Traditional farming methods with nutrient recycling, crop rotation and using predators to control pests
Why is appropriate tech good for LICs?
High tech methods like GM crops can be expensive
Appropriate tech is suited to their climate and gives the skills and knowledge to the people in the area
Example:
individual wells with mechanical pumps are easier to maintain than diesel powered ones
A drip irrigation system is easier to maintain than a sprinkler system
Planting seeds that can cope with the environment
What is an example of how irrigation helps farming?
An LIC in west Africa called Burkina Furso
Several dams have been built to provide a reliable water supply for irrigation
Canals were built to transport water from the dam to the irrigation systems
The gravity based irrigation systems worked, however it only watered 10% of the area they had expected it to
What are the two challenges for making food supplies sustainable?
Growing enough to feed a rising population
Making sure the environment isn’t damaged so food can continue to grow
Why is industrial agriculture bad for the environment?
Uses 70% of the world’s fresh water supply
Relies on chemicals and pesticides
Can make soil less productive by permanently taking away nutrients
What are some ways of sustainable farming?
Organic farming - natural processes
Permaculture - recreates natural ecosystems
Urban farming initiatives - use empty land, balconies and rooftops
How is organic farming sustainable?
Uses natural processes to return nutrients to the soil
Natural fertilisers used
Pesticides are restricted and animals aren’t given supplements
Farmers sell close to where they produce, reducing carbon footprint
How is permaculture sustainable?
Food production is low maintenance as it’s a natural ecosystem
Natural predators reduce need for pesticides
Plants of different types and heights are grown, making more space
How is urban farming initiative sustainable?
Can make food locally available reducing carbon footprint
This means it is cheaper and more nutritious - securing food security for poor people
Adds greenery to the city
How is fishing becoming more sustainable?
Catch quotas limit the amount of fish available to take
Fishing methods are less harmful to the environment
Labelling allows consumers to choose fish that has been caught sustainably
How can meat production be more sustainable?
Feeding animals locally sourced feed so carbon footprint is reduced
Making sure all edible parts of an animal is eaten
Adding a small amount of seaweed to the feed reduces carbon emissions
Why is importing food not sustainable?
Transporting food leaves carbon emissions
People can stop this by eating seasonally from a local area
How does reducing waste make agriculture more sustainable?
If people don’t waste food, there doesn’t have to be so much grown and they can use more sustainable methods of farming
What do they do in Mali to have a sustainable food supply?
Mali is very dry and farming is causing desertification
Farmers have put nitrogen-fixing plants in between trees
This provides nitrogen to the soil, adds shade and prevents soil erosion.
The nutrients in the soil allow the soil to hold more water
What is water surplus and deficit?
Too much water and not enough
What is water stress?
When demand for water exceeds the supply of water or when water is not high enough quality to use
Why is the global demand for water rising?
Rising population - more people require food (irrigation) and water for drinking or washing
Water use increases as development increases
Manufacturing consumes water
Water can be used for energy
Higher standard of living means more people need showers, toilets and other appliances
What physical factors affect water availability?
Climate - rainfall gives water. In dry places, the water evaporates. Climate change is increasing the risk of droughts and making more countries too hot
Geology - when rain falls on permeable rocks, it is added to groundwater - this can be crucial to hot countries that evaporate all their surface water
What economic and social factors affect water availability?
Over-abstraction - when more water is used than replaced. This happens with population growth, development or when it’s holiday season
Polluted water sources - liable in NEEs as they industrialise quickly
Limited plumbing could mean that sewage can pollute the water supply
Poverty - water providers charge a fee for supplying water to homes
What effects can water insecurity have?
Pollution and disease - people who are desperate may have to drink polluted water, giving them diseases like cholera
Reduced food production - no irrigation can lead to starvation
Reduced industrial output - manufacturing needs water so they could lose money
Conflict - desperate people will fight over water (unfair sharing of water)
How can water supply be increased?
Dams - unpredictable and can cause droughts at times in the year but increases storage
The dams are expensive though and could flood agricultural land
Water diversion - a dam is built to raise a river and divert it to a chosen location - less disruptive than a storage dam
This can be used to irrigate
Water transfer - move water from surplus to deficit
Desalination - removing the salt from seawater
Wealthy desert countries use it as it’s expensive because energy is needed to heat the saltwater
How and why is China transferring water from south to north?
There’s deficit in the north and surplus in the south so they built a transfer along three routes from China’s rivers to areas of deficits via various pumping stations and tunnels
What is the advantage to the water transfer in China?
Provides clean water to deficit areas
Industrial development can continue in the north
Farmland can be irrigated
It should help over-abstraction in the north and stop land subsidence
What are the disadvantages of the water transfer in China?
Late areas have been flooded and habitats lost. The construction work is damaging the ecosystems
Diverting so much water will create stress in the south and reduce farm yields
During the construction, 345 million people had to move due to a flood and many received no compensation
It’s very expensive
What are some examples of water conversation?
Fixing leaks in water pipes and damns to stop waste - 20% of water in UK was lost before it got to consumers
Having smaller flushes and shorter showers
Buying efficient washing machines and only using them in a full load
Installing water meters
Give some examples of groundwater management
The amount of groundwater being extracted can be monitored to ensure there’s no over-abstraction
Farmers are encouraged to use little pesticides to stop groundwater pollution and companies that dump toxic waste are fined
Groundwater supplies can be shared between counties if agreed to use it sustainably and fairly
How does recycled water work?
Water from homes go to water treatment plants where it is made safe to reuse
It becomes more sustainable because less water needs extracting
How can grey water be used?
Its a type of recycled water that is used without being treated
Because it is still relatively clean, it’s used for irrigation, washing cars and flushing toilets
However grey water systems can be expensive and grey water needs to be used quickly as to not grow bacteria
What has Kenya done to create a sustainable water supply?
A low dam is built across a river
During the rainy season, sand is trapped behind the dam
Water gets trapped between the sand
The sand prevents the water from being evaporated
When the river is evaporated, water can be extracted by digging a well and piping water through it
What is energy security?
Means having a reliable, uninterrupted and affordable energy source of energy
What does energy security depend on?
The supplies available, size of population and how much each person uses
What is the connection between energy consumption and wealth?
Wealthy countries use more energy per person because people have a higher standard of living and can afford it
Poorer countries use less as people can’t afford it and lifestyles are less dependent on it
Why is the global demand for energy increasing?
Rising population means more energy is needed
Development has increased, meaning more people use energy as they develop more tech
Technological advances have created more devices that use energy
Some advances make energy more affordable so people use more energy
What physical factors affect energy supply?
The global distribution of fossil fuels
Fossil fuels will run out eventually
Some fossil fuels are hard to extract and so either cost more money or can’t be extracted
An area’s climate affects its potential for renewable energy
What technological factors affect the energy supply?
Technological advances mean it’s possible to exploit new resources (e.g fracking)
Machines make it easier to extract existing minerals by autonomous machines and can reach into risky areas
However this can be too expensive for some countries
What economic factors affect energy supply?
Remaining fossil fuels are becoming more expensive and harder to reach
Cost of fossil fuels can vary drastically
Some LICs have lots of fossil fuels but not enough money to extract them
What political factors affect energy supply?
Political instability can affect their ability to export resources
Climate change has made governments make deals to reduce fossil fuels combustion
Concerns over safety from nuclear power stations have made rules more restrictive
What impacts does energy insecurity have?
As fossil fuels are used up, desperate people attempt to exploit fuels in risky areas, leading to deaths
Limits how many machines can be used for farming limiting food
Less manufacturing can produce less and lose people jobs as well as heightening the prices for the consumers
Can cause conflict politically or with other countries that have energy
Give examples of renewable energy sources
Solar Hydro Geothermal Tidal Wave Wind Biomass
What are the pros and cons for most renewable energy sources?
No carbon footprint
Is sustainable
Expensive to build
Not reliable (depending on climate)
Don’t generate as much electricity as fossil fuels
What are some ways to increase energy supplies from non-renewable sources?
As technology develops, fossil fuels can be extracted from more dangerous places
Nuclear technology can be developed to improve the efficiency of nuclear reactors, extracting more energy
What is fracking?
A way of extracting shale gas
Liquid is pumped into the rock at high pressure.
This cracks the rock, releasing the gas which is then collected
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
Increases Britain’s energy security
Gas is less polluting than other fossil fuels
Fracking is cheaper than renewable energy
Gas is not sustainable and released CO2
It risks polluting groundwater
It uses lots of water which is a limited resource
Causes small earthquakes
What are direct carbon emissions?
Produced from things that use energy:
Having the heating on, using electrical appliances, commuting
What are indirect emissions of carbon?
Produced when making the things we buy:
Food or clothing
How can energy be conserved?
Sustainable design
Demand reduction
Using technology to increase efficiency
Give examples of sustainable design
Insulation means less energy is needed to heat homes
More efficient boilers
Solar panels on roofs
Switching to electric (cars, trains, vans)
Using biofuel
Give examples of demand reduction?
Giving people incentives to lower their energy use (tax)
Improving public transport and encouraging walking or cycling
Traffic congestion charges
Smart energy meters in people’s homes to make them realise how much they’re using
Give examples of using technology to increase efficiency
Energy saving light bulbs
Hybrid cars (electric and diesel)
Regenerative braking (conserving the energy lost when braking)
What do they do in Bihar to generate sustainable power?
85% of people are not connected to the power grid
Rice husks (a waste product) are used to generate electricity in a small power plant
This is very efficient as the power plants are local so there are no carbon footprints
