Topic 9.7 - Energy Futures Flashcards
What is the ‘business as usual’ energy future scenario?
Everything carries on as normal. We get on using most of our energy from fossil fuels and don’t increase the use of renewable energy sources
What is the ‘move to sustainability’ energy future scenario?
We reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use and increase our use of renewable energy sources
What is environmental groups attitudes to energy futures?
E.g. Greenpeace. They want people to stop using fossil fuels for energy due to damage to environment. They would prefer the move to sustainability scenario.
What is climate scientists attitudes to energy future?
Climate scientists study climate and how human activity affects it. They want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to lessen the consequences of climate change.
IPPC predicts 4 ° rise by 2100 under business as usual scenario
What is consumers attitudes towards energy futures?
Consumers want secure energy supplies that won’t be disturbed in futures which would happen with reliance on fossil fuels.
However they also want cheap energy so many favour business as usual as it is cheap and secure for now. However as fosisl fuels run out and environmental awareness increases some begin to favour move to sustainability
What is TNCs attitudes to energy futures?
TNCs in fossil fuel industry favour business as usual scenario as sustainable energy needs more investment so higher costs and lower gains. TNCs not in energy business also may favour it as sustainable energy will likely increase energy costs.
Controlling oil reserves also gives TNCs power and wealth so they may loose money in a shift to renewables
What is governments attitudes to energy futures?
Governments want a secure energy supply so may favour sustainable energy due to long-term security.
Developed - governments start to come under pressure from consumers to protect environment so want to use more sustainable energy
Emerging - Fossil fuels helped countries developed so they have concerns about weather sustainable will help them continue to develop
Why are people in developed countries trying to reduce carbon footprint?
Rising affluence, education, environmental concerns
Why does rising affluence mean people in developed countries are trying to reduce carbon footprint?
People with more money can afford to make a choice about energy use and governments also have more money to invest in public transport and renewable energy
Why does educagion mean people in developed countries are trying to reduce carbon footprint?
People in developed countries have better access to education through school and media so have better understanding of consequences of unsustainable energy use. They learn how to reduce their carbon footprint there is more interest in cleaner energy sources and reduce d’usage
Why does environmental concerns mean people in developed countries are trying to reduce carbon footprint?
- Education
- Developed countries can afford to invest into research of environmental impacts of different energy sources creating more awareness
- In developing countries economic development can overshadow environmental concerns
What is a carbon footprint?
A measure of the amount of greenhouse gases generated by the activities of an individual, organisation or product over its lifetime
What is an ecological footprint?
A measure of how much land is needed to support an individual’s lifestyle (or city or population etc)
What key areas are used to calculate carbon and ecological footprint?
Food, home, travel, lifestyle
How is food and home used to calculate carbon/ecological footprint?
Food - how much meat you eat, food wastage and if it is locally produced
Home - The size of your house and how many live in it . The type of energy used to heat home and if it has energy saving features too
