geo yearlys year 9
define human wellbeing
the quality of life of a population and the level of happiness, wholeness and satisfaction
development
economic, social and political changes that improve the wellbeing of people. the improvement of living conditions so people can flourish, develop their full potential and be productive members of society
factors that affect human wellbeing
health (physical, psychological, mental and spiritual)
social (relationships and connections)
environment (growth of people and economy)
material living standards (income, wealth)
personal activities (hobbies and interests)
political voice + governance (laws, rights, defence)
security ( income, employment)
technology (globalisation, interconnectedness)
factors of determinants of wellbeing
social determinants of health (SDoH) (new buzz word for Well Being!)
Broadly, SDoH is defined by WHO as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels.
The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities – the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.” They align with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs!
what do statistics measure?
social, health, economic, environmental, political and technological aspects
quantitative indicators
objective, measurable indicators such as population and income
qualitative indicators
political freedoms, happiness and guarantees of national security. includes human rights, access to leisure and quality of environment
human development
programs and policies that seek to improve the income, wellbeing and quality of life for a community
GNI per capita
the total value of goods and services produced within a country in a particular year
2 main criteria used to measure wellbeing
lifespan and wealth
how is wellbeing changing over time?
asian countries grew in population and income, increasing their wellbeing. the spanish flu and first world war affected the wests wellbeing. some asian and african countries were left behind due to civil war and poverty
why was the HDI developed
The HDI was created to emphasise that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.
what areas are used to calculate HDI?
long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living
indicators of HDI
life expectancy from life ( avg no of years newborn is expected to live). knowledge (expected years of schooling). GNI per capita (100-7500 USD per month)
why does the HDI aggregate three dimensions, and not just one?
The HDI aggregates three dimensions as it provides a more comprehensive measure of a country's development. Focusing on just one dimension, like income, would overlook other critical aspects that contribute to human well-being.
what does the happy planet index do
produce long sustainable lives for the people
life expectancy x experienced wellbeing / ecological footprint
traffic light score
what is the HPI
measures sustainable wellbeing for all, it tells us how well nations are doing at achieving happy lives
why might this be important for us to consider when we look at wellbeing?
it reminds governments of our goal, a long happy and sustainable life.
what factors would affect low hpi scores?
high carbon footprint, low life satisfaction, high rates of poverty, limited natural resources and political instability
define poverty
a state of deprivation where people lack access to resources and basic necessities needed to live a healthy and dignified life
list the types of poverty
absolute, extreme and multidimensional
reasons why afghan babies have a low survival rate
a lack of healthcare professionals and facilities
define choropleth map
a map that uses colours to indicate/present various ideas
what is a scatter plot
a scatter plot uses dots to represent values for two different numeric values
why does higher gdp result in high life expectancy?
more money means can be put to use to fund health facilities, enabling access to health insurance, invest more in education, leading to an increase in the medical workforce
define cartogram
a thematic map of a set of features where their geographical size is altered to be directly proportional to a selected variable
why do we measure poverty?
policy makers can design targeted interventions and track progress towards goals and identify vulnerable populations
define absolute poverty
when a person cannot afford the basics such as food shelter and clothing
define multidimensional poverty
acknowledges that individuals may not have basic services such as electricity access to clean water sanitation and education
indicators of multidimensional poverty
nutrition, child morality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing and assets
define cycle of poverty
when families lack the means to send their children to school, their children struggle to gain income as adults. when communities lack access to clean water, women and girls may spend hours in order to gather water, leaving no time for school or livelihood
define extreme poverty
the international poverty line ($2.15 a day) is used to measure poverty. anyone living under this line is considered to be in extreme poverty.
features of environment
biotic and abiotic components
define biotic
plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
define abiotic
non-living: temperature, rainfall, wind speed
what are physical characteristics?
climate, landforms and water bodies
list some landforms
mountains, valleys, rivers influence biodiversity
list some biological characteristics
variety of plants, animals and organisms
human characteristics
agricultural and industrial land use; impacts pollution levels and diversity. Resource Extraction: Mining, logging and fishing practices alter landscapes and ecosystems affecting soil and water quality for animals and plants.
define climate change
Climate change refers to long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, mainly due to human activities like burning and fossil fuels
These changes lead to more frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels and disruptions to ecosystem
causes of climate change
burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agricultural practices such as cow farming
consequences of climate change
rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity
define pollution
Pollution is any substance released into the environment that has harmful or poisonous effects
causes of pollution
vehicle, natural and fuel emissions. coal fueled power plants and fumes in chemical production
consequences of pollution
increased risk of cardiovascular problems, global warming
define deforestation
the large-scale removal of forests or trees often to clear the land for agriculture, urban development or logging. it disrupts ecosystems and leads to soiul erosion and contributes to climate change
causes of deforestation
agricultural expansion and wood extraction for fuel and charcoal
consequences of deforestation
soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases
define coastal environments
beaches, dunes, wetlands and estuaries.
how are coastal environments characterised
biodiversity (supports various species of sea life), recreational value (tourism, fishing), economic importance (important for turism and fishing), natural resources (sand, minerals and marine life)
challenges faced in coastal environments
erosion: loss of land due to wave action
pollution: contamination from agricultural runoff and plastic waste
climate change: rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity
habitat loss: development and urbanisation
hard engineering solutions
seawalls and groynes
pros and cons of seawalls
protects against waves and erosion and reflect wave energy. may lead to erosion in adjacent areas and can become outdated. changes patterns of erosion and sediment transport
pros and cons of groynes
traps sand to build beaches, cheap and larger beaches slow the waves. they may cause erosion downstream and narrow beaches become vulnerable to erosion
list soft engineering solutions
beach nourishment and dune restoration
pros and cons of beach nourishment
it adds sand to eroded beaches to restore them. requires regular maintenance to sustain
pros and cons of dune restoration
rehabilitating sand dunes with native vegetation.
impacts of coastal erosion
destroys natural transition between land and sea and replaces it with a hard border
Reflects wave energy, creating powerful backwash ripping away sediments
define beach replenishment
Involves adding sand or shingle from other beaches or from dredging the seafloor to make a beach wider
pros and cons of beach replenishment
Wide beaches slow waves creating a buffer zone from erosion and flooding
Looks natural
Larger beaches encourages tourism
Doesn’t stop erosion
Requires continual maintenance
Expensive in the long-term
Sourcing sediments can damage marine environments and leaver other beaches less protected
define hdi
The human development Index is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development.
define world happiness report
The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is a qualitative indicator that maps the extent to which 151 countries across the globe produce long, happy and sustainable lives for the people that live in them.
what does the hpi measure
life expectancy, experienced wellbeing and ecological footprint
list the three dimensions of ssi
human wellbeing, environmental wellbeing and economic wellbeing
list the categories of human wellbeing
basic needs, health and well balanced society
list the categories for environmental wellbeing
natural resources and climate change
list the categories of economic wellbeing
transition and economy
list causes for spatial inequality
reasons for differences in wellbeing
Economic Development: Wealthier countries can invest more in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, leading to better living standards.
Healthcare Access: Quality healthcare improves health outcomes and life expectancy.
Education Quality: Good education opens up job opportunities and raises living standards.
Political Stability: Stable governments provide safe environments and reliable policies.
Social Services: Welfare systems support vulnerable people, improving overall wellbeing.
Cultural Factors: Social norms and values influence health choices, support networks, and lifestyle.
Environment: Access to clean air, water, and resources boosts health and life satisfaction.
Employment Opportunities: Job availability and fair work conditions enhance economic security.
Infrastructure: Reliable roads, transport, and utilities make daily life easier.
Inequality: Wealth and opportunity gaps reduce wellbeing for disadvantaged groups.
ways of improving wellbeing
Access to Education: Provide quality education for all to build skills and opportunities, reducing inequalities.
Healthcare Services: Expand access to affordable healthcare and preventive services to improve health outcomes.
Economic Opportunities: Create jobs and support small businesses to stimulate local economies and reduce poverty.
Social Safety Nets: Implement welfare programs to assist those in need during difficult times, ensuring basic security.
Mental Health Support: Increase access to mental health resources and reduce stigma to promote emotional wellbeing.
Community Engagement: Encourage participation in community activities to strengthen social connections and support networks.
Sustainable Environment: Promote clean air, water, and green spaces to enhance physical and mental health.
Work-Life Balance: Support flexible working conditions and adequate time off to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.
Healthy Lifestyles: Advocate for nutrition, exercise, and preventive health practices to foster healthier living.
Civic Participation: Foster engagement in democratic processes to empower individuals and ensure their voices are heard.
define stewardship
stewardship an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources
define ecological services
any beneficial natural process arising from healthy ecosystems, such as purification of water and air, pollination of plants and decomposition of waste
describe an ideal ssi graph
An ideal SSI graph for a highly sustainable country would be circular, with high, balanced scores across all sustainability categories: economic well-being, social equality, environmental protection, and resource use. This shape reflects a society that effectively meets current needs, promotes social and economic stability, and minimizes environmental impact, ensuring long-term resilience and well-being.
How do measurements of wealth and poverty show spatial variations in human wellbeing across the world?
influenced by social economic and environmental factors. poverty rates, income levels and HDI all allow comparisons between spatial variation between countries
define spatial variation
Spatial variation in human wellbeing refer to differences in measures of human wellbeing that arise as a result of social, political and economic factors.