human wellbeing

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

Population growth

Resource base

Political instability

Debt burdens

Militarisation

Environmental degradation

Compounding issues

Legacy of history

Trade imbalances

Transnational corporations

Dependency on development assistance

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.