Final Exam GEOG102: Transforming the Global Environment Spring 2025

Know the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster.

natural hazard: unexpected, uncontrollable natural event of unusual magnitude that threatens people, pa potential threat

natural disaster: natural hazard that actually resulted in destruction of property

Disaster Risk Equation

disaster risk = hazard * vulnerability/ capability to cope

cyclone Side-Bangladesh , 2007 :)

-less than 10 , 000 died

-2 mil evacuated from path of cyclone

-put in early warning systems

-physical infrastructure helped (ex: coastal embankment

-providing shelters

cyclone Nargis-Myanmar, Burma 2008 :(

-poorer countries than Bangladesh

-dictatorship didn't provide similar investment in disaster preparedness

-didn't receive as much global assistance

-EWS not as strong , people more vulnerable

-over 130 , 000 deaths

Earth processes that can cause a tsunami

sudden rise or fall of Earth's crust under or near Ocean →

displaced water column due to movement of Earth's crust

→ creates rise and fall in level of ocean above affected area

→ size and energy dissipate with time and distance from source

-Volcanic activity

-mudslides or underwater landslides

average speed of a Tsunami

500 mph in 20 , 000 At water

The three stages of the disaster management cycle, and the types of activities associated with each of the three stages.

1. pre-disaster : risk assessment , mitigation/prevention, and preparedness

2. disaster response: Warning evacuation , Saving people, providing immediate assistance, and assessing damage

3. post-disaster : on-going assistance, restoration of infrastructural services, reconstruction, economic and social recovery, ongoing development activities, and risk assessment mitigation/prevention

factors that made Haiti Vulnerable to the earthquake in 2010 - Before:

• exceedingly poor

• suffering impacts from hurricanes

• living in unsafe houses

• unstable slopes -

• lack of insurance

• lack of power lack of electricity and communication

• lack of early warning

factors that made Haiti Vulnerable to the earthquake in 2010 - After:

• exceedingly poor

• suffering impacts from hurricanes

• lack of insurance

• can't rebuild

• lack of power

• no entitlement for gov't assistance

• lack of electricity and communication

• lack of clean water

• cost of recovery reduces ability to invest in risk reduction

The scale of global food waste:

In terms of the dollar amount wasted by the average American family,

in terms of the amount of Hectares (and the country this is comparable too),

and in terms of a percentage of total crops grown for food that are never consumed by people

• $1600 of food thrown out for average family per year

• 198 mil Hectares used to produce food we don't eat (size of Mexico)

• 18% of farmland in US wasted to produce food that's never eaten

• 24% calories produced are never consumed

amount of lost or wasted calories every day per person in America & Oceania , percentage of this wasted by consumer

• 1520 calories

• 61 % wasted by consumer

The type of food crop accounting for more than half the total global food waste (by Kcal)

cereals , 53 %

2 Types of Biofuel

ethanol, biodiesel

Biofuel that is most important in the United States?

ethanol

2 countries that produce the most biofuel globally

US and Brazil

amount of people receiving SNAP (foodstamps) benefits in US and annual cost of this

47 million people using SNAP
cost = $78 billion per year

environmental hazards that triggered Irish potato famine

: Staple crop failed due blight (caused by fungus) , 1 .5 mil killed, 2 mil left

environmental hazards that triggered North Korea famine

flooding wiped out agricultural regions , 2. 5 mil killed due to starvation

environmental hazards that triggered Bengal Famine

Cyclone & 3 sunamis wiped out agricultural land

socioeconomic conditions that made people vulnerable to famine during Irish potato famine

• Ireland under British rule

• Ireland required to export wheat

• food imports were banned

socioeconomic conditions that made people vulnerable to famine during North Korea Famine

• Kim Jung II had implemented "military first" strategy

• unwilling to enage w world for assistance

• unable to import food

socioeconomic conditions that made people vulnerable to famine during Bengal Famine

• part of British India

• impact of Japanese colonialism in Burma

• food production in region higher than previous but British were exporting it

The Indian economist who came up with the ‘Entitlements’ theory of famine. The type of system in which he argues famine can’t occur.

Amartya Sen

↑ Claims famine not linked to environmental , linked to political economic factors

Famine cant occur in a democracy

Famine as food availability decline, famine as food entitlement decline. The difference between these ways of understanding the causes of famine.

• food entitlement :Why famines occur in some places and not others was rooted in political and economic, not environmental relations. lack of food doesn't cause famine , absence of entitlement and capacity to access food does

• food availability:

  inability to produce food as the ultimate cause of famine. Intuitive , common-sense theory

  famine as a natural "check" on population growth

Global trends of urbanization.

urbanization is rate of people living in urban vs rural areas. rise of modern city tied with spread of capitalism. industrial revolution in England, industrialization in Europe & North America, rebuilding post WW2

The two continents that had majority rural populations in the year 2000.

The continents predicted to have a majority rural population in 2030.

Africa & Asia year 2000

North America & Latin America 2030

approximate year in which global urban population overtook amount of people in rural areas

2010

approximate year in which the US urban population overtook the amount of people living in rural areas

1920

On the subject of “The great urbanization”. What are the possibilities for cities helping address environmental challenges

environmental challenges that the growth of these cities has created?

Helping: recycling schemes, energy from waste, investing in energy efficiency

New Problems: pollution, congestion , poor health, crime & Waste , great urbanization

The case of Eko Atlantic in Lagos, Nigeria. How does it reduce urban risk from climate change?

Is this a win-win situation for everyone in Lagos?

• lagos vulnerable to sea level rise , so building new land mass, reduces urban risk for climate change by building housing for 250K ppl

• massive investment in sea defenses

• intention to make lagos the "Hong Kong" or Africa

• land privately managed and owned , only owners allowed , so not win-win

• ↳ 60% of nigerians (almost 100 mill live on less than a dollar

The general patterns of Carbon Emissions in wealthy cities of the world

compared to the average carbon emissions per person in the same countries.

Compare this with the average emissions in Shanghai and Beijing, compared to the Chinese average.

developed cities : carbon emissions are less than national emissions

developing cities : carbon emissions higher than country's national emissions

Shangai & Beijing have higher carbon emissions than Chinese national average ↳ Shangai & Beijing : abt 8-11 per capita , China : 5 per capita

Agriculture’s share of greenhouse gas emissions, globally.

24%

Agriculture’s share of earth’s landmass, globally excluding Antarctica.

37 %

Agriculture’s share of water withdrawal, globally.

70 %

The broad areas of the world where climate change is expected to have negative impacts in agricultural production

Africa, South America, Australia, bottom half of North America

The most lucrative food crop in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont.

• PA-mushrooms ($529 mill)

• NJ-bluberries ($81 mill)

• NY-apples ($250 mill)

• VT-maple syrup ($35 mil)

.The South American country accounting for 44% of all global asparagus exports. The

country that is the second largest exporter.

Peru is largest 44%

Mexico second largest 23%

two regions of world which dominate consumption of organic food

North America, Europe

region of world with most land farmed using organic techniques

Oceania

types of sustainability

Economic Growth

Environmental Protection

Social Development

sustainable development goals

dignity : end poverty & fight inequality

partnership: Catalyse global solidarity for sustainable development

people: ensure healthy lives , knowledge & inclusion of all justice: promote safe & peaceful societies , and strong institutions

planet: protect our ecosystems for all socities

prosperity : grow a strong , inclusive, & transformative economy

Know the demographic transition model well. Especially the birthrate and death rate, the balance between them, and how this changes as societies pass through varying levels of economic development. .

• Stage 1: Pre-Industrial:

  High birth rate, High death rate, Population growth is minimal or stagnant, No access to modern medicine, sanitation, or consistent food supply.

• Stage 2: Early Industrial

  Birth rate remains high, Death rate begins to fall rapidly, Population grows rapidly, Improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and food security reduce mortality

• Stage 3: Mature Industrial

  Birth rate begins to decline, Death rate continues to fall or stabilizes, Population growth slows, Urbanization, increased education (especially for women), and family planning reduce fertility.

• Stage 4: Post-Industrial

  Low birth rate, Low death rat, Population growth stabilizes or even declines

  High income, access to contraception, and changing social norms about family size.

broad areas of the world where climate change is expected to have positive impacts in agricultural production

Asia,Europe,top half of North America

What does Hans Rosling identify as a critical indicator in explaining falling population growth rates

falling child death rate , parents have less kids as they become more confident in the survival of their offspring as a result birth rate↓