GCSE Geography AQA: The challenge of resource management

Why is there a higher demand for resources in LICs and NEEs?

As there wealth increases so does the demand for resources

Energy demand is going up due to:

Change in lifestyle
Increased population
LICs have risen rapidly with China's consumption doubling from 1970.

What areas use less energy?

Below Brandt line uses less apart from the Middle East as they have access to a large oil reserve.

Energy mix

The range of renewable and non-renewable energy used by a country and their proportions.

Sustainable energy

Meets the needs of the present with out damaging the ability of future generations.

The UK's total energy has...

Fallen

Use of renewables has...

Gone up though we still rely on fossil fuels

The UK had decreased its energy use because:

• Taxing/prices making people think
• Better insulation in houses
• Everything's more efficient (cars: start/stop technology, lightbulbs better)
• De-industrialisation

Uk fossil fuel trends

Coal: The the last coal mine was closed in 2015 but we import it. In 1975 2/3 of energy was coal, now less that 1/2.
Oil: Has decreased 8% from 2000
Gas: There is a large natural gas reserve found under the north see.

Renewable energy trends

Expected to be 40% of the energy mix by 2030. More companies are investing and people are becoming more accepting.
In 2010 the UK's largest offshore wind farm was opened in Thanet.

Economic issues of energy

• Fossil fuels - expensive to import, control effects of climate change mine/explores new areas (especially in densely populated or hard to reach areas)
• Nuclear - Expensive to build, decommission and store waste.
• Renewable - High set up costs, visual impact could reduce torisum/jobs and uses up land space.

Environmental issues of energy

• Fossil fuel - Greenhouse gases > climate change > flooding ect. Also creates visual, dust and noise pollution.
• Nuclear - Waste has to be stored to avoid contamination. Accidents expose people and wildlife to harmful radiation.
• Renewable - Can effect bird migration and sea life.

Economic opportunities in energy

Creates jobs in mining, research, development and manufaction.

Environmental opportunities in energy

Nuclear and renewable create less carbon emissions and renewable is sustainable.

Fracking in the UK

It is not currently being used due to water contamination issues, earthquakes and using large amounts of water.

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing)

The pumping of water at high pressure to break apart rocks in order to release natural gas.

UK demand trends (food)

• All year round seasonal demand
• Exotic high value goods that we can't grow ourselves
• Buying organic food

The problem of UK demand trends

• It leads to more food miles and more carbon emissions.
• LICs might be in a food crisis but still export to us we could reject it and then no one eats it. Or the food is unaffordable where it's produced.
• Ghost acres: not being used for own food.
• Takes two years to become organic and requires more labor.

Carbon footprint

The measure of the impact that human activities have on the environment in terms of the greenhouse gases the produce.

Impact of agribusiness

• Increased field sizes and farms
• Removal of hedgerows
• Mechanisation (more tractors ect)
• Latest technology (chemicals/fertiliser)
Food production is up but has environmental impacts

Global food insecurity distribution

Areas with food insecurity are often LICs and NEEs below the Brandt line like Central Africa with Zambi having less than 1890 kcal a day.

Global food security distribution

North America, Canada, the UK and Australia all have food security with the USA having over 3,480 kcal a day.

Areas of food production vs distribution

Food is exported around the world. The USA, China and India have the highest food production.

Increasing food consumption due to:

• Rapid population growth (especially in LICs, Africa has growth rate of 2.51%)
• Economic development (Increase wealth means more food and more calorific food can be afforded)

List the factors that effect food supply

(Link them in answers)
• Climate
• Poverty
• Pests and diseases
• Water supply
• Conflict
• Technology

How dose climate effect food supply?

Climate change: drought/water stress/desertification/floods > loss of crop and livestock

How dose poverty effect food supply?

Poverty: Can't aford food > to weak to work > can't afford seeds > less farmers and crops

How dose pests and diseases effect food supply?

Pests decimate crops.
Diseases such as AIDs reduce available workforce.

How dose water supply effect food supply?

Floods, unreliable water supply or water stress (due to population) > crops need water.

How dose conflict effect food supply?

Food becomes a weapon (seized or destroyed), water supplies deliberately polluted and international aid struggles to reach.

How dose technology effect food supply?

LICs cannot afford roads, irrigation systems, warehouses and machinery that increase yield.

Impacts of food insecurity

• Famine - (1/9 of the world suffers from undernourishment)
• Soil erosion - (Deforestation, overgrazing and over-cultivation for farming)
• Rising prices - (Costs more and more to buy fertiliser, animal feed, transport ect. LICs hit hardest as it takes up more of their budget)
• Social unrest - (rising prices > more food insecurity > conflicts)

Strategies to increase food supply list

• Irrigation
• Aeroponics/hydroponics
• The new green revelation
• Biotechnology
• Appropriate technology

How does irrigation increase food supply?

Means more land can be used for cultivation (ex Ghandi cannel) however leads to lower river levels/ dams are expensive.

How do Aeroponics/Hydroponics increase food supply?

Can speed up plant growth, takes less room (can grow vertically), don't need to change soil, indoors = all year round growing, yield is higher. However, expensive to heat/but mineral water/technology.

How does the new green revolution increase food supply?

Includes water harvesting, irrigation and improving seeds and livestock using technology sustainability. However relies on technology LICs can't afford.

How does biotechnology increase food supply?

Less pesticide/water is needed (better for environment) Yields go up/less waste as they are made resistant. Can be made more nutritious and adaptable to environments. However cross breading is difficult to control, its expensive and people think its 'unnatural'.

How does appropriate technology increase food supply?

Things like foot pump irrigation help even the poorest countries grow more. However help is needed to set it up.

Where is the Indus Basin Irrigation System?

Starts at Tibetan plateau
Rivers come from India, China and Afghanistan but majority is Pakistan.
Finish at the Arabian sea.

What is the Indus Basin Irrigation System?

An important water source for the NEEs India (control eastern rivers) and Pakistan (control Indus and western rivers). Largest Irrigation System in the world!

Advantages of the Indus Basin

• Improves food security: 40% more land in Pakistan is able to be used for cultivation.
• Over 14 million hectares of land has been irrigated
• Hydroelectric power is generated
• Diets have improved due to more food
• Fish farming provides a source of protein

Disadvantage of the Indus Basin

• Some farms take unfair share depriving others downstream
• High temperatures results in high water loss by evaporation
• Population growth will increase the demand in the future
• Poor irrigation techniques mean water is wasted and there is salinisation (salt causes soil damage)
• High cost to maintain

How to grow sustainable food list

• Organic farming
• Permaculture
• Urban farming
• Fish from sustainable sources
• Meat from sustainable sources
• Seasonal food consumption
• Reducing food loss and waste

How is organic farming sustainable?

Improves environment/quality of life for LICs due to less exposure to toxic chemicals.
However takes 2 years, higher labor costs and increases food miles if from LICs.

How is permaculture sustainable?

This includes harvesting rain water, having a wide variety of plants, organic gardening , crop rotation and using natural predators.
However may need training, education or loans to be achieved in LICs

How is Urban farming sustainable?

Small scale farming in green spaces in cities. Produces more than the equivalent farmland, reduces food miles, creates jobs, encourages wildlife and creates a greater choice of local fresh foods.
However takes time and money people may not have.

How are fish farmed sustainability?

Nets harm and catch unwanted fish, seabed digging disturbs ecosystems. Sustainable: Fishing with pole/diving small scale and spread out.
However more effort and money required.

How is meat farmed sustainability?

Large farms = soil damage/ more waste needed to exported. Indoor farms = expensive energy/land.
Sustainable: small scale farms using free range methods, animal welfare is better and grazing livestock maintains grounds.
However grass doesn't fatten up livestock as quickly.

How is stopping seasonal food demand sustainable?

Would reduce food miles, energy needed to heat greenhouses, reduce carbon emissions and bring money to the local economy.
However if demand stays the same so will production.

How is reducing food loss/waste sustainable?

32% of food is wasted every year. Clearer labelling (best before), improved food storage and buying only what you need.
However better storage is more expensive and people need to think more about reducing waste.

The problem in Makueni country (Kenya)

They have rich, dark, volcanic soils that are high in nutrients but low and unreliable rainfall causes crop failures.

The Makueni food and water security program

Charity 'just a drop' and African sand dam foundation:
• Improved access to clean and safe water by building sand dams.
• Rainwater harvesting tank on top of school roof.
• Reliable water for crops and live stock.
• Training program to help local farmers
• Growing trees reduces soil erosion and increase biodiversity

Outcomes of the Makueni food and water security program

• Sand dames: Sand filters and stores the water, (appropriate technology) doesn't evaporate, can be maintained by village.
• Crop yields and security has risen.
• Water born disease have been reduced.
• Less time is wasted fetching water so more time is available for work and education.
• Schools have safe clean drinking water.