IB Geography Resource Consumption

What is an NGO (non-government organisation)

Independent, often non-profit organisations that participate in humanitarian rights activities.

What is carbon offsetting?

A way of compensating for your Co2 emissions by funding equivalent Co2 savings elsewhere.

What is the NGMC (new global middle class)?

People with disposable incomes who can afford luxeries

What is biocapacity?

The capacity of a given biologically productive area to generate an on-going supply of renewable resources and absorb over-spill wastes

What is carrying capacity?

The max. number of people an area of land can support with current technology

What Are TNC's? (Transnational Corporations)

Corporations that practise foreign investment overseas, produces goods and sources in foreign countries.

How has the new global middle class changed

It has significantly increased with around half the world middle class or above

What is Boserup's theory?

humans will always find a way to increase food production to feed growing populations. She is optimistic, innovations will increase supply and allow for further growth.

What is the Malthusian theory?

the idea that a population tends to grow faster than the subsistence needed to sustain it and when carrying capacity is reached, limiting factors such as food take over. A population cannot move past carrying capacity without consequences, eg. famine

What is the food-water-energy nexus

The interconnectivity between water, energy and food resources

How are food-water related

• water is needed for agriculture

• NGMC, increased consumption of exotic foods “virtual water exported”

• More meats, cows consume cattle feed, so more water to grow cattle feed

How are energy-water related

• Water needed for nuclear power in cooling

• Used in hydroelectric power

• desalination uses high amounts of energy

How are food-energy related

• Transportation of food, increasing globalisation of foods/diet

• Machinery used in agro-industrial food systems

How does climate change affect food-water interactions

Changes to agri-systems, high temperatures and less water means more drought. Use drought-resistant fodder eg. Aloe vera

How does climate change affect energy-water interactions

Need for water conservation- grey water use

How does climate change affect food-energy interactions

Need for efficiency in food transport systems

How can farming be adapted to reduce water use

Contour ploughing

What is sustainable development

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What factors threaten water security

• Population growth

• New lifestyle pressures with greater water demands

• The appropriation of some peoples water by other societies

• Climate change

What factors threaten food security

• Undernourishment and undernutrition

• Population growth

• Changing lifestyles

What factors threaten energy security

• Global increase in energy demand

• Population growth

• Growth of manufacturing and industry

What is the fragile middle class

Globally there are 2 billion people who have escaped poverty but have yet to join the NGMC. They may slide back into poverty easily

How is the global spread of wealth equal

The richest 8 people alive hold personal wealth equivalent to the poorest half of humanity.

What is relative poverty

When a persons income is too low to maintain the average standard of living in a particular society. Asset growth for very rich people can lead to more people being in relative poverty.

What is the ecological footprint

A crude measurement of the area of land or water required to provide a person with the resources to live (food, water, energy) and also absorb waste

How are fish stocks managed to prevent insufficient fish

• Fishing quotas prevent the permanent loss of populations

• Overfishing can lead to the collapse of the fish stock industry

What is peak oil

The point when the maximum rate of global oil production is reached

How is individual carbon footprint calculated

• Dietary habits

• Energy efficiency of home

• Personal purchasing

• Travel

How has agriculture and food + drink production increased global water consumption

• agriculture requires a lot of water

• Irrigation has caused a large amount of water withdrawn from semi-arid areas

How has industry increased global water consumption

• emerging economy growth has increased industry worldwide

• This creates pressure on water supplies

How has household water consumption increased global water consumption

• Poverty reduction and NGMC growth has meant that more people have gained access to unlimited safe water.

What is embedded water

A measure of the amount of water used in the production and transport to market of food and commodities

What is the nutrition transition

A change in diet from staple carbohydrates towards meat and fish proteins and dairy products

What are some geographic implications of the nutrient transition

• Animals use a lot of converted biomass energy roaming around, defecating and respiring

• Beef cattle eat more grain than meat they produce

• Cattle rearing puts excessive demand on grain supplies which could be used for humans directly

What is the energy mix

The proportions of hydrocarbons, renewable energy and nuclear energy a country uses

How do physical factors affect a countries energy mix

• if oil or coal is found within a countries borders

• Renewable energy opportunities depend on factors such as sunlight intensity, wind speeds and tidal range

How do environmental factors affect a countries energy mix

Worries about climate change have led to increased commitment to renewable energy sources

How do economic and political factors affect a countries energy mix

• The rise and fall of oil prices has had an effect on the energy mix

• The disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima have discouraged some countries from using nuclear fuel

How does climate change affect renewable energy supplies

• Shrinking ice stores and changing river regimes may affect hydroelectric power.

• Changes in wind patterns, cloud cover and rainfall may impact renewable energy supplies and solar power

• Biofuels may be harder to grow in some places

How are ocean resources managed by a stewardship approach

• Marine protected areas in the high seas, however illegal fishing activities still occur due to lack of enforcement

• Fishing catch quotas

• Local no fishing zones in places which have been overfished

• Education about reducing fish consumption

What are the characteristics of a circular economy

• All outputs are re-processed and all waste is viewed as a resource

• Food is managed more carefully, all waste is composted