Paper 2 Key Terms

Urbanisation

process by which an increasing percentage of a country’s population comes to live in urban spaces

agglomeration

the concentration of people and economic activities at favorable locations

counter-urbanisation

businesses and residents moving to smaller towns or rural areas

urban re-imagining

changing the look of an area

urban re-branding

changing the way an area is known

urban re-generation

addressing issues within a city

urbanisation of suburbs

suburbs developing into a town or city

mega city

city with a population of more than 10 million

informal employment

unregulated economy

urban fringe

countryside being eroded by spread of built up area

sustainable urban living

where a town or city plans urban development in a way that maintains a good quality of life without reducing opportunities for future generations

primary energy

fuels that provide energy without undergoing any conversion processes

secondary energy

fuels made from processing primary fuels

renewable energy

energy sources that are replenishable and infinite

sustainable

use of today’s resources without affecting future generation’s ability to meet their needs

energy demand

amount of energy used by a country to function its economy and maintain its standard of living

energy production

total amount of energy created from renewable and non-renewable sources

energy gap

the difference between a country’s energy demand and ability to produce energy from its sources

energy security

uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price

energy mix

the composition and diversity of energy sources used by a country

energy efficiency

use of technology that requires less energy

energy conservation

change in behaviour that results in less use of energy

economic sector

the grouping of economic activity according to what the produce and the jobs offered

primary sector

economic activity working with natural reasources

secondary sector

economic activity involving manufacturing and processing

tertiary sector

economic activity involving the provision of services

quaternary sector

economic activity involving ICT and research and development

sectorial shift

changes in the relative importance of economic sectors

de-industrialisation

the decline in secondary economic activity in an area

carrying capacity

the maximum number of people an area's resources can sustain

Clark fisher model

A model displaying how the employment structure of a country changes with growth

energy poverty

when people do not have access to modern energy supplies

fragile environments

regions that are easily disrupted and difficult to restore once disturbed

ecological footprint

area used to support a defined population’s consumption

desertification

process by which arable land degrades

intermediate technology

use of equipment and techniques that are suitable for their country of use

deforestation

the felling and clearance of trees

global warming

increase in average temperature on Earth’s surface over 30 years

climate change

changes in average weather patterns over a period of 30 years

natural greenhouse effect

natural warming of earth’s atmosphere due to trapping of heat

greenhouse gases

gases in earth’s atmosphere that trap heat

human enhanced greenhouse effect

increased heating of earth caused by excess greenhouse gases emitted through human activities

tipping point

points in a system where a small change can push the system into a new state

natural greenhouse effect

natural warming of earth’s atmosphere due to trapping of heat