(8.1.1 A) What are the impacts of increasing consumer choice on the global environment?

concepts, links, ecosystem destruction (rainforest/desert)

What is an ecological footprint?

measures human demand on natural capital

(quantity of nature it takes to support people and their economies)

How is an ecological footprint measured?

land required to sustain a country’s consumption patterns

• food

• wood

• infrastructure

• area needed to absorb CO2 emitted

• imports

measured in global hectares- gha

(a hectare of land with avg. productive biocapacity)

How many global hectares should each person use? What is the true number?

each person should use 1.8

however, we currently need more that 1.5 Earth like planets to sustain our lifestyles

Describe the pattern of global ecological footprints.

African countries → least (<1 - 3)

HICs (mainly to the North) → (9>5)

Mongolia (above 9)

higher GDP → higher footprint

Define consumerism.

social and economic order that encourages buying of goods and services

in ever-increasing amounts

Define global interdependence.

reliance of different countries upon each other

How has population changed?

exponentially:

until 1800s, P<1 billion

gradual increase (2 billion in 1927)

in 84 years, reached 7 billion

avg growth now: 1B every 12 years

What is the link between consumerism and population?

both are growing, but consumerism is growing much faster than population

How has consumerism impacted our resources?

rapid increase in consumerism = growing consumption

• exacerbated by globalisation of tech

population + income rise =

more people, living longer, consuming more

all as finite resources decline

What has caused the change in population growth and resource use?

changing aspirations → demand for varied foods, larger homes, more travels, luxuries

changing technology → higher wages → live better + longer + more use of finite resources

What are the two case study biomes for the impact of consumerism?

tropical rainforests

deserts

What products are found in the Amazon Rainforest?

wood/lumber

rubber

coffee beans

medicinal plants

nuts

oils/dyes

What is the link between deforestation and globalisation?

improved tech + trade → produce stays fresh for longer → increased demand → farming

rise in/easier to travel → demands of destinations have changed → land

rising middle classes → wealth and a meat based diet demand land

What is deforestation in the Amazon making way for?

cattle ranching + farming

logging

infrastructure

What are Brazil’s main exports from the rainforest? How do they impact the Amazon?

16% Soy beans

2.8% Beef- cattle ranching is no. 1 reason for deforestation in the Amazon

What is the reason for and projection of the demand for soy?

demand for biodiesel (where soy is used)

• emphasis on green fuel increases soy demand

soybean meal- animal food- indirect consumption

soy is 27% of global vegetable oil production

—

predicted to continue growing rapidly

How does deforestation impact the Amazon’s nutrient cycles?

release of stored CO2

loss of organic material→ nutrient poor soil

soil erosion → decreased biodiversity

cycle as farmers need to clear more land to sustain agriculture on inhospitable land

How does deforestation impact the Amazon’s water cycles?

decreased transpiration → less rainfall

drier conditions → degradation of land

increased risk of wildfires as forest dries

What are the main features of the desert biome?

high temp, low ppt.

less than 250mm rainfall

dry and wet season

xerophytic plants

heat makes it good for agriculture but low rainfall makes it difficult

low cloud cover due to little transpiration- hot days, cold nights

Which activities stemming from consumerism occur in the desert ecosystem?

farming

mineral extraction

solar farms

tourism

What are the social consequences of avocado farming in Peru?

more nurseries, schools, hospitals

boost in employment

more families in the area

What are the environmental consequences of avocado farming in Peru?

very water intensive so water shortages in some areas

as rivers are being diverted to the farms

What are the economic consequences of avocado farming in Peru?

it has become a multi-million pound industry

What is irrigation?

the supply of water to plants

through artificial methods

(channels, diversions, pipes)

What environmental impacts can irrigation have on a landscape?

land subsidence

• over abstraction of groundwater can cause land to sink

salinisation

• salt rich water used to irrigate → sun evaporates water → leaving an accumulation of salt on soil surface → can be toxic

What is mineral extraction? (Australia)

a significant primary industry, with many ores/minerals mined there.

Products containing mined substances:

• phones

• tablets

• jewellery

• laptops

What are the two main environmental challenges of mining in Australia?

carbon footprint

consequences of abandoned mines

Expand on the carbon impact of mining in Australia.

mining is a very energy intensive process

which has a large carbon footprint

exacerbating climate change

(~ 50.5 kWh to mine 1 tonne of coal)

Expand on the impact of abandoned mines in Australia.

no one takes responsibility for rehabilitating mines →

large companies sell to smaller, all escaping the costs of fixing it

• scars landscape

• unproductive land →

• lower biodiversity →

• lowered carbon storage →

• higher air pollution

• (rock dust blown into wind) →

• rock flour in rain pollutes groundwater

Why has consumerism led to solar farms and wind turbines being built in deserts?

as wealth, trade and consumerism increase

more energy is required

What are the positive impacts of energy generation methods in the desert?

research: turbines could double rainfall due to mixing warm + cold air

→ increase vegetation

→ positive feedback loop of evapotranspiration + rainfall + vegetation cover

solar panels warm the desert surface, also increasing evaporation + rainfall + plants

What are the negative impacts of energy generation methods in the desert?

construction of panels + turbines can cause coil crust erosion

crust = thick layer of compacted sand

after erosion, sand can be blown, increasing sandstorms