EQ2: What are the consequences for people and the environment of our increasing demand for energy?

6.4 Energy security is a key goal for countries, with most relying on fossil fuels

Explain how consumption (per capita and in terms of units of GDP) and energy mix (domestic and foreign, primary and secondary energy, renewable versus non-renewable vary.

Explain how access to and consumption of energy resources depends on physical availability, cost, technology, public perception, level of economic development and environmental priorities (national comparisons: USA versus France).

Explain the energy players (e.g. role of TNCs, The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), consumers, governments) have different roles in securing pathways and energy supplies.

6.5 Reliance on fossil fuels to drive economic development is still the global norm

Explain why there is a mismatch between locations of conventional fossil fuel supply (oil, gas, coal) and regions where demand is highest, resulting from physical geography.

Explain why energy pathways (pipelines, transmission lines, shipping routes, road and rail) are a key aspect of energy security and why they can be prone to disruption especially as conventional fossil fuel sources deplete (Russian gas to Europe)

Explain why the development of unconventional fossil fuel energy resources (tar sands, oil shale, shale gas, deep water oil) has social costs and benefits, implications for the carbon cycle, and consequences for the resilience of fragile environments

6.6 There are alternatives to fossil fuels but each has costs and benefits

Explain how renewable and recyclable energy (nuclear power, wind power and solar power) could help decouple fossil fuel from economic growth.

Explain why different energy sources have costs and benefits, economically, socially, and environmentally and in terms of their contribution they can make to energy security.

Explain why biofuels, an alternative energy source, are increasing globally and explain why growth in biofuels however has implications for food supply as well as uncertainty over how 'carbon neutral' they are.

Explain how radical technologies, including carbon capture and storage and alternative energy sources (hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles) could reduce carbon emissions but uncertainty exists as to how far this is possible