the challenge of resource management an...

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.1. The significance of food, water and energy for economic and social wellbeing

Outline one way in which access to food/water resources can contribute to economic/social wellbeing. (2marks)

Key idea: Food, water and energy are important to human social and economic wellbeing.

Food is important to economic wellbeing (having enough money to live a good quality of life) because…

• Nutritious food keeps people healthy and able to work.

Food is to social wellbeing (living a good quality of life by having access to a good home, health care and education) because…

• Nutritious food keeps people healthy and able to access to education. They can also work which pays for education and healthcare and a decent home.

Water is significant to economic wellbeing because…

Access to clean water keeps people healthy and able to work.

Water is significant to social wellbeing because…

Access to clean water means people are healthy, there is less disease and people can get to school and work which helps them pay for the things they need to lead a good quality of life.

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.1. The significance of food, water and energy for economic and social wellbeing

Outline one way in which access to energy resources can contribute to economic/social wellbeing. (2marks)

Key idea: Food, water and energy are fundamental to human social and economic wellbeing.

Energy resources are important for economic wellbeing because …

they allow businesses and industry to take place which provides jobs for people

Energy resources are important for social wellbeing because…

See above and they allow for things such as lighting, heating and cooking in homes which improves quality of life.

The key point is that when people have access to plenty of food, clean water and energy resources, their quality of life increases.

When there are not enough resources, this can lead to social and political unrest. (riots and unhappy people)

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.2. An overview in the inequality of the supply and distribution of resources.

There are huge inequalities in access to resources – some places on the planet have lots of resources and some don’t have many

1. Food:

We have enough for everyone but some have more than others. This is because of many things such as climate and how much money a country has.

In HICs such as the USA and the UK, people eat a lot which can lead to obesity.

In some LICs such as countries in Africa, people do not have enough food so there are health problems.

How many people in the world don’t have access to enough food?

1billion.

On top of this, how many people in the world do not have access to nutritious food?

Another 2billion.

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.2. An overview in the inequality of the supply and distribution of resources.

2. Water:

Many countries around the world suffer from water scarcity. There are two types – what are they?

a) Physical water scarcity is when there is not enough water available in a place. This is normally due to climate.

b) Economic water scarcity is where there is water but the country does not have enough money to access it.

3. Energy resources:

The consumption of energy varies hugely. HICs use a lot and can buy resources such as oil if they don’t have enough.

LICs use and have less energy resources.

The consumption of energy is increasing rapidly in which group of countries due to their rapid development?

NEEs.

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.3. Food overview: How demand for food is changing in the UK.

Key idea: The changing demand and provision of resources in the UK creates opportunities and challenges.

How is demand for food changing in the UK?

1. There is a growing demand for high-value food exports from LICs. These are foods that are worth a lot of oney.

2. There is a growing demand for seasonal food all year.

3. There is a growing demand for organic produce.

Key definitions:

Carbon footprint

• A measurement of all the greenhouse gases we individually produce, through burning fossil fuels for electricity, transport etc, expressed as tonnes (or kg) of carbon-dioxide equivalent.

Food miles

• The distance covered supplying food to consumers.


An example of a country that supplies high value, out of season food to the UK is…

Kenya. Name an example of food that the UK imports from Kenya.

Green beans.

What are the opportunities to do with this?

• This gives Kenya a lot of money as the UK pays for the beans.

• Large numbers of farming jobs (70,000+) are created in Kenya.

• In the UK, consumers have access to out of season food such as beans, all year round.

What are the challenges to do with this?

• In Kenya, many farm workers are low paid and have poor working conditions.

• There are huge food shortages within Kenya, made worse by so much of the food produced there being sold to the UK.

• Importing food from other countries increases food miles and therefore the carbon footprint of foods sold in the UK.

.


There is also an increasing demand for organic food and locally sourced food.

What is organic food?

Food produced without using chemicals.

What is local food sourcing?

When people buy food that was grown close to where they live.

What opportunities are created by these trends?

• Local jobs are created in the UK.

• The environment is protected by not using chemicals,

• Less food miles mean a lower carbon footprint and less global warming.

• Safe, healthy food is supplied.

What challenges are there?

• Organic foods are expensive so people don’t buy them.


The trend towards agribusiness.

There is also a move towards having farms run as big businesses.

• They use a lot of chemicals and machines to grow more food and make more money.

• They are extremely large.

• They often only grow one crop.

Opportunities created by agribusiness:

• Increased food security as more food is produced at lower prices.

• Cheaper prices for consumers.

Challenges created by agribusiness:

• The use of chemicals damages the ecosystems.

• The loss of hedges between fields means there are less habitats for wildlife.

• Smaller farmers have been forced out of business because they cannot compete.

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.4. Water overview

The changing demand for water:

Demand for water in the UK is increasing. Why?

• Population growth.

• People have more showers and baths than they used to.

• People now use dishwashers and washing machines which use a lot of water.

• Farming uses more irrigation these days.


Matching supply and demand.

Some areas of the UK are in water deficit. What does this mean?

This is when an area does not have enough water to meet the demand.

Name a place in the UK which has a water deficit.

London. Why?

London has a high population density so lots of people need water and also low rainfall.

Some areas of the UK have a water surplus. What does this mean?

They have more water than they need.

Give an example.

Wales. Explain why?

Wales has a low population density so not many people need water and also a high rainfall.

Therefore the supply and demand of water in the UK is unequal.


How can we solve this problem?

Water transfer schemes.

These move water from areas of water surplus to areas of water deficit through canals and pipes.

Opportunities created by water transfer schemes:

• They will help solve the problem of unequal water supplies across the UK.

Challenges to do with water transfer schemes:

• Very expensive.

• Uses a lot of energy which contributes to global warming.

• They damage river habitats and wildlife.


Water Quality and pollution management:

Sources of pollution which are threatening our water quality:

• Chemicals from farming can get into rivers.

• Chemicals from factories can get into rivers.

• Oil and salt can be washed into rivers from roads.

• Sewage waste can end up in rivers.

• Litter and rubbish dumped in rivers such as shopping trolleys.

How can we manage pollution in our rivers?

• Laws telling factories and farms not to pollute rivers.

• Education campaigns to make sure the public know not to put things like engine oil and baby wipes down toilets and drains.

• Pollution traps such as reedbeds are put between busy roads and rivers.

• Green roofs and walls. These naturally clean rainwater.

Green roofs

Reed beds:

The Challenge of resource Management – an overview of food, water and energy.4. Energy overview:

The Changing Energy Mix in the UK. What does energy mix mean?

The different types of energy a country uses.What are renewable sources of energy?

Those that will not run out in the future. Give three examples:

Solar power, wind power, hydro-electric power.

These sources of power do not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere therefore are better for the environment.

What are non-renewable sources of energy?

Those that will run out. Give examples.

Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal.

These are regarded as bad for the environment as burning them releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Nuclear power is also renewable because it is from uranium which can run out.


How is the UK’s energy mix changing?

1. We mainly get our energy from fossil fuels such as coal and oil although this amount is decreasing.

2. The amount of renewable sources of energy such as wind power we use is increasing.

Our actual demand for energy is decreasing. Why?

Household appliances such as fridges now se less energy.

Many of our factories have shut or moved abroad to NEEs.

However, demand for energy in transport is increasing.


Reduced domestic supplies of fossil fuels in the UK.

What is a fossil fuel?

natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed from dead plants and animals.Coal:

The coal industry in the UK led to our rapid development during the industrial revolution. What has happened to it?

• Some of our coal mines ran out of coal (the coal was exhausted.)

• There is still some coal in the UK but it is deep underground so difficult and expensive to get at.

• Oil and gas:

The UK has oil and gas in the North Sea.

The amount we have is decreasing so we have to buy it from other countries.

Basically we are running out of coal, oil and gas supplies.


Issues to do with the exploitation of energy sources. See the table for economic and environmental issues to do with wind and nuclear power.


Issues to do with fossil fuels such as coal:

• Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which leads to global warming.

What is fracking?

Pumping a mixture of sand, water and chemicals into rocks at high pressures. This releases shale gas which is a fossil fuel.

This is a cheap form of energy and there is lots of it.

What are the problems with fracking?

• The long term environmental impacts are unknown.

• Risks of severe contamination of water supplies.

• Risk of small earthquakes.

• The burning of shale gas releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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