Resource supply and demand

• Resources, such as food, energy and water, are needed for basic human development
• without enough nutritious food, people can become malnourished. this makes them more likely to get ill and may stop them from working or going to school
• energy is needed for a basic standard of living, and its also essential for industry and transport
• water is needed for drinking, cooking, washing, and staying clean
• demand for resources is increases due to 2 things:

  1. rising population
  2. economic development
• rising population

  the population is rising globally, in 2011 it was 7 billion but now its 8 billion

  increased demand for one resource can increase demand for another
• economic development

  economic development means people are getting wealthier, especially in EDCs. wealthier people have more disposable income, which affects their resource consumption

  • more money to buy more food
  • they can buy cards, fridges, tvs, all which use energy and water
• Factors limiting the supplies of resources includes:

  1. Climate
  2. Geology
  3. Conflict
  4. Poverty
  5. Natural hazards
• climate limiting supply of resources

  Low rainfall means water supplies are limited, and also how much crop can grow
• geology limiting supply of resources

  some countries may not have reserves for fossil fuels or not the suitable landscape for generating renewable energy, meaning they dont have a lot of energy
• conflict limiting supply of resources

  war disrupts transport of resources
• poverty limiting supply of resources

  some countries can’t afford technology to exploit natural resources that are available
• natural hazards limiting supply of resources

  damages agricultural land and destroy infrastructure such as water pipes and power lines