Human Case Studies

• Paris 2015 - Aimed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C
• African Mini-grid Programme (solar farms in 21 developing countries sponsored by UN)
• WFP operated in 73 countries with 226 projects in 2022, Still 1/9 of the world population goes to bed hungry
• Poundbury is an experimental urban development in Dorset led by the Duchy of Cornwall and Prince Charles
• UN security council

  69 peacekeeping missions in last 60 years (e.g. Liberia)
• Shipping


  • 80% of the worlds trade goes on containerships
  • Standardised container (Malcom McLean) saves cost- improves efficiency as lorries and trains easily accomodate
  • Increased efficiency and security, cut labour costs
  • Had to change all the ports
  • Takes advantage of Economies of Scale
• Its estimated that 5.2 billion people used the internet in 2021
• Eurozone formed, now contains 20 members


  1999
• World Trade Organisation (WTO)


  164 countries are members. Sets the trading laws, and regulates international trade agreements
• North East Corridor investment with Japan worth $2billion - aids water supply, hydropower, primary schools in Manipur
• Bhutan shares flood prevention data along with DART in the Indian Ocean to aid Tsunami warnings/ adaption
• The Coca Cola Foundation awards grants to companies around the world (e.g. Anandana in India)
• Coca Cola (HQ in Atalanta, USA) has 56 bottling plants in India
• India received the 5th most FDI in 2020. Much from Singapore, Japan, USA
• TATA employs over a million people in 100 countries. Consulting engineers have projects in over 55 countries
• Coca Cola has 56 bottling plants in India
• India is the 5th highest receiver of FDI (much from Singapore, Japan, USA)
• TATA employs over a million people in 100 countries. Have consulting engineers in 55 countries
• Coca cola caused severe water pollution and soil issues in Kerala in 2004
• India has the highest concerntration of most polluted cities
• India are members of G20, SAARC, G8+5- BUT not the most influential
• The Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan aims to prevent conflict over water supply
• Indus Water Treaty means that India can only use 20% of the Indus‘ total discharge (+China are diverting rivers)
• World Trade Report 2021 by WTO

  Hyper-connectivity increases vulnerability but also resilience

  Able to cope with the next event much better (know-how developed)

  In 2020, global trade of goods and services fell by 9.6%

  Most severe fall in global GDP since WW2

  Resilience comes from diversifying sources - should not solely be self-sufficient
• Qatar FIFA World Cup drawbacks 


  over 1 million migrant workers to build 7 new Stadia

  Guardian estimate 6500 workers died

  Confiscated passports (called “open jails”)

  International protests (e.g #boycottqatar2022, French cities didn’t set up fan zones)
• Nigeria's Mambila Dam was funded by Chinese loans worth $2.5 billion
• Africa have an infrastructure deficit worth $900billion
• December 2015 - China agrees a loan and aid package worth $60 billion for the continent
• 28% of Ethiopian clothing companies directly forced into bankruptcy as China produce cheaper products
• China cancelled debts worth $1.5billion in 2009
• Kuapa Kokoo, Ghana gets a fair-trade premium of $200 per tonne of cocoa
• Kuapa Kokoo has 348 boreholes for drinking water
• Kuapa Kokoo has built 8 schools e.g. in Anakum
• Kuapa Kokoo bought a warehouse in Juaso, Ghana, to store and process cocoa beans
• Kuapa Kokoo built 2 day-care facilities and a radio shack
• Just 10 companies hold 28% of all food production (various parent companies)
• Indias wages are around 25% of UKs
• Walmart bought out ASDA to enter the Uk market
• Asia's Brown Cloud is a layer of air pollution that hangs over South Asia
• Apple has its headquarters in Cupertino, California