Resource management

• Resource extraction impacts on water and air quality

  • Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases when burned
  • Oil spills from fishing vessels or oil rigs cause water pollution
  • Deforestation means more CO2 in the atmosphere
  • Artificial fertilisers can harm organism if they enter water sources
• Resource extraction impacts on biodiversity

  • Fish species are being over fished which reduces other species
  • Removing hedgerows for farming lowers biodiversity
  • Deforestation leads to a loss in habitat
• Resource extraction impacts on soil

  • Heavy machinery from farming leads to soil erosion
  • Deforestation leave soil exposed to soil erosion from water and wind
• Natural resource distribution in the UK

  • Soil and agriculture - arable, sheep and cattle farming
  • Fossil fuels - onshore and off shore oil extration (north sea)
  • Forestry - North of the UK
  • Water - High in the north and west, low in south and east
  • Rocks - Limestone, slate and granite
• Global distribution of natural resources

  • Agriculture - South, East Asia, North + South America
  • Forestry - Northern Europe, Canada, Russia (coniferous) South America, West Africa, Southeast Aisa (tropical forests)
  • Fossil fuels
  • Oil: USA, Russia, Saudi Arabia
  • Gas: USA Russia
  • Coal: China
  • Water - North+South America and Northern Europe
  • Rocks - Western America, Southern Africa and centrel Asia
• Uneven Distribution of Global energy consumption

  • Developed countries use up lots of energy as they are able to afford it
  • Developing countries don't consume less energy as they are not able to afford to and have less energy dependent lifestyles
  • Industries in developed countries are manufacturing so lots of energy is used up
  • Industries in developing countries are more primary so less energy is used up
• Global water consumption

  • Climate - low rainfall means less water
  • Development - As QofL improves more water is used
  • Industrial activates - Countries that do lots of mining, farming and industry use lots of water
• Global food consumption

  • Production - Lots in North America and East Asia
  • Climate - too hot or too cold means lack of food production
  • Development - mechanical farm equipment means increase in plant yield
  • Consumption
  • More developed countries eat more (Europe and North America). They import more food
  • Less developed countries eat less as they can't afford it and it's less available
  • Emerging countries are consuming more as their wealth increases
• Pros and cons of Non-renewable resources on people

  • + Countries save money by their own fuel reserves rather than importing energy and instead export it
  • +Generates a large industry full of jobs
  • = finite resources
  • = mining is a dangerous job
• Pros and cons of Non-renewable energy resources on the Environment

  • + Less uranium is needed than fossil fuels so less is mined
  • + Gas is less pollution than other fossil fuels (50% CO2 of what coal releases)
  • = Mining and drilling remove soil and vegetation which destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity
  • = Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases
  • = Nuclear waste is damaging to the environment
• Pros and cons of Renewable energy resources on people

  • + Never run out
  • + New industries are created allowing for new jobs
  • + Countries can make money from exporting renewable energy
  • = Expensive
  • = Unreliable (wind and sun)
• Pros and cons of Renewable energy resources on the environment

  • + No CO2 emissions
  • + Require less water
  • = Solar panels are made of a toxic chemical cadmium which can escape into the environment
  • = habitats can be destroyed in place for wind+solar farms/flooded for HEP
  • Birds can die flying into winds farms
• Fracking

  • Liquid is pumped into shale rock at high pressure
  • This cause the rock to crake and release shale gas which is collected
• Pros and cons of Fracking

  • + can help meet energy demands
  • = Many negative impacts on the environment
  • CO2 emissions from shale gas
  • Chemicals used in fracking liquid pollute water sources
  • Uses a lot of water
• UK Energy mix (2024)

  1. 12% nuclear
  2. 10% gas
  3. 20% solar
  4. 34% wind
  5. 1.8% hydroelectric
  6. 16% Imports from other countries
  7. 4.5% biomass
• Factors that affect a countries energy mix

  1. Population - More people means fossil fuels are used as they are cheap and keep up with demand
  2. Wealth - More money means you can invest in nuclear and renewables
  3. Availability - Some countries will have access to more resources than others
• Attitudes towards Energy resources: Individuals

  1. Many people favour non-renewables as they are cheap and reliable but might not want them to be extracted near their homes
  2. People are against alternatives to non renewables as they are not cheap
  3. Environmental awareness means more people are favouring renewable energy resources
• Attitudes towards Energy resources: Organisations

  1. Big TNCs are involved in extracting extracting fossil fuels and investing a lot of money into the energy sector
  2. TNCs control big oil reserves which makes them rich so they lose money if there is a shift towards renewables
  3. Environmental organisations are against fossil fuels
• Attitudes towards Energy resources: Governments

  1. Governments want cheap and reliable energy supply
  2. However governments want to be energy secure so they plan long term and develop renewables and nuclear energy resources
  3. Fossil fuels help emerging countries grow