GEOGRAPHY PAPER 4
Environmental management
Sustainable energy supplies
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources
resource: any part of environment that can be used to meet human needs.
energy resource: something that can be used to provide people with heat light and
power.
Why do we need energy?
UK 2010: transport 34%, domestic use 29%, industry 23%, commerce and other
14%.
Non-renewable energy resources (finite stock or capital energy) built up over long
time period, can’t be used without reducing amount available. fossil fuels (coal, oil
and gas) and uranium (main resource for nuclear energy).
Renewable energy resources (flow or income) have unlimited availability (solar) or
replenished fast (wood). Yield continuous flow of energy.
Non critical renewable energy resources have unlimited availability. everlasting
and don’t worry about rate they’re used (solar, wind and tidal)
Critical renewable energy resources require careful management as can be used at
a faster rate than replacement (wood, biomass and animal wastes)
Wood is renewable resource, important in LICs. critical as if too much wood used in
short space of time, natural replenishment cycle is disrupted and resource used up.
happens when population rises rapidly, extra people put too much pressure on
resource. if woodland managed carefully by replanting or coppicing, can be
considered as renewable resource.
Factors affecting the supply of and demand for energy at the national scale
use varies per country. supply determined by resource availability, ability to
harness resources and ability to purchase from abroad. demand influenced by pop
size and economic development.
sustainability: requires able to meet current energy needs without compromising
ability of future generations to meet their needs. don’t do unacceptable damage to
natural environment. many countries signed Kyoto treaty, shows most national
government aware of need for sustainable energy policy, commits countries that
sign to reduce greenhouse emissions. non-renewables used sparingly as will run
out. maximise renewable use and invest in new tech to develop. try to reduce
environmental impact to ensure future supplies and reduce damage.
levels of development: high energy use confined to HICs/oil rich states (Venezuela
and Saudi Arabia), as can afford. NICs (china, brazil, Mexico) have medium but
rapidly growing energy use. LICs have minimal usage. commercial agriculture and
manufacturing industry use high energy levels, increases use in NICs and HICs.
countries have tech to exploit domestic energy resources and can afford importing
resources.
1
Environmental management
Sustainable energy supplies
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources
resource: any part of environment that can be used to meet human needs.
energy resource: something that can be used to provide people with heat light and
power.
Why do we need energy?
UK 2010: transport 34%, domestic use 29%, industry 23%, commerce and other
14%.
Non-renewable energy resources (finite stock or capital energy) built up over long
time period, can’t be used without reducing amount available. fossil fuels (coal, oil
and gas) and uranium (main resource for nuclear energy).
Renewable energy resources (flow or income) have unlimited availability (solar) or
replenished fast (wood). Yield continuous flow of energy.
Non critical renewable energy resources have unlimited availability. everlasting
and don’t worry about rate they’re used (solar, wind and tidal)
Critical renewable energy resources require careful management as can be used at
a faster rate than replacement (wood, biomass and animal wastes)
Wood is renewable resource, important in LICs. critical as if too much wood used in
short space of time, natural replenishment cycle is disrupted and resource used up.
happens when population rises rapidly, extra people put too much pressure on
resource. if woodland managed carefully by replanting or coppicing, can be
considered as renewable resource.
Factors affecting the supply of and demand for energy at the national scale
use varies per country. supply determined by resource availability, ability to
harness resources and ability to purchase from abroad. demand influenced by pop
size and economic development.
sustainability: requires able to meet current energy needs without compromising
ability of future generations to meet their needs. don’t do unacceptable damage to
natural environment. many countries signed Kyoto treaty, shows most national
government aware of need for sustainable energy policy, commits countries that
sign to reduce greenhouse emissions. non-renewables used sparingly as will run
out. maximise renewable use and invest in new tech to develop. try to reduce
environmental impact to ensure future supplies and reduce damage.
levels of development: high energy use confined to HICs/oil rich states (Venezuela
and Saudi Arabia), as can afford. NICs (china, brazil, Mexico) have medium but
rapidly growing energy use. LICs have minimal usage. commercial agriculture and
manufacturing industry use high energy levels, increases use in NICs and HICs.
countries have tech to exploit domestic energy resources and can afford importing
resources.
1
