ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
I. Sustainable energy supplies
1. The problem with non-renewable energy
- Non-renewable energy sources are finite; their use reduces the supply
available and eventually could become exhausted.
- Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are the three most commonly used
sources of energy; approximately 80% of the world’s energy is sourced
from fossil fuels.
- Fossil fuels are cheap to access and refine and often provide a secure
supply of energy to countries.
- Burning fossil fuels releases CO² into the atmosphere; this has led to
unprecedented increases in global temperature in the 20th/21st
century.
- Nuclear energy is non-renewable but carbon free; its use does not
contribute to increasing concentrations of CO² in the atmosphere.
2. Understand the key terms
- Energy supply - the provision and delivery of fuels and energy sources to
the point of consumption.
- Energy consumption - the total amount of energy used (measured in
kilowatt hours [kWh]).
- Energy demand - the immediate rate of energy consumption (measured
in kilowatts [kW]).
- Capacity - the amount of energy a system must generate to meet the
instantaneous load (the power that something is using or generating at a
given moment).
3. The geography of the demand for and consumption of energy
- Significant variations exist in the demand for energy at a range of
geographical scales
- Nationally, demand is influenced by population size and the level of
economic development
- Wealthier countries demand and consume more energy; this is affected
by lifestyle and consumer behaviour. For examples, the USA, the world’s
richest country, is also the biggest consumer of energy in the world per
capita
, - Rapidly developing economies, such as China, have seen large increases
in the demand for and consumption of energy.
- The world’s least developed countries have the smallest demand for
energy; Chad, in Sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the least developed
countries in the world and has the lowest energy demand and
consumption of any country
4. Resource endowment can affect a country in the following ways:
- It can lead to an increase in energy supply through:
+) Direct availability: direct access to a large energy source can help
make countries self-sufficient or even exporters.
+) Renewable potential: some countries have the potential to harness
renewable sources for energy production, reducing dependence on fossil
fuels.
- It can lower lower production costs through:
+) Export revenue: can be a significant source of income for countries,
boosting their economies and providing funds for development.
- It can assist with:
+) Energy security: by reducing reliance on imports and mitigating
vulnerability to price fluctuations.
+) Industrial development: Abundant energy resources can attract
energy-intensive industries, further contributing to economic growth.
5. However, resource endowment can also have negative consequences:
- Resource curse: dependence on the extractive industry causing neglect
of other sectors and hindering economic diversification
- Unsustainable practices: Overexploitation of resources can lead to
environmental degradation and depletion and long-term problems
- Conflict and instability: Resource wealth can be a source of conflict and
political instability, both within and between countries
- Lack of focus on energy innovation: countries with a large abundance of
resources may be less likely to invest in renewable technologies and
improve energy efficiency
6. Which countries have benefitted from resource endowment?
- Norway: oil and gas
- Qatar: gas
- Saudi Arabia: oil
- Costa Rica: hydropower and geothermal energy
- Iceland: geothermal energy
I. Sustainable energy supplies
1. The problem with non-renewable energy
- Non-renewable energy sources are finite; their use reduces the supply
available and eventually could become exhausted.
- Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are the three most commonly used
sources of energy; approximately 80% of the world’s energy is sourced
from fossil fuels.
- Fossil fuels are cheap to access and refine and often provide a secure
supply of energy to countries.
- Burning fossil fuels releases CO² into the atmosphere; this has led to
unprecedented increases in global temperature in the 20th/21st
century.
- Nuclear energy is non-renewable but carbon free; its use does not
contribute to increasing concentrations of CO² in the atmosphere.
2. Understand the key terms
- Energy supply - the provision and delivery of fuels and energy sources to
the point of consumption.
- Energy consumption - the total amount of energy used (measured in
kilowatt hours [kWh]).
- Energy demand - the immediate rate of energy consumption (measured
in kilowatts [kW]).
- Capacity - the amount of energy a system must generate to meet the
instantaneous load (the power that something is using or generating at a
given moment).
3. The geography of the demand for and consumption of energy
- Significant variations exist in the demand for energy at a range of
geographical scales
- Nationally, demand is influenced by population size and the level of
economic development
- Wealthier countries demand and consume more energy; this is affected
by lifestyle and consumer behaviour. For examples, the USA, the world’s
richest country, is also the biggest consumer of energy in the world per
capita
, - Rapidly developing economies, such as China, have seen large increases
in the demand for and consumption of energy.
- The world’s least developed countries have the smallest demand for
energy; Chad, in Sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the least developed
countries in the world and has the lowest energy demand and
consumption of any country
4. Resource endowment can affect a country in the following ways:
- It can lead to an increase in energy supply through:
+) Direct availability: direct access to a large energy source can help
make countries self-sufficient or even exporters.
+) Renewable potential: some countries have the potential to harness
renewable sources for energy production, reducing dependence on fossil
fuels.
- It can lower lower production costs through:
+) Export revenue: can be a significant source of income for countries,
boosting their economies and providing funds for development.
- It can assist with:
+) Energy security: by reducing reliance on imports and mitigating
vulnerability to price fluctuations.
+) Industrial development: Abundant energy resources can attract
energy-intensive industries, further contributing to economic growth.
5. However, resource endowment can also have negative consequences:
- Resource curse: dependence on the extractive industry causing neglect
of other sectors and hindering economic diversification
- Unsustainable practices: Overexploitation of resources can lead to
environmental degradation and depletion and long-term problems
- Conflict and instability: Resource wealth can be a source of conflict and
political instability, both within and between countries
- Lack of focus on energy innovation: countries with a large abundance of
resources may be less likely to invest in renewable technologies and
improve energy efficiency
6. Which countries have benefitted from resource endowment?
- Norway: oil and gas
- Qatar: gas
- Saudi Arabia: oil
- Costa Rica: hydropower and geothermal energy
- Iceland: geothermal energy
