Resource Management - Global Distribution (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Notes

6.1.1 Resource Management - Global Distribution

Why Do We Need Food, Water & Energy?

Key for Human Wellbeing:

• Food, water, and energy are crucial for living a quality life.
• Contribute to social and economic benefits, improving the standard of living.

Food, Energy, and Water Systems Against the Backdrop of Climate Change

Food

• Calories:
  • Provide energy.
• Availability:
  • Depends on climate, soil, and technology level.
• Malnourishment:
  • Leads to disease and death.
  • Causes underperformance in school children, reducing future economic productivity.
  • Adults become less productive at work.
• Global Statistics:
  • Over 1 billion people are malnourished.
  • 2 billion are undernourished.
  • Obesity is an issue in some areas, especially HICs.

Water

• Uses:
  • Survival, washing, food production, industry.
• Importance of Clean Water:
  • Supports development and breaks the cycle of poverty.
• Contaminated Water:
  • 2 billion people drink contaminated water.
  • Over 500,000 deaths per year from diseases linked to contaminated water (e.g., Cholera).
• Economic Impact:
  • Long distances to fetch water reduce time spent working.

Energy

• Traditional Sources:
  • Coal, oil, and wood.
• Modern Uses:
  • Electricity production, heating, transport, and water supply.
• Economic Impact:
  • Supports industrialisation and development.
  • HICs rely heavily on electricity.
  • Without electricity, people resort to burning wood, causing deforestation.

The Global Supply of Energy is Uneven

• Increasing Demand:
  • Expected to rise by 56% as the population increases.
• Uneven Distribution:
  • Some countries lack their own energy reserves.
  • Climate and environment also affect resource availability.
• Importing Resources:
  • Necessary for many countries but expensive.
  • Resource consumption linked to economic wealth; HICs consume more due to affordability.
• Consumption Trends:
  • Rising in NEEs with industrial growth.
  • Low in LICs due to lack of access and affordability.