case study: an area where economic development is taking place causing the environment to be at risk

•case study: Lesotho Highlands 

•water activity is in the East, where areas right near the coast have over 1000mm of rainfall

•description of economic activity 

          •growing 5% annually 

          •75% are subsistence farmers 

          •15% unemployment 

          •45km Katse Dam

          •South Africa pays Lesotho £20m a year and is royalty based, but has lots of corruption where large companies have offered bribes 

          •plan to build more dams as the Mohave Dam was successful 

          •costs about $8bn, important assistant from the World Bank

          •uses HEP to generate more money 

          •tourists visit the Katse Gardens, where people can learn about the 140 species along the Senqu river and stay in the Katse Lodge, overlooking the water 

•ways at which the environment is at risk - local 

          •houses in 7 villages by the Katse Dam in the reservoir were damaged by an earthquake (4)

          •tremors have been created due to increase in water pressure 

          •Ash river upstream from the Katse Dam has its biodiversity affected e.g water levels too low for the Maluti Minow 

          •ruined 100km of tarred road 

          •LWHP moved communities and 2000 households, and 100ha arable land was lost 

          •the dam threatened the important alpine flau of the Lesotho Highlands 

          •the dam has shown signs of cracking 

•solutions to manage the risk 

          •20ha of Katse Botanical gardens, established in 1995 to reserve 150 species 

          •the Katse Botanical gardens try to promote enjoyment and knowledge of the alpine flat 

          •the garden has a unique collection representing the dry Senqu River vegetation

          •the environment unit coordinated programmes on natural resource management e.g areas of archeology, flora and fauna  

          •promoting sustainability by stopping communities using these resources 

          •fish numbers are being monitored  

understand the importance of resource conservation

•conservation of resources: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future

•includes both the protection and rational use of resources 

•both the demand for and supply of need to be planned to achieve a sustainable system 

•actions of conservation 

          •recycling e.g aluminium, 

          •using energy efficient products saves the use of fossil fuels    

          •re-use of resources such as plastic bags, donating clothes 

          •quotas only allow countries to take a certain amount of a resource 

          •product stewardship is where manufactures have responsibility to reduce the effects

          •greater investment in renewable energy 

          •‘green taxation’ for amount of emissions produced 

•examples of energy conservation measures 

•government 

          •improve public transport 

          •set a high tax on petrol 

          •ensure public services are energy efficient 

          •set maximum fuel consumption requirements 

          •imposing congestion charges in the city centre

          •encourage recycling 

          •promote investment in renewable energy 

          •pass laws for manufactures to produce more efficient electrical products 

•individual  

          •transport 

                    •walk rather than drive 

                    •use a bicycle 

                    •buy low emission cars

                    •reduce car usage 

                    •use public transport 

                    •car pool 

          •home 

                    •use low-energy light bulbs

                    •install cavity wall insulation 

                    •improve loft insulation 

                    •wear more clothes instead of central heating 

                    •wash clothes at a lower temperature 

                    •purchase high energy efficient appliances 

                    •don’t leave appliances on standby 

demonstrate the need for sustainable development and management

•resource management: control of the exploitation and use of resources in relation to environmental and economic costs 

•sustainable development: a carefully calculated system of resource management where the needs of the present are met but don’t compromise the needs of the future 

•resource management e.g fishing

          •rich fishing grounds attract boats from many countries 

          •total catch increases for a time 

          •fishing stocks fall, reducing reproduction 

          •total catch decreases

          •need for resource management 

describe how economic activities may pose threats to the natural environment, locally and globally

•environmental threats of economic activities - causes 

          •food production 

                    •leeching 

                    •destruction of soil

                    •chemical sprays 

                    •deforestation of an area

                    •killing habitats for food 

                    •air pollution from machines 

          •industry 

                    •loss of habitat

                    •acid rain 

                    •creates greenhouse gases 

                    •impacts on food chains 

                    •global warming 

                    •atmospheric pollution 

                    •kills animals 

          •tourism 

                    •destruction of habitats 

                    •damage of corals 

                    •increases pollution from travel 

                    •kills habitats by building hotels

                    •litter from tourists can kill animals  

          •energy 

                    •transporting fuels creates pollution 

                    •pollution created by using energy supplies 

                    •fracking from the ground 

                    •visual pollution from the factories, ugly and smoke  

                    •noise pollution from the factories 

          •water supply 

                    •drowns and kills species 

                    •washes soil 

                    •affects biodiversity and wildlife 

                    •climate change may lead to drought, drying out certain areas

                    •becomes poisonous from mixing with sewage and chemical waste                    

•the threat if economic activities to the natural environment 

          •pollution (air) - local and global 

                    •lead can affect the brain development of children 

                    •indoor air pollution is worse in LEDCs due to biomass heating and fuel 

                    •gives people asthma attacks 

                    •carbon monoxide can reduce oxygen transportation 

                    •greenhouse gases can lead to climate change 

                    •toxic air pollutants can cause cancer 

          •pollution (water) - local and global 

                    •eutrophication from nitrates kills water animals 

                    •increase in cancer rate from anti-cancer medicines in the sewage into water supply 

                    •destruction of ecosystems 

                    •chemical sprays and fuel leaks may contaminate 

          •pollution (noise) - local 

                    •increases human blood pressure 

                    •reduces ability to sleep 

                    •high decibels can kill animals’ hearing 

                    •causes behavioural problems as animals use sound for signals 

          •pollution (visual) - local  

                    •eyesore and distressing to users

                    •may devalue house prices in an area 

•economic activities generate greenhouse gases 

          •carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides and ozone are examples - management 

                    •use clean energy

                    •recycle

                    •electric car

                    •plant trees

                    •line dry clothes 

                    •don’t leave things on standby 

•effects of enhanced global warming 

          •global temperature variations and heatwaves

          •rising sea levels 

          •melting of ice caps 

          •increasing acidity in oceans 

          •growth of the tropical belt           

          •destroying ecosystems 

•soil erosion

          •causes 

                    •results from high population pressure 

                    •deforestation 

                    •overgrazing of natural pastures 

                    •poor agricultural practices 

                    •absence of soil conservation of marginal land

          •consequences of soil erosion and desertification

                    •desertification

                              •gradual transformation of habitable land to desert 

                              •caused by climate change and destructive land use 

                              •natural causes may include temporary drought periods 

                                        •occurs when already fragile land in arid areas is overused 

                    •social 

                              •loss of traditional knowledge and skills 

                              •forced migration due to food scarcity 

                              •social tensions in reception areas for migrant 

                    •economic 

                              •reduced income from traditional economy 

                              •decreased availability of fuelwood, leading to purchasing oil 

                              •increased dependence on food aid 

                              •increased rural poverty 

                              •migration causes loss of tax revenue

                    •environmental 

                              •loss of soil nutrients from wind and soil erosion 

                              •changes in composition of vegetation

                              •loss of biodiversity 

                              •reduction in available land for farming 

                              •increased sedimentation of streams because of soil erosion 

                              •dust storms due to activity breaking up matter further 

          •management of soil erosion

                    •use fertilisers 

                    •contour ploughing 

                    •plant trees

                    •prevent water from being channelled downslope

                    •do not overgraze 

                    •use wind protectors

case study: energy supply in a country or area

•case study: Germany 

•location of the largest power stations: river Ems, river coast Elbe and the river Neckar 

          •they are located next to rivers, coasts and coalfields 

                    •this saves transport costs in coalfields as the resource is nearby 

                    •rivers supply cooling water 

                    •near coasts to release air pollution away from settlements 

                    •rivers can transport coal

                    •large flat land for construction 

•Germany’s energy consumption 

          •largest consumer of electricity in Europe 

          •main sources of power production are coal (45%), nuclear (23%) and gas (14%), which are non-renewable 

          •except for oil, all renewable energy sources are the smallest amount produced - only 16%

          •lots of lignite for open cast mining 

•how Germany produces energy 

          •coal fired power stations e.g Schwarze Pumpe Power Station

                    •uses brown coal (lignite) mined in East Germany using open cast method 

                    •bituminous coal is also imported cheaply from abroad e.g to Brokdorf 

                    •advantages 

                              •many countries have large reserves 

                              •coke can be used for steel and oil for petrol 

                              •oil and gas can be moved efficiently by pipelines 

                    •disadvantages 

                              •lots of air pollution 

                              •can be inefficient in location 

                              •deep mining is dangerous 

          •nuclear power station 

                    •Isar 2 Nuclear power plant, 15km away from Landshut 

                    •it produces 15% of Bavarian electricity 

                    •advantages 

                              •very little uranium needed to make lots 

                              •no greenhouse gases means no acid rain

                              •highly regulated 

                              •no global warming 

                    •disadvantages 

                              •decommissioning costs are very high 

                              •security as it can be used as weapons 

                              •capital costs are very high

                              •radioactive waste is hard to dispose 

                              •large disasters could happen

•future plans - renewable energy resources 

          •advantages 

                    •nuclear disasters avoided 

                    •security of nuclear weapons decreased 

          •disadvantages

                    •electricity relies on neighbouring countries 

                    •releases more emissions 

          •2020 ends nuclear power, investing in renewables 

          •Germany might be able to get all its electricity from renewable sources by 2050

  

          •where?

                    •obtains 16% from solar, wind and hydro power 

                    •plans to add 5000mW of photovoltaic capacity 

                    •2nd largest wind-power producer - wind turbines in the Black Forest 

                    •employs 300,000 jobs in renewable energy 

                    •Black Forest provides biomass and its height is suitable for wind turbines 

evaluate the bene ts and disadvantages of nuclear power and renewable energy sources

•nuclear power 

          •advantages 

                    •raw material needed is very small 

                    •contributes relatively little to acid rain, global warming and climate change 

                    •there is a lot of research being carried out over safety 

                    •highly received from international government 

                    •many safety measures

                    •allows countries to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, cutting imports 

          •disadvantages

                    •concerns about safety of technology 

                    •potential for disastrous accidents to take place 

                    •living near plants may suffer from poor health 

                    •nuclear waste is difficult and expensive and dangerous to dispose 

                    •plants are expensive to build, and to close down 

•fuelwood

          •largest use in Asia and Africa, where wood is used for shelter, fuel, food and shade 

          •severe shortages limit development, as it is the cheapest energy resource

          •isolated rural areas rely on fuelwood, where they are far away from power grids 

          •use of fuelwood uses less deforestation then land for agriculture 

•geothermal 

          •advantages 

                    •renewable 

                    •provides constant supply

                    •unpolluted 

                    •creates jobs

                    •extremely cheap 

                    •water is reused 

                    •unaffected by weather 

          •disadvantages 

                    •high construction cost 

                    •high maintenance cost 

                    •limited to volcanic areas 

                    •groundwater is often poisonous 

                    •areas suitable are often affected by earthquakes 

•wind power

          •advantages 

                    •safe (not radioactive) 

                    •affects ecosystems minimally 

                    •very cheap after initial expense 

                    •creates jobs 

                    •small farmers can earn money 

                    •no global warming 

          •disadvantages 

                    •wind is inconsistent 

                    •spoils the natural attraction 

                    •expensive and inefficient 

                    •noisy

                    •cannot be used during storms 

                    •inefficient 

                    •can interrupt TV and radio reception 

•wave and tidal power

          •advantages 

                    •cannot see it visually 

                    •constant supply of electricity 

                    •no pollution 

                    •reservoir can be used for waterspouts, and attract businesses 

                    •no fuel costs 

                    •can respond to changing demand 

                    •stored water can be used for irrigation and for the people                    

         •disadvantages 

                    •difficult to withstand wave power 

                    •hard to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy 

                    •expensive to build 

                    •destroys habitats 

                    •can create geological damage e.g earthquakes 

                    •whole communities may have to move

•solar power 

          •advantages

                    •safe

                    •pollution free

                    •efficient and limitless

                    •opportunities in LEDCs where it is sunnier 

                    •can be used in remote areas where electric lines may be expensive 

                    •costs are being reduced 

          •disadvantages 

                    •hindered by weather 

                    •expensive  

                    •hard to construct 

                    •less effective for high-powered output uses 

•biofuels 

          •advantages 

                    •prices are more stable than oil prices

                    •supplies can be more secure and reduce reliance on import 

                    •fewer pollutants are produced 

                    •can be produced wherever there is sufficient crop growth 

                    •they can be blended with other fuels, reducing their reliance 

          •disadvantages 

                    •land used is often farmland, leading to food price increase and decrease in supply

                    •manufactures use significant amount of energy, creating emissions 

                    •low-energy output compared to traditional 

                    •ruin habitats by taking over land  

                    •forces people to move off their lives