The Challenge of Resource Management — AQA GCSE Geography
People need food, water and energy to survive and develop. These resources are unevenly distributed, creating challenges and opportunities.
Global overview
Food, water and energy are fundamental to human development. Their supply and demand vary around the world, creating inequalities and the need for management.
Resource management in the UK
- Food: demand for seasonal, organic and locally sourced produce is growing, but the UK also imports food, increasing food miles and its carbon footprint. There is a trend towards agribusiness.
- Water: there is a mismatch between areas of supply (north and west, higher rainfall) and demand (south and east, higher population). Maintaining water quality and managing transfers are challenges.
- Energy: the UK's energy mix is changing, with declining fossil fuels, debate over fracking and nuclear, and growth of renewables. Energy security is a key issue.
A chosen resource (food, water or energy)
You study one of food, water or energy in more depth:
Food — global supply and demand, areas of surplus and deficit, food insecurity (its causes and impacts such as famine and conflict), and strategies to increase food supply (irrigation, the green revolution, biotechnology, appropriate technology) and a large-scale or sustainable example.
Water — global supply and demand, water insecurity, its causes and impacts, and strategies to increase water supply (dams/reservoirs, water transfers, desalination) plus sustainable approaches (conservation, recycling, "grey" water).
Energy — global supply and demand, energy insecurity, its causes and impacts, and strategies to increase energy supply (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables) plus sustainable approaches (efficiency, conservation).
Exam tips
- Know how supply and demand of food, water and energy vary globally.
- Explain the UK's specific challenges for each resource (e.g. water supply–demand mismatch).
- For your chosen resource, learn causes and impacts of insecurity and strategies to increase supply.
- Include a named example and consider sustainability.