Resource Management and Sustainability

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the essential concepts of resource management and sustainability as tested in WJEC GCSE Geography. You will examine global patterns of energy, water and food consumption, understand why resources are distributed unevenly, and evaluate sustainable management strategies. The content focuses on real-world examples from the UK and globally, preparing you to answer case study questions and evaluate resource management schemes.

Key terms and definitions

Resource security — when a country has reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable resources (energy, water, food) to meet the needs of its population.

Sustainability — meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economic, social and environmental factors.

Food miles — the distance food is transported from production to consumption; higher food miles generally result in greater carbon emissions and environmental impact.

Water stress — when demand for water exceeds available supply during a certain period, or when poor quality restricts water use.

Energy mix — the combination of different energy sources (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables) used by a country to meet its total energy demand.

Carbon footprint — the total amount of greenhouse gases (particularly carbon dioxide) produced directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, event or product.

Food security — when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs.

Renewable energy — energy from sources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass.

Core concepts

Global distribution of resources

Resources are distributed unevenly across the world due to physical and human factors. This unequal distribution creates resource security for some countries and insecurity for others.

Energy resources:

• Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are concentrated in specific geological regions — the Middle East holds approximately 48% of global oil reserves
• Countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia and the USA are major energy exporters
• Many low-income countries lack domestic energy sources and depend on imports
• Physical factors include geology (presence of sedimentary basins for fossil fuels) and climate (affecting renewable energy potential)

Water resources:

• Global distribution depends on precipitation patterns, temperature and drainage basins
• Water-rich regions include tropical areas with high rainfall (Amazon Basin, Congo Basin) and areas fed by glacial meltwater
• Water-scarce regions include North Africa, Middle East and parts of Australia
• Physical water scarcity occurs when physical access to water is limited
• Economic water scarcity occurs when infrastructure to access water is inadequate

Food resources:

• Agricultural productivity depends on climate, soil quality, water availability and topography
• High-income countries generally have food security through domestic production and purchasing power
• Low-income countries may face food insecurity despite agricultural potential
• The global food trade redistributes production, but creates dependency

Factors affecting resource consumption

Resource consumption varies significantly between countries and over time. Understanding these patterns is essential for GCSE-level analysis.

Wealth and development:

• High-income countries consume disproportionately more resources per capita
• The USA, with 4% of global population, consumes approximately 17% of global energy
• As countries develop economically, resource consumption typically increases (China's energy consumption has tripled since 2000)
• The ecological footprint (the land area needed to support a person's lifestyle) is significantly higher in developed countries

Population size and growth:

• Larger populations create greater total demand for resources
• Rapid population growth in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing pressure on food and water resources
• Urbanisation concentrates resource demand in cities, requiring complex distribution networks

Technology and efficiency:

• Technological advances can reduce resource consumption per unit of output
• LED lighting uses 75% less energy than traditional bulbs
• Precision agriculture reduces water and fertiliser use
• However, increased efficiency may lead to greater overall consumption (Jevons paradox)

Climate:

• Cold climates increase energy demand for heating
• Hot climates increase water demand for irrigation and cooling
• Seasonal variations affect resource consumption patterns

Energy resource management in the UK

The UK's energy landscape has transformed significantly, providing excellent case study material for WJEC examinations.

Current UK energy mix (2023):

• Natural gas: approximately 35%
• Renewables: approximately 40% (wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric)
• Nuclear: approximately 15%
• Coal: less than 2% (being phased out)

Reasons for changing energy mix:

• Climate change commitments (Net Zero by 2050 target)
• Declining North Sea oil and gas reserves
• Air quality concerns in urban areas
• Energy security concerns following geopolitical tensions
• Falling costs of renewable technology

UK renewable energy developments:

Offshore wind:

• Hornsea Wind Farm (Yorkshire coast) is the world's largest offshore wind farm with 1.2GW capacity
• UK has excellent wind resources due to Atlantic weather systems
• Provides employment in coastal regions
• Challenges include visual impact, effects on marine ecosystems and intermittent generation

Solar energy:

• Capacity has increased dramatically despite limited sunshine hours
• Solar farms on agricultural land create land-use conflicts
• Rooftop solar reduces demand on the National Grid
• Battery storage technology is improving to manage intermittency

Hydroelectric:

• Limited expansion potential in the UK due to topography
• Dinorwig Power Station (Wales) provides pumped storage for peak demand
• Environmental impacts include habitat disruption and altered river flows

Challenges:

• Intermittency of renewable sources requires backup capacity or storage
• National Grid infrastructure needs upgrading to handle distributed generation
• Public opposition to wind farms and solar farms
• High initial investment costs despite lower running costs

Water resource management

Water management strategies must balance supply and demand while maintaining sustainability.

Causes of water deficit:

• Climate change altering precipitation patterns
• Over-abstraction from rivers and aquifers
• Population growth increasing demand
• Agricultural and industrial water use
• Pollution reducing usable supply
• Ageing infrastructure causing leakage (approximately 20% lost in UK water mains)

Increasing water supply (hard engineering):

Reservoirs:

• Kielder Water (Northumberland) is the UK's largest reservoir, supplying North East England
• Advantages: reliable supply, flood control, recreation opportunities
• Disadvantages: habitat destruction, displacement of communities, high construction costs, evaporation losses

Water transfer schemes:

• Move water from surplus to deficit areas
• Elan Valley (Wales) supplies Birmingham through aqueducts built in the 1890s
• Environmental concerns include impacts on donor catchments
• High infrastructure costs and energy requirements for pumping

Desalination:

• Thames Water's Beckton desalination plant can produce 150 million litres daily
• Provides drought resilience for London
• Very high energy consumption (contributing to carbon emissions)
• Expensive compared to conventional sources
• Brine disposal environmental concerns

Managing water demand (soft engineering):

• Water meters encourage conservation and reduce consumption by 10-15%
• Public awareness campaigns promote water-efficient behaviours
• Water-efficient appliances (low-flow toilets, aerated taps)
• Greywater recycling systems
• Rainwater harvesting
• Fixing leaks reduces waste
• These approaches are more sustainable and cost-effective than supply-side solutions

Food resource management and sustainability

Food security requires addressing production, distribution and consumption patterns.

Causes of food insecurity:

• Climate change affecting growing seasons and yields
• Conflict disrupting production and distribution
• Poverty limiting purchasing power
• Land degradation and soil erosion
• Water scarcity for irrigation
• Pests and diseases (locust swarms in East Africa)
• Poor infrastructure and storage (causing 40% post-harvest losses in some developing countries)

Strategies to increase food supply:

Agricultural intensification:

• High-yielding variety (HYV) crops produce greater output per hectare
• Irrigation expands production into previously marginal areas
• Chemical fertilisers and pesticides boost yields
• Concerns: soil degradation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, farmer debt

Agricultural extensification:

• Expanding agricultural land area
• Often involves deforestation (Amazon rainforest clearance for cattle ranching and soybean)
• Habitat destruction and carbon emissions
• Short-term productivity gains but long-term sustainability concerns

Biotechnology:

• Genetically modified (GM) crops resist pests, drought or herbicides
• Golden Rice enriched with Vitamin A addresses malnutrition
• Controversial due to unknown long-term ecological effects and corporate control of seeds

Sustainable food production:

Organic farming:

• Avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilisers
• Promotes biodiversity and soil health
• Lower yields require more land
• Higher prices may limit accessibility

Permaculture and agroforestry:

• Integrates trees, crops and livestock
• Mimics natural ecosystems
• Builds soil carbon and biodiversity
• Labour-intensive but resilient

Urban farming:

• Rooftop gardens and vertical farms in cities
• Reduces food miles and packaging
• Educational and community benefits
• Limited scale but growing in UK cities

Reducing food waste:

• Approximately one-third of food produced globally is wasted
• Consumer education about date labels and portion sizes
• Redistribution schemes (food banks)
• Composting organic waste
• Significant potential to improve food security without expanding production

Local and global sustainability initiatives

Sustainability requires coordinated action at multiple scales.

Individual actions:

• Reducing meat consumption (livestock production is resource-intensive)
• Choosing seasonal and local food
• Reducing energy consumption through insulation and efficient appliances
• Using public transport, cycling or walking
• Recycling and reducing waste
• Supporting sustainable businesses

National policies (UK examples):

• Climate Change Act (2008) legally binding emissions reductions
• Renewable Energy Directive targets
• Plastic bag charges reducing single-use plastics
• Green Belt protection limiting urban sprawl
• Building regulations requiring energy efficiency standards
• Feed-in tariffs incentivising renewable energy installation

International agreements:

• Paris Agreement (2015) limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing poverty, inequality and environmental degradation
• Kyoto Protocol (1997) established emissions reduction framework
• Challenges include enforcement mechanisms and balancing development needs

Circular economy principles:

• Designing out waste through product longevity and repairability
• Keeping materials in use through recycling and remanufacturing
• Regenerating natural systems
• Contrasts with linear "take-make-dispose" economy
• Examples: refillable containers, repairable electronics, industrial symbiosis

Worked examples

Example 1: Explain two reasons why resource consumption is higher in high-income countries than low-income countries. [4 marks]

Model answer: High-income countries have greater wealth, which means people can afford to purchase more resources such as energy for heating, private vehicles, and consumer goods that require energy to manufacture [1]. This results in a higher per capita consumption compared to low-income countries where poverty limits purchasing power [1].

High-income countries have typically undergone industrialisation and urbanisation, which creates demand for energy in manufacturing, transportation networks and infrastructure [1]. In contrast, many low-income countries have predominantly agricultural economies with lower energy requirements per capita [1].

Examiner comment: This answer provides two distinct, developed reasons with clear cause-and-effect explanations, worthy of full marks.

Example 2: Assess the sustainability of using wind energy in the UK. [6 marks]

Model answer: Wind energy is sustainable in environmental terms because it produces no carbon emissions during operation, helping the UK meet climate change targets [1]. Wind is a renewable resource that will not run out, unlike fossil fuels which are finite [1]. This makes it sustainable for future generations [1].

However, wind energy has sustainability concerns. The manufacture and installation of turbines requires energy and resources, creating a carbon footprint [1]. Wind turbines can harm bird populations and create noise pollution affecting local communities [1]. The intermittent nature of wind means backup energy sources are needed, which may use fossil fuels, limiting overall sustainability [1].

Overall, wind energy is more sustainable than fossil fuels, but complete sustainability requires addressing manufacturing impacts and energy storage challenges.

Examiner comment: This balanced assessment examines environmental, social and economic dimensions with specific details and a justified conclusion. Uses appropriate terminology and addresses the command word "assess" by weighing up different factors.

Example 3: Evaluate hard and soft engineering approaches to managing water supply in the UK. [9 marks + 3 SPaG]

Model answer structure:

• Introduction defining hard engineering (reservoirs, transfer schemes, desalination) and soft engineering (demand management, efficiency measures)
• Advantages of hard engineering: reliable large-scale supply, examples like Kielder Water, supports economic development
• Disadvantages: environmental impacts (habitat loss, carbon emissions from desalination), high costs, community displacement
• Advantages of soft engineering: lower environmental impact, cost-effective, sustainable long-term, examples like water metering
• Disadvantages: behaviour change takes time, limited by individual compliance, may not meet rapidly growing demand
• Conclusion: integrated approach needed, soft engineering preferable for sustainability but hard engineering necessary in some contexts
• Use of case study details, accurate terminology and logical paragraph structure
• Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar throughout

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing sustainability with environmentalism alone — sustainability includes economic and social dimensions. Always consider all three pillars when discussing sustainable development, not just environmental impacts.

• Vague case study references — saying "renewable energy is used in the UK" scores poorly. Include specific named examples (Hornsea Wind Farm, Dinorwig Power Station) with factual details (capacities, locations, impacts).

• Listing without explaining — particularly in "explain" or "assess" questions, stating facts without showing cause-and-effect relationships or evaluation loses marks. Use connectives like "because," "this leads to," and "consequently."

• Ignoring the command word — "describe" requires factual details about what/where; "explain" requires reasons why; "assess" or "evaluate" requires weighing up different viewpoints with a judgement. Match your answer structure to the command word.

• Confusing food miles with food security — food miles measure transport distance and carbon emissions, while food security refers to reliable access to sufficient food. These concepts overlap but are not interchangeable.

• Treating all renewable energy as identical — different renewables (wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass) have distinct advantages, limitations and environmental impacts. Specify which type you are discussing and explain its particular characteristics.

Exam technique for "Resource Management and Sustainability"

• Command words matter: "Describe" requires factual characteristics; "Explain" requires reasons/causes; "Assess" or "Evaluate" requires balanced analysis with a conclusion. Read the question carefully and ensure your answer structure matches.

• Use the mark scheme strategically: For a 4-mark question, aim for four distinct developed points or two points with detailed explanation. For 6-9 mark questions, structure your answer in paragraphs with an introduction and conclusion, incorporating named examples.

• Specific case study details elevate answers: Generic statements like "renewable energy helps the environment" score lower than "Hornsea Wind Farm generates 1.2GW of electricity, powering 1 million homes without carbon emissions, contributing to the UK's Net Zero 2050 target."

• Balance required for evaluation questions: Address advantages AND disadvantages, or multiple perspectives, then provide a justified conclusion. One-sided answers, even if detailed, lose marks in "assess" and "evaluate" questions.

Quick revision summary

Resource management examines global patterns and sustainability of energy, water and food. Resources are unevenly distributed due to physical and human factors, creating security for some and insecurity for others. Consumption varies with wealth, population, technology and climate. The UK is transitioning to renewable energy (wind, solar) while facing water stress in the south-east, managed through hard engineering (reservoirs) and soft approaches (demand management). Food security requires balancing production increases with sustainability, reducing waste and addressing distribution inequalities. Effective resource management integrates economic development, social equity and environmental protection across local to global scales.