003 - Changing Patterns of Energy Consumption Part Two

Syllabus Points

Examine (AO3) the geopolitical impacts of these changes in patterns and trends.

Examine (AO3) the changing importance of other energy sources.

Quote

I think the cost of energy will come down when we make this transition to renewable energy.

Al Gore

(Taken from Brainy Quotes)

Key Terminology

  • Examine
  • Geopolitical
  • Patterns
  • Trends
  • Renewable Energy

Define the words above using the 'Command Term' posters in the classroom, your 'Geography Course Companion' by Nagle and Cooke and the useful links below.

Useful Links

Activity One - Fill in the Blank

  • Make a copy of the sheet below and fill in the blanks. Then answer the questions below this google doc.
Population Change and Resources
  1. What are the possible implications for energy in the countries mentioned in point 2?
  2. Why will the majority of the older people live in LEDCs as opposed to MEDCs?
  3. What implication will this have on the use of energy in LEDCs?
  4. How can the increased death rates from AIDs impact the resources that we use today?

Activity Two - Review

Global production and consumption of fossil fuels; oil, coal and natural gas, have increased since the Industrial Revolution. With the expanding world population, increased technology and the rapid industrialisation of may countries, particularly India and China, the use of fossil fuels has increased even more dramatically in the last few years. However, the pattern of both production and consumption always has shown and continues to show, uneven geographical and demographical distribution.

  1. Mind map the issues that the use of oil can bring. Remember to think about the extraction, transportation and use of the oil.
  2. Using your laptops search for no more than 5 minutes newspaper headings that are related to oil in the past 2 years.
      • How do we search using a specific time frame?
  3. Can the use of oil be related to any of the Millennium Development Goals? If so which one and why?

How to search within a specific time frame.

Activity Three - Case Study

  1. Define what is meant by ownership, internal pressures, political cooperation and interdependency and resource nationalism.
  2. Create case studies for the geopolitical impacts of the use of oil. You need to look at the following points:
          • Ownership e.g. Falkland Islands
          • Internal Pressures e.g. Ghana
          • Political Cooperation and Interdependency e.g. Siberian pipeline - Russia and China
          • Resource Nationalism e.g. Brazil

Useful Resources

Activity Four - Describe

Using the two graphs below answer the following questions:

  1. Describe the global trend in the use of renewable energy. Remember to include figures.
  2. Using figure 2, describe the pattern of the different forms of renewable energy in use in 2012.
  3. Mind map potential reasons for this change in the use of renewable energy.

Figure 1 - Global Renewable Energy

Taken From: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/files/2013/07/IEA_renewable_outlook_600.jpg

Figure 2 - Types of Renewable Energy

Taken From: http://c1cleantechnicacom-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/files/2013/11/clean-energy-world-leaders-2012.png

Activity Five - Case Study

  1. Plan an essay for the question below. Remember for a plan you can bullet point and use the essay grid.

Using examples, suggest and discuss the management strategies to help reduce fossil fuel consumption. (15 marks)

Do consider the alternative to traditional energy resources. This will help to form your context for an exam question.

Useful Resources

How to write an essay graphic organizer.doc

Exam Style Question

“There is no truly sustainable solution to the world’s growing energy problems.” Discuss this

statement. (15 marks)

Activity Six - Useful to Watch

As geographers you are lucky that the topics you investigate are in the news. Below is a clip from the BBC about renewable energy. It would be useful to watch it and make notes in your own time.