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IH Unit 1 > Resource management > Flashcards

Resource management Flashcards

1
Q

What is resource management?

A

The planned, sustainable use and protection of natural resources (water, food, energy, soil, minerals, forests) so current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

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2
Q

Define natural resource security.

A

The condition in which a society has reliable, affordable and sufficient access to essential resources—especially water, food and energy—needed for survival, health and economic stability.

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3
Q

What is the Water‑Food‑Energy (WFE) nexus?

A

The idea that water, food and energy systems are deeply interconnected: producing any one of them usually requires the other two, so managing them must be integrated to avoid trade‑offs and shortages.

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4
Q

Water security – simple definition

A

Having enough good‑quality water for drinking, sanitation, agriculture and industry, today and in the future.

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5
Q

Main causes of water insecurity

A

Physical scarcity, pollution, growing demand from population & industry, climate change altering rainfall, and poor management of supplies.

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6
Q

What percent of Earth’s water is fresh and easily accessible?

A

Less than 1 % (97 % is saltwater, most freshwater is locked in ice or deep groundwater).

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7
Q

Threshold for water stress

A

Annual renewable water supply below 1 700 m³ per person.

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8
Q

Threshold for water scarcity

A

Annual renewable water supply below 1 000 m³ per person.

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9
Q

Give two regions with severe water scarcity.

A

Most of the Middle East and North Africa.

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10
Q

Two examples of water‑efficiency techniques in farming

A

Drip irrigation and lining canals/pipes to prevent leakage.

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11
Q

Why use reservoirs and rainwater harvesting?

A

They store surplus water from wet periods so it can be used during dry spells, improving supply reliability.

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12
Q

Purpose of desalination plants

A

Turn seawater into freshwater in very arid but high‑income places (e.g. Saudi Arabia, UAE).

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13
Q

How do transboundary water agreements improve security?

A

They allocate river or aquifer flows between countries, reducing conflict and giving each state predictable shares (e.g. Indus Water Treaty).

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14
Q

Example of a pollution‑control measure for water

A

Treat industrial wastewater before discharge; regulate farm fertilizer to cut runoff.

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15
Q

Why tiered water pricing?

A

Charging higher rates after a basic allowance discourages waste and funds maintenance.

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16
Q

What is groundwater depletion and why is it a problem?

A

Extracting water from aquifers faster than they recharge; eventually wells dry up, land may subside, and future supplies are lost.

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17
Q

Case study: CapeTown DayZero crisis (2018) – cause and lesson

A

A multiyear drought plus high demand nearly emptied city reservoirs; emergency conservation and later diversification (desalination, reuse) showed importance of demand management and backup supply.

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18
Q

Food security – simple definition

A

All people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for an active healthy life.

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19
Q

Current share of world population undernourished (~2020s)

A

About 10 %.

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20
Q

Name four factors that threaten food security.

A

Population growth, land degradation, climate change (droughts & floods) and conflict/trade disruption.

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21
Q

What was the Green Revolution?

A

1960‑70s spread of high‑yield seeds, irrigation, fertilizers & pesticides that vastly increased cereal output in Asia & Latin America, preventing famines.

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22
Q

How does land degradation cut yields?

A

Erosion, over‑farming, salinisation and desertification reduce soil fertility.

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23
Q

Two ways climate change harms crops

A

More extreme drought/heat waves and shifting rainfall patterns causing floods or unreliable growing seasons.

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24
Q

Why are import‑dependent nations vulnerable to food price spikes?

A

They rely on global markets; wars or pandemics that disrupt exports raise costs or create shortages at home.

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25
Two strategies to boost local food production
Introduce drought‑resistant crop varieties and improve irrigation/farm machinery.
26
How do better storage and transport aid food security?
They cut post‑harvest losses and move surplus from one area to deficit areas before spoilage.
27
Role of the World Food Programme (WFP)
Delivers emergency food aid and supports resilience projects like building irrigation or school feeding.
28
Example of a nutrition‑fortification program
Adding iodine to salt or vitamin A to rice to fight micronutrient deficiencies.
29
Explain the food vs fuel dilemma.
Land or crops used for biofuels (e.g. corn ethanol, palm biodiesel) compete with food supply, potentially raising food prices or causing shortages.
30
Energy security – simple definition
Access to reliable, affordable and sufficient energy for homes, industry and transport.
31
Three key issues undermining energy security
Uneven fossil‑fuel distribution, finite reserves, and energy poverty for 770 million people lacking electricity.
32
What is energy poverty?
Lack of modern energy services such as electricity and clean cooking fuels, limiting development and health.
33
Define resource curse (in energy context).
When countries rich in one export commodity (e.g. oil) suffer economic instability, corruption or neglect of other sectors, making them vulnerable to price swings.
34
Why diversify the energy mix?
Reduces reliance on any single fuel or supplier, lowering risk of price shocks or embargoes.
35
Purpose of strategic oil reserves
Governments store 90+ days of imports to cushion temporary supply disruptions.
36
Give two examples of energy‑efficiency measures.
LED lighting and insulating buildings to lower heating/cooling demand.
37
Why are renewables key to long‑term security?
They are local, inexhaustible and avoid geopolitical dependence on imported fossil fuels.
38
Example of a country using geothermal & hydro for near‑total clean energy
Iceland.
39
Define the resource security nexus.
Recognition that water, food and energy systems are interlinked—managing one affects the others, so policies must be integrated.
40
How can boosting biofuels strain water security?
Biofuel crops need irrigation and land that might otherwise grow food, increasing water withdrawal.
41
Case study: Aral Sea disaster – summary
Soviet irrigation diverted rivers for cotton; the sea shrank ~90%, collapsing fisheries, exposing toxic dust and altering climate—classic mismanagement of water for short‑term gain.
42
Case study: Oil states diversifying (Saudi Arabia, UAE)
Investing oil revenue in solar power, tourism and high‑tech to prepare for post‑oil era and reduce vulnerability to price swings.
43
Case study: Food insecurity in Yemen
War and blockade cut imports and farm production; millions face famine, showing how conflict, not global shortage, drives hunger.
44
What is sustainable development (Brundtland definition)?
Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.
45
Which UN goals link directly to resource security?
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy).
46
Define carrying capacity in resource terms.
The maximum population that can be sustainably supported by a given environment’s resources and technology.
47
Explain water‑stress versus water‑scarcity numbers again
Water stress: <1 700 m³ per person per year; water scarcity: <1 000 m³ per person per year.
48
What does desalination solve and at what cost?
Provides freshwater in arid coasts but is energy‑intensive and expensive, so mainly used by wealthy states.
49
How do drip irrigation systems save water?
They deliver water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and runoff compared with flood irrigation.
50
Why can groundwater pumping cause land subsidence?
Removing water reduces pressure in aquifer sediments, causing ground to compact and sink.
51
Name one famous transboundary river dispute.
Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile raises concerns for downstream Egypt over water share.
52
What is hidden hunger?
Micronutrient deficiencies (vitamins/minerals) even when calorie intake is sufficient.
53
How do conflicts trigger famine?
Fighting destroys farms, blocks trade, displaces people and diverts aid, cutting both food supply and access.
54
Why is energy transition from coal/oil to renewables urgent?
To ensure long‑term supply security, cut greenhouse‑gas emissions and avoid climate‑related resource disruptions.
55
Give an example of regional energy interdependence risk.
Europe’s historic reliance on Russian gas pipelines; political tensions can endanger supply.
56
What is drip‑fed fertilizer precision agriculture?
Using sensors/GPS to apply exactly the nutrients needed, reducing waste and runoff, boosting yields sustainably.
57
Explain post‑harvest loss.
Food that spoils, is eaten by pests or otherwise wasted between harvest and reaching consumers—can be 20‑30 % in some developing regions.
58
What role does pricing play in energy conservation?
Higher tariffs or fuel taxes discourage excessive use and fund efficiency programs.
59
Describe the Indus Water Treaty briefly.
1960 agreement giving India control of eastern rivers and Pakistan the western branches, with World Bank oversight—one of the world’s longest‑standing water treaties.
60
What is desalination brine and its challenge?
Highly salty wastewater left after desalination; discharging it can harm marine life unless diluted or treated.
61
Define desertification.
Land degradation in dry areas where fertile soil loses productivity and becomes desert‑like due to over‑use, deforestation or climate change.
62
Why do some oil‑rich states pursue solar mega‑projects?
They have abundant sun and want to free up oil for export, cut domestic fuel subsidies and prepare for a low‑carbon future.
63
Give two benefits of LED street‑lighting in cities.
Uses up to 70 % less electricity and lowers maintenance costs compared with older lamps.
64
What is rainwater harvesting?
Collecting and storing rooftop or surface runoff during rains for later use, easing pressure on mains supply.
65
Explain multi‑cropping.
Growing two or more crops on the same field in a year to raise total output and land use efficiency.
66
What is the purpose of grain reserves?
Governments store staple grains to stabilize prices and supply during poor harvests or trade disruptions.
67
How can education improve resource conservation?
Teaching consumers and farmers efficient practices (e.g., shorter showers, correct fertilizer use) reduces waste.
68
What is a strategic petroleum reserve (SPR)?
Large government‑owned stockpile of crude oil to release during severe supply interruptions.
69
Why is over‑reliance on imported diesel risky for island nations?
Price spikes or shipping delays can cause power shortages and drain foreign exchange reserves.
70
How do subsidies affect water or energy use?
Cheap prices encourage over‑consumption; phasing out subsidies can cut waste but may need safety nets for the poor.
71
Define integrated resource management.
Coordinated planning of water, land, and energy systems considering their interdependence to achieve sustainable outcomes.
72
What is the link between irrigation pumps and energy security?
Pumping groundwater for farms raises electricity demand; power outages can cripple agriculture, showing water–energy dependence.
73
Give one pro‑ and one con‑ of large dams.
Pro: provide hydroelectricity, water storage & flood control. Con: displace communities, alter ecosystems and downstream flows.
74
Explain renewable intermittency.
Solar and wind output varies with sun and wind, requiring storage or backup to match constant demand.
75
How can climate change worsen resource conflicts?
Scarcer rains or crop failures heighten competition for water and land, increasing risk of local or cross‑border tensions.
76
What is a water footprint?
Total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by an individual or nation.
77
Name a technology that converts waste to energy.
Anaerobic digestion turns organic waste into biogas for electricity or cooking.
78
What does SDG 6 target 6.1 aim for?
Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030.
79
How can smart grids enhance energy security?
They use digital controls to balance supply and demand in real time, integrate renewables and reduce blackout risk.

IH Unit 1 (14 decks)

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