Resource management flashcards

Resource management explores how the world's natural resources — food, water and energy — are distributed unevenly across the globe, creating areas of surplus and deficit. Students must understand why demand for these resources is rising, linked to population growth, economic development and changing lifestyles. The topic examines how the UK manages its own food, water and energy needs, including the challenges of an ageing infrastructure and reliance on imports. At a global scale, students look at one resource in depth — food, water or energy — exploring the causes of insecurity, its impacts on people and environments, and a range of strategies used to increase supply or manage demand more sustainably. Evaluating the effectiveness and sustainability of these strategies is a key higher-level skill.

1. Card 1

   What is meant by 'resource security'?

   Resource security means having a reliable, affordable and sufficient supply of a resource to meet a population's needs both now and in the future.

2. Card 2

   What is the difference between a resource surplus and a resource deficit?

   A surplus means supply exceeds demand; a deficit means demand exceeds supply. Wealthy countries often have surpluses while poorer countries frequently face deficits.

3. Card 3

   Give two reasons why global demand for resources is increasing.

   Population growth means more people need food, water and energy. Rising economic development raises living standards so individuals consume more resources per person.

4. Card 4

   What is 'water stress' and which regions are most affected?

   Water stress occurs when demand for water approaches or exceeds available supply. Regions such as the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia are most severely affected.

5. Card 5

   How does the UK currently meet its energy needs?

   The UK uses a energy mix including natural gas, nuclear power, renewables such as wind and solar, and some coal. It also imports energy, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions.

6. Card 6

   What is 'food insecurity' and what are its main causes?

   Food insecurity is when people lack reliable access to sufficient nutritious food. Causes include poverty, drought, conflict, poor infrastructure and rapid population growth.

7. Card 7

   What is the 'water footprint' of a product?

   The water footprint is the total volume of freshwater used to produce a good, including growing, processing and transport. Meat has a much higher water footprint than vegetables.

8. Card 8

   What is desalination and what is its main disadvantage?

   Desalination removes salt from seawater to produce drinking water. Its main disadvantage is that it requires large amounts of energy, making it expensive and potentially harmful to the environment.

9. Card 9

   What is 'sustainable food production' and give one example?

   Sustainable food production meets current food needs without damaging the ability of future generations to meet theirs. One example is organic farming, which avoids synthetic chemicals.

10. Card 10

    What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources?

    Renewable sources such as wind and solar are naturally replenished and will not run out. Non-renewable sources such as coal and oil are finite and will eventually be exhausted.

11. Card 11

    Why is the south-east of England considered a water deficit area?

    The south-east has a water deficit because it has a high population density and relatively low rainfall compared to the north and west of the UK, creating a mismatch between supply and demand.

12. Card 12

    What is 'energy insecurity' and what problems can it cause?

    Energy insecurity is an unreliable or insufficient energy supply. It can cause economic slowdown, political tension between nations, fuel poverty and disruption to industry and daily life.

• Many students confuse 'water scarcity' (not enough water physically available) with 'water stress', which refers to the pressure on supply when demand is high, even if some water exists.
• Students often assume that only poor or developing countries face resource insecurity, when in fact wealthy countries like the UK also have regional deficits in water and rely on energy imports.
• A common exam error is describing strategies for increasing resource supply without evaluating their sustainability or considering the social, economic and environmental trade-offs involved.

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