People and planet case studies

1. People and Planet
Case Studies
Question 1
Population Dynamics
Question 2
Consuming Resources
Question 3
Globalisation
Question 4
Development
Dilemmas
Question 5
The Changing
economy of the UK
Question 7
The Challenges of
an Urban World
Non Renewable Resource: Oil
•Oil is found in greatest quantities in the Middle East. E.g.
Saudi Arabia
•Consumption of resources is highest in developed
countries. E.g. The USA or UK. This is because of greater
car ownership and wealth to afford goods which consume
electricity (e.g. computers and TV’s). They must import the
oil from countries like Saudi Arabia
Future consumption of resources will be
determined by economic growth (increasing
demand), the possible switch to renewable
energy as well as international relations (e.g.
countries choosing to preserve their own
supplies rather than exporting them).
Renewable Resource: HEP
•HEP is only available in countries with high rainfall
and large rivers. Although it is renewable and many
countries. E.g. Egypt choose to use it, many can not.
This could be because they are too dry or flat. They
may also want to avoid the environmental problems
dams can cause and displacing people in order to
create reservoirs.
•Electricity from HEP can not be transported (like
oil) so it is consumed in the country which supplies
it.
Nike operates in many countries around the world.
- The headquarters and much of the research and development for new
products is found in the USA and other developed countries. This is because of
the skilled labour and hi-tech facilities.
- The secondary work in factories is found in countries like China and Indonesia.
This is because labour is much cheaper and laws are less strict. I.e. health and
safety regulations are more relaxed which helps to keep costs lower. Nike has
even been found to employ children. Workers often have poor wages and
difficult working conditions (long hours and they have been known to be
beaten).
- Nike is also attracted to China because it is offered incentives like lower
taxes to locate factories there (in FTZs). The environmental rules are often
ignored, this helps keep production costs low as Nike do not have to pay to
reduce pollution.
- TNCs like Nike and McDonalds will try to expand shops and restaurants into
new countries around the world to increase their sales.
- Nike has also grown by merging with other companies such as Converse and
Hurley (to increase its market share). It has also diversified its products and
sells a greater variety of goods to increase profits.
BT is a TNC which operates in different countries around the world.
- The headquarters are found in the UK due to the skilled labour.
- BT also operates in India and has call centres in Bangalore. It has located its
call centres in Bangalore because the labour is cheaper, and working hours are
longer. This helps to cut costs.
- It is also because Bangalore has a well educated population with many people
speaking English (due to its Commonwealth links) and universities (well educated
population). This is important as the workers will need to speak to customers in
the UK.
- BT has located its call centres in India because Bangalore is well connected
and has good enough infrastructure to support their footloose industry, reduce
their costs and therefore increase profits.
- Bangalore has also attracted other hi tech companies which helps improve the
infrastructure and also attracts highly skilled workers. Bangalore attracts a lot
of this outsourcing so workers are specialised and well trained.
- Outsourcing to India also helps BT to expand into new markets, which it has
also done by buying out smaller companies or mergers.
Narmada River Scheme: Top down Development
Project
Top Down: Government led, large project often very
expensive
Positives: Jobs provided (incomes) to build and
maintain the dams, clean water as well as water for
irrigation. Floods are now prevented and HEP
(renewable energy) is produced for India’s growing
cities.
Negatives: People lost their homes (320,000) when
the dam was built, farmers use more fertilisers
(pollution), electricity from HEP is unaffordable to
many local villages.
Impacts of Deindustrialisation and diversification on Glasgow
- Glasgow’s economy is dependent on ship building. Cheap competition from abroad led to the decline of these industries
- Other industries collapsed too. E.g. Steel was no longer needed to build the ships. Coal was no longer needed to make the steel. Many jobs were lost
in Glasgow
- Loss of income for workers led to a cycle of decline (e.g. loss of income for shops and services (as people have less money to spend). A rise in the
number of people claiming benefits. A rise in crime, alcoholism and deprivation
- No new investment in area, as area becomes more deprived. Migration. People move away from Glasgow to find work elsewhere (particularly people
with skills)
- Economic Diversification: A cycle of growth is created as new industries are encouraged to locate in the area (often with government grants)
creating employment and the multiplier effect. E.g. Arts, culture and tourism (e.g. Glasgow has the Scottish exhibition centre. This also helps local
hotels and restaurants by attracting tourists). Mixed use developments (Riverside flats and shops have been redeveloped). Media (The BBC HQ for
Scottish TV).
Challenges in the Developing World. E.g. Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro
Slum Housing: Homes are built from scrap material on spare land (often unsafe from flooding
or too steep) No electricity, clean running water, sewage or waste disposal. This can lead to
diseases.
Pollution: Traffic congestion and poorly maintained cars generate air pollution. This can lead to
health problems.
Employment: Most people are employed in the informal sector (e.g. street trading) because
there are not enough formal jobs. Informal work is unreliable and poorly paid. People have no
benefits or job security.
Challenges in the Developed World. E.g. London, UK
Food: Most food is imported, therefore increasing
pollution (food miles).
Energy: The consumption of energy is very high as
people demand a high standard of living and have
many goods which need electricity. Much of the
energy comes from fossil fuel power stations which
create greenhouse gases.
Transport: Traffic congestion is high due to high
car ownership and large numbers of commuters /
deliveries. This increases air pollution and can lead
to health problems.
Waste: Large amounts of waste are produced due
to packaged goods and consumerism. Much goes to
landfill sites which are becoming full.
Managing Challenges in the Developing World. E.g. Rocinha, Rio
de Janeiro
-Self help schemes: Councils provide local people with
equipment and materials and the local people work as a
community to make improvements. A cheap way to improve
shanty towns which encourages community spirit.
-NGOs work with street children, teaching them skills needed
to find jobs
Masdar City, United Arab Emirates
A new city built and designed to be environmentally friendly.
It uses renewable energy and electric cars to reduce its eco-
footprint.
However it is very expensive and sometimes the new
technology it uses takes much longer to develop than first
thought so delays are common.
Masdar also uses water to cool the air. Water is very scarce
in the desert.
Mexico City, Mexico
The government has introduced a scheme to limit people’s car
use and cut carbon emissions. People can only drive in the city
on certain days depending on their number plate (a scheme
called ‘Ho No Circula’). It has reduced pollution … however
many wealthy people have just bought a second car and
because the city is still growing so too is car ownership.
Managing Challenges in the Developed World.
E.g. London
-Congestion charging to reduce carbon
emissions and improve air quality in central
London
-Cycle hire schemes and cycle super highways
have made it easier for people to cycle in
London
-Improvements in public transport (including
hybrid buses) to reduce emissions
Reducing eco-footprints: BedZED, London
-Sustainable housing using energy efficient
technology, recycled materials and renewable
energy to reduce eco-footprints and carbon
emissions
Uganda: A Less Developed Country in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Uganda is landlocked so has no access to ports, this means it has to
rely on other countries to export its goods which is expensive.
- Uganda has a very youthful population with 55% of people under 18;
this means there are very large numbers who need to get jobs to
prevent unemployment.
- Uganda relies on one or two exports like coffee, and changes in
coffee prices could reduce Uganda’s income leaving it with less
money to invest.
- Many people in Uganda live in rural, isolated communities. Farming is
often subsistence and people become trapped in the ‘cycle of
poverty’.
- Uganda receives little FDI from TNCs. This is due to poor
infrastructure (many rural areas in Uganda are isolated), poor
education (many families cannot afford to send children to school.
This means the workforce is less educated), HIV/AIDS is an issue in
many rural communities, especially where literacy and education
levels are low.
- Although some success: The economy has grown since 2002: Much
of it’s debt was paid cancelled so it was able to use the money to
invest in infrastructure, education and health. Primary schooling is
free and literacy is improving
Industrial structure - North East and South
East Regions
•NE
- Most employment is in manufacturing
(secondary industries)
- De-industrialisation led to high levels of
unemployment
- Reliant on public sector jobs (tertiary)
although due to the recession the govt have cut
many of these jobs
- Some call centres (Orange) have located here
due to the low wages in the region - tertiary
•SE
- Has become a centre for quaternary
industries: Due to educated / skilled workforce.
The M4 corridor (near London, Heathrow,
motorway). This has created a centre for
research due to its favourable location and
skilled workers.
- Large number of banking and finance jobs
(tertiary) in London due to the skilled workforce
and links with Europe and the rest of the world.
Ageing Population: UK
•Population pyramid is narrow at the base due to
falling birth rates. It is wider at the top due to
long life expectancy.
•People are living longer because of better
healthcare, diets, lifestyle, pension schemes and
OAP homes.
•High numbers of old people cost the state lots
of money for pensions and healthcare
•With more elderly dependants and less
economically active the govt make less money
through taxes
•Government encourage migration to fill jobs and
cope with paying for the ageing population
•The government has an ‘open door’ migration
policy to fill jobs and to earn money / tax’s.
Youthful Population: China
•Population pyramid is wide at the base due to
high number of young dependants
•Rapidly growing population will mean
resources will run out
•Will not be enough jobs, food or housing for
everyone
•High young dependant population
•Government anti-natal policy to reduce the
birth rate
•One child policy (one child only per family)
Managing Population Change
•Pro-natal: Encouraging higher
birth rates: E.g. Sweden offers
increased maternity leave, free
nursery care and increased child
benefits.
•Anti-natal: Trying to reduce
birth rates. E.g. China’s one child
policy or free contraception.
Why is population / migration
controlled?
- To avoid a strain on resources
(food, housing), to avoid over (or
under) population), to provide for
an ageing population or to fill
shortages in certain jobs.
As UK mines became deeper it became cheaper
to import coal from Russia. Many mines were
closed in the 1980’s, reducing primary jobs.
Many (secondary) manufacturing jobs have
been lost (as TNCs can produce them cheaper
abroad). However car manufacturing still
employs many people, although most companies
are foreign (e.g. Toyota)
Tertiary jobs have grown a lot because the UK
is wealthier so can afford to provide services
for its citizens
The quaternary sector has grown, it is very
well paid. The UK has a well-educated
workforce who are able to be employed in this
sector.