A Level H2 Geography Resources Sustainability Quiz

A-Level Geography H2 Quiz - Resources Sustainability (Answer Key)

Total Marks: 60

Section A: Source-Based Questions

1. Difference in Material Footprint:

• Calculation: $28.5 - 14.2 = 14.3$
• Answer: 14.3 tonnes per capita [1]

2. Relationship between GDP and Material Footprint:

• There is a positive correlation / direct relationship. [1]
• As GDP per capita increases, the Material Footprint per capita also increases (Country A has the highest GDP and highest footprint; Country D has the lowest GDP and lowest footprint). [1]

3. Meaning of "Decoupling":

• Decoupling refers to the process where economic growth (GDP/HDI) continues to rise while environmental pressure (resource use/ecological footprint) stabilizes or decreases. [2]
• It indicates that economies are becoming more efficient and less dependent on resource extraction for growth. [1]

4. Reasons for higher Resource Efficiency in Country A vs Country C:

• Reason 1: Technological Advancement: Country A likely employs advanced technology in manufacturing and services that allows for higher value output with less material input. [2]
• Reason 2: Economic Structure: Country A likely has a service-based economy (tertiary/quaternary sector) which is less material-intensive than the primary/agricultural or heavy industrial sectors likely dominant in Country C. [2] (Accept other valid reasons such as stricter environmental regulations, recycling infrastructure, or higher cost of resources driving efficiency.)

5. Dominant Waste Type:

• Biodegradable waste [0.5]
• 52% [0.5]

6. Environmental Hazard of Biodegradable Waste in Tropics:

• In tropical climates, high temperatures and humidity accelerate the anaerobic decomposition of biodegradable waste. [1]
• This process produces methane ($CH_4$), a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change. [1]
• It can also produce leachate (liquid runoff) which contaminates groundwater and soil if not properly managed in landfills. [1]

7. Social Implications of Informal Waste Picking:

• Positive: Provides a livelihood/income source for the urban poor who lack formal employment opportunities. [2]
• Negative: Poses significant health and safety risks due to exposure to hazardous materials, lack of protective gear, and poor sanitary conditions, leading to disease and injury. [2] (Award marks for balanced assessment.)

8. Definition of "Virtual Water":

• Virtual water is the hidden flow of water required to produce a commodity or service. [1]
• It is "traded" when goods (especially agricultural products) are imported or exported, effectively transferring the water used in production from the exporting country to the importing country. [1]

9. Virtual Water Trade and Sustainability in Water-Stressed Regions:

• It allows water-stressed regions to import water-intensive goods (e.g., grain, meat) rather than producing them domestically. [1]
• This conserves local domestic water resources for higher-value uses or drinking water. [1]
• It reduces the pressure on local aquifers and rivers, preventing over-extraction and environmental degradation. [1]

10. Limitation of Virtual Water Trade:

• Dependency Risk: Reliance on imports makes the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations, trade embargoes, or supply chain disruptions. [2] (Accept: Loss of local agricultural jobs; Carbon footprint of transport; Political leverage by exporting nations.)

Section B: Structured Response Questions

11. Resource Depletion vs. Degradation:

• Resource Depletion: The consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. It refers to the quantity of the stock decreasing.
  • Example: Exhaustion of crude oil reserves or overfishing leading to collapse of fish stocks. [2]
• Resource Degradation: The reduction in the quality or productivity of a resource, rendering it less useful or harmful.
  • Example: Soil erosion reducing fertility, or water pollution making water undrinkable. [2]

12. Strategies for Circular Economy:

• Strategy 1: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Legislation requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including take-back, recycling, and final disposal. This incentivizes durable design. [2]
• Strategy 2: Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) Models: Shifting from ownership to leasing (e.g., lighting, appliances). The manufacturer retains ownership and maintains/repairs the product, encouraging longevity and material recovery. [2] (Accept: Industrial symbiosis, design for disassembly, repair cafes.)

13. Technological Innovation: Support vs. Challenge:

• Support: Technology enables efficiency gains (e.g., precision agriculture reduces water/fertilizer use) and substitution (e.g., renewables replacing fossil fuels), allowing growth without proportional resource use. [3]
• Challenge: Jevons Paradox/Rebound Effect: Increased efficiency may lower costs, leading to higher overall consumption. Also, technology often requires rare earth minerals, shifting the burden rather than solving it, and may not address underlying overconsumption habits. [3]

14. Waste Management Challenges: Developed vs. Developing Megacities:

• Developed: Challenge is high volume of complex waste (e-waste, plastics) and high public expectation for zero-waste/recycling. High labor costs make manual sorting expensive. [3]
• Developing: Challenge is rapid urbanization outpacing infrastructure. Lack of formal collection services leads to open dumping. Large informal sector complicates regulation. Financial constraints limit investment in advanced treatment facilities. [3]

15. Carrying Capacity in Tourism:

• Carrying capacity is the maximum number of visitors an environment can sustain without causing unacceptable deterioration of the physical, ecological, or social environment. [2]
• In fragile environments (e.g., coral reefs), exceeding this limit leads to physical damage (breakage of coral), pollution (sunscreen, waste), and loss of biodiversity, undermining the resource base for future tourism. [2]

Section C: Extended Response / Essay Questions

16. Resource Curse Inevitability:

• Agreement: Abundance often leads to Dutch Disease (currency appreciation hurting other sectors), corruption, and conflict over rents (e.g., Nigeria, DRC). Governance structures may weaken. [3]
• Counter-Argument: It is not inevitable. Countries like Norway or Botswana used strong institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and transparent governance to convert resource wealth into sustainable development. Outcome depends on management, not just abundance. [2]

17. Effectiveness of Carbon Pricing:

• Effectiveness: Internalizes the externality of pollution, making carbon-intensive activities more expensive. Encourages firms to innovate and switch to low-carbon alternatives. Generates revenue for green investment. [3]
• Limitations: If the price is too low, it fails to change behavior. Risk of carbon leakage (companies moving to countries with no tax). Regressive impact on low-income households unless rebated. Political resistance. [2]

18. Foreign Aid and Sustainable Urban Development:

• Agreement: LDC cities lack capital for expensive infrastructure (sewage, mass transit). Aid provides technical expertise and initial funding (e.g., World Bank projects). [2]
• Disagreement: Aid can create dependency and may not align with local needs. Domestic resource mobilization (tax reform) and private sector investment are more sustainable. Example: Curitiba, Brazil improved sustainability through innovative local planning and bus rapid transit without heavy reliance on foreign aid. [3]

19. Role of Consumer Behaviour:

• Role: Consumer demand drives production. Shifts towards ethical consumption (fair trade, organic) and minimalism can force companies to adopt sustainable practices. [2]
• Sufficiency: Individual action is insufficient without systemic change. Structural barriers (lack of public transport, cheap plastic packaging) limit choices. "Greenwashing" misleads consumers. Government regulation and corporate accountability are required for scale. [3]

20. International Cooperation vs. National Policy:

• International Cooperation: Essential for global commons (atmosphere, oceans) which cross borders. Problems like climate change require coordinated targets (e.g., Paris Agreement). No single nation can solve transboundary pollution. [3]
• National Policy: Implementation happens at the national level. Without strong national laws, enforcement, and infrastructure, international agreements are meaningless. National sovereignty allows tailored solutions. Example: China’s national renewable energy push had a larger global impact than many international treaties. [2] (Award marks for balanced discussion referencing a specific resource.)