Fundamentals of Human Geography Chapter 13 Environment and Resources

Chapter 13 Environment and Resources Geography and the Environment It is important to remember that the topics previously covered in this book are related to each other , and they can all impact the physical environment . For example , rapid population growth increased our demand for resources such as fuel and food ( chapter ) this caused developing countries to extract more of their resources to sell in the global economy ( chapter ) leading to negative consequences for the welfare of their people ( food insecurity ) chapter 10 ) and the global environment ( deforestation , air pollution ) Fuel and Energy Resources Fossil fuels Fossil fuels refer to mainly coal , oil , and natural gas . They are created by the decomposition of ancient living matter ( plants , microorganisms ) which are in finite supply , hence they are a

prime example of resources that we can exhaust one day . What Are Fossil Fuels ?

Fossil fuels are made of decomposed ancient plant and animal remnants . Learn about their uses in ou The spatial distribution of fossil fuels is not even . In other words , some countries in the world ( Russia , the , Venezuela , Middle East ) have a larger share of the proven reserves , or fossil fuel deposits that can be recovered with some certainty , compared to others . Have a look at the maps below to see where the earth proven reserves can be found . ASIA A . Orson AFRICA 501 . uses tan , mo , 0565 4000 um Powered by

Ten countries with the most oil reserves in the world as of 2020 . Data source Energy Information Administration ) TH . I I ( ru taunt ( AFRICA SUI ' RI ( AL . bar 4000 Powered by Ten countries with the most natural gas reserves in the world as of 2021 . Data source Energy Information Administration )

4000 Powered by Ten countries with the most coal reserves in the world as of 2019 . Data source Energy Information Administration ) Keep in mind that just because a country has a large reserve of fossil fuel , it may not necessarily be extracting it or putting it in production . For example , Venezuela has roughly 300 billion barrels of oil reserves , but it is only producing barrels per day ( in 2020 ) due to political factors like mismanagement and corruption . Renewable energy sources Renewable resources are things that can replenish themselves over time even as they are used . In the context of energy , a renewable energy source can keep replacing the energy that has been used . Examples of renewable energy include solar ( from the sun ) wind ( from wind ) from running water ) from crops ) and geothermal energy ( from heat within the earth ) While the two biggest emitters of carbon dioxide ( a contributor to global warming ) China and the , have invested heavily in renewable energy in recent decades , only a minority ( of their electricity comes from renewable sources . Meanwhile , many countries in the Africa region get as much as of their energy from renewable '

Take a look at the slideshow below to see how the amount of renewable energy overall and the specific types of renewable energy ( solar , wind , geothermal , biofuel ) generated in different countries changed over time . Share of electricity production from , 2021 include electricity production from , solar , wind , biomass waste , geothermal , wave , and tidal sources World , No data 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Source Our World in Data based on Statistical Review of World Energy ( 2022 ) in Data based on Ember Yearly BY Electricity Data ( 2022 ) in Data based on Ember European Electricity Review ( 2022 ) 98 202 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD

Solar power generation , 2021 Electricity generation from solar , measured in ( per year . World . 20 60 No data 10 40 Source Our World in Data based on Review of World Energy Ember BY 96 202 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD generation , 2021 In Data Annual generation is measured in ( 43 25 75 250 750 No data 10 50 100 500 Source Our World in Data based on Statistical Review of World Energy Ember BY 96 202 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD

Wind power generation , 2021 Annual electricity generation from wind is measured in ( per year , This includes both onshore and offshore wind sources World ' 10 50 100 200 No data 25 75 150 225 Source Our World in Data based on Statistical Review of World Energy ( 2022 ) in Data based on Ember Yearly BY Electricity Data ( 2022 ) in Data based on Ember European Electricity Review ( 2022 ) 96 202 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD . id Installed geothermal energy , 2020 Cumulative installed capacity of geothermal , measured in megawatts . World ) 100 No data 50 500 Source Statistical Review of World Energy ( 2021 ) BY 1990 2020 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD

Biofuel energy production , 2021 Total biofuel production is measured in ( per year . Biofuel production includes both and biodiesel . World ( ii , i ii 25 100 500 No data 10 SO 250 Source Statistical Review of Wor Energy BY 1990 202 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD Environmental Issues Climate change The earth climate has been changing naturally for thousands of years due to natural factors such as changes in the energy output and larger volcanic eruptions that change the composition of the atmosphere . However , since the Industrial Revolution in the late , anthropogenic or human activities , such as burning fossil fuels to power machines and raising livestock to feed a growing population , have increased the levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide ( and methane ( in the atmosphere .

emissions ( Global carbon dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2019 ( Source The World Bank , Greenhouse gases have been in the atmosphere long before the Industrial Revolution . These gases kept the earth warm enough for life through the natural process known as the greenhouse effect , whereby the sun that was by the Earth surfaces ( buildings , roads , ground ) were absorbed and by these gases . However , with greenhouses gases added to the atmosphere by anthropogenic activities , the greenhouse effect went into overdrive and trapped additional heat , leading to additional warming of the earth , melting sea ice , rising sea levels , and an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms and droughts , to name a few .

What are NASA satellites telling us about the impacts of climate change ( Source NASA ) While there are international meetings ( United Nations Climate Change Conference ) and by countries ( The Paris Agreement ) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions , there are no supranational organizations to monitor or enforce these agreements . As a result , the successes of these international efforts are limited since individual countries are responsible for the implementation of these agreements with minimal oversight . Why humans are so bad at thinking about climate change ?

Source Vox ) Water pollution The demand for freshwater is increasing in urban centers due to the migration of people to cities , and it is similarly increasing in rural areas due to the demand for more water to grow more food for the world expanding population . Despite the increased demand for freshwater , freshwater supply in specific regions is actually decreasing due to natural factors like periodic droughts as well as anthropogenic factors like water pollution . Extreme Drought ) Exceptional Drought ) No Data Use this slider tool to compare the drought situation across the United States on two dates ( Source National Draught Mitigation Center at the University of ) Ground and surface waters ( water in rivers and lakes ) can be polluted by agricultural and industrial chemicals , runoff from roads and other urban surfaces ( parking lots and roofs ) and untreated sewage . In addition to reducing the freshwater supply that is suitable for human consumption , water pollution can also harm aquatic life . One example of this is the process of , which ultimately leads to suffocation and extensive fish kills in a process . Agricultural chemicals ( fertilizers ) are washed into a lake or similar water body by rainfall or irrigation .

. Massive growth of algae in the lake due to the added nutrients ( nitrogen , phosphorus ) provided by the fertilizers . Massive growth of algae eventually blocks sunlight needed for photosynthesis and lead to massive of algae . Bacterial decomposition of dead algae use up oxygen in the lake , leading to the suffocation of aquatic life and fish kills . A explanation of ( Source ) In coastal regions , the overuse of groundwater led to the problem of seawater intrusion . Specifically , the material lowering of water level due to the overuse or of groundwater causes seawater to be drawn towards and intrude upon the ge freshwater supplies ( see graphic in the image on the right ) resulting in the a degradation of water quality that is no ' a ' i longer suitable for drinking nor ( A ) Freshwater moving seaward keeps seawater out of the freshwater supply in the aquifer . of freshwater from the aquifer allows seawater to intrude upon the freshwater supply . Use of an injection well to pump freshwater into the ground in Solid waste Waste that 18 Improperly order to keep seawater out of the freshwater supply . of can cause land , water , and air ( Source ) pollution . Waste ( batteries ) that are buried in the ground can decay over time and release toxic substances ( mercury , cadmium , lead ) Some of these toxic substances may stay in the soil , while others may be picked up by water that is percolating downward and ultimately polluting the groundwater supplies .

Total by Material . 2018 Ions In other cases , in many developing and developed countries that lack adequate Mis ( 227426 Paper and may , es residents may resort to illegally Rubber and dumping their trash in open spaces or mi burning their trash due to the lack of I reliable trash services . The improper A breakdown of total municipal waste that was sent to burning of trash can release toxic air by material as ( contaminants like , which can cause cancer as well as productive and developmental problems . Even with reliable trash services and the disposal of trash in designated landfills , there are growing concerns about the types of trash entering these landfills and the emissions from these landfills . For example , according to the Environmental Protection Agency ( of the million tons of municipal solid waste that were sent to landfills , of it was food waste . The decomposition of food waste leads California Climate Fight ! to the emission of greenhouse gases I I mu mam . El Promotional created by California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery ( to In response to this concern , states educate the public about the purpose Bill 1383 ( Source ) such as carbon dioxide and methane , further contributing to the problem of climate change . as California passed regulations ( State Senate Bill 1383 ) that require residents and businesses to properly dispose of organic waste ( food scraps , yard waste ) by composting them . Learn how food waste became a climate change issue ( Source News ) A Sustainable Future

According to the United Nations , sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs . This goal is increasingly difficult to achieve due to a growing population and the exploitation of natural resources . However , sustainable development is still achievable in the coming decades by tackling some of the root causes of environmental destruction , which include mass consumption and global poverty . Mass consumption As people in developing countries become more , their consumption patterns become increasingly similar to the excessive mass consumption already seen in developed countries . For example , China is now experiencing the same trend of decentralization and urban sprawl that many developed countries have been experiencing . As more Chinese families move to the suburbs and commute to work in the city , the consumption of fossil fuels in China increased nearly 25 times between 1965 and 2021 . Fossil fuel consumption In Data Add country China United States 1965 1980 1990 2000 2021 Source Our World in Data based on Statistical Review of World Energy BY 1965 2021 CHART MAP TABLE SOURCES . DOWNLOAD ' A comparison of fossil fuel consumption between China and the between 1965 and 2021 ( Source Global Change Data Lab , BY ) To conserve fossil fuel ( use a resource sustainably so they will be available for future generations ) and preserve land

( keep natural areas in their native state ) some countries have promoted the idea of smart growth , which concentrates residents in higher density living spaces with walkable access to a variety of services and transit options . Global poverty In the book Our Common Future , published by the United Nations Commission , one of the key findings is the negative impact that poverty has on sustainability and the exploitation of environmental resources . This prompted calls to lift countries out of poverty and promote economic development . However , as seen in the previous section , if not carefully structured , rising and economic development may actually encourage mass consumption and lead to further environmental damage . Indigenous knowledge meets science to take on climate change Ibrahim ( Source TED via YouTube , Instead of solely focusing on promoting economic growth , experts are now suggesting that these efforts need to be targeted at the local level across the globe . Specifically , efforts aimed at lifting local communities out of poverty need to be informed by knowledge and local concerns , rather than the needs of transnational corporations .

Conclusion There are many environmental issues in our world today . These issues are not insurmountable , but the solutions to these issues are beyond the capacity of a single country or even a group of countries . Instead , according to the United Nations , Antonio , sustainable development and fair globalization requires global action , local action , and people action . Global action requires the international community and the private sector to provide technological and financial assistance to countries most at risk , so they can provide essential goods and services to lift local communities out of poverty . Local action focuses on crafting domestic policies and working with local authorities to protect human rights , fight climate change , and other efforts to improve people ( ALS Learn about the United Nations sustainable development goals ( adopted by all member states in 2015 ) that aim to provide a shared peace and people and the planet ( Source United Nations ) People action calls on nonprofit organizations , the private sector , academia , and their partners to come together and create new technologies and business models that can ensure more equitable access to information and the resources . Environmental issues of today have been decades or centuries in the making , and it requires the collective efforts of people across state borders at the global and local levels to address these issues . To do nothing will only lead to environmental problems that will be felt across the globe in the current generation and for many generations to come .

By Wing Cheung , College Keeping the world interesting one map at a time Fundamentals of Human Geography by Wing Cheung is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International ( BY )