Changing Attitudes to Energy & the Environment (Edexcel GCSE Geography B)

Contrasting Views

• Different groups have contrasting views which vary between two points:

  • Business as usual which means that oil and gas will continue to supply most of the world's energy

  • Sustainable energy use where renewables will replace fossil fuels and reduce emissions

• The groups that have a view include:

  • Transnational corporations including oil and gas companies

  • Governments

  • Consumers

  • Climate scientists

  • Environmental organisations

Transnational corporations 

• Companies such as Shell, Exxon and BP who produce oil and gas supplies

  • BP state that they are working towards net zero and support sustainability

  • Shell support innovation to reduce carbon emissions

  • Continue to explore oil and gas reserves

  • Aim to maximise their profits

Government

• UK government views on energy future:

  • Investment in nuclear energy such as Sizewell C

  • Banning of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030

  • Schemes such as grants for installing energy efficient heating - ground and air source heat pumps

  • £265 million in subsidies for renewable energy sources

  • Main aim is to maintain energy security

Consumers

• Mainly consume electricity produced by fossil fuels

• Purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles make up 23% of all new car sales

• The additional cost often dissuades people from making sustainable choices

• Main concern is reliable and cheap energy

• Increased awareness of carbon emissions

Climate scientists

• Most climate scientists (over 95%) support the consensus that climate change is caused by human activity 

• They encourage more sustainable actions such as greater use of renewable energy

• Scientific evidence shows how the climate has changed

Environmental organisations

• Support and promote sustainable options as a way to:

  • Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

  • Protect wildlife and the environment

Changing Attitudes in Developed Countries

• Increasing wealth, environmental concerns and education are changing attitudes to energy consumption and carbon footprints

Ecological and carbon footprint

• Awareness of carbon footprints and ecological footprints has increased

• An ecological footprint is a measure of a person or groups use of natural resources

  • It is calculated in global hectares (gha)

  • Ecological footprints are higher in developed countries - USA 15.5 gha per person

  • In developing countries they are lower - Haiti 0.7gha per person

• The global average carbon footprint is 7 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) a year 

• People in developed countries have the highest carbon footprints - USA average is 21 tonnes CO2e a year

  • People in developing countries have the lowest carbon footprints - Malawi average is 0.2 tonnes CO2e a year

• All activities, individuals, organisations, places and products have a carbon footprint

Increasing wealth

• Increasing wealth leads to greater demand and use of energy due to:

  • Increasing numbers of cars

  • More imported food, increasing food miles

  • Greater amounts of technology which uses energy

• Greater wealth also means that more people can afford:

  • Energy efficient appliances

  • Homes improvements such as insulation, double glazing

  • Sustainable energy sources such as solar panels and air source heat pumps

  • Electric and hybrid cars

  • More investment in renewable energy

Environmental concerns

• Concern for the environment has increased due to the:

  • Work of pressure groups such as Friends of the Earth, WWF and Greenpeace

  • Greater prominence of environmental political parties - Green Party in the UK, the European Green Party

  • Increased awareness of the impact of utilising fossil fuels

• As people's main needs for food, water and shelter are met due to the development of countries they are no longer the main concerns

  • Pollution and environmental concerns become increasingly important to people

Education

• Climate change, global warming and carbon footprints are increasingly part of the school curriculum 

• Increased information from governments and environmental organisations about the impact of using fossil fuels

• People have a better understanding of their impact on the environment and so may:

  • Choose to buy local food - reducing food miles

  • Buy an electric or hybrid car

  • Use public transport more

  • Make home improvements to make homes more energy efficient