Geography A-Level
Path Dependency
What Path Dependency means in Geography A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definition of Path Dependency
The tendency for a system to continue along a specific trajectory due to historical investments in infrastructure, often referred to as 'Carbon Lock-in'.
Topics that use Path Dependency
- The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
- Anthropogenic
- Anthropogenic Forcing
- Carbon Intensity
- Carbon Sequestration
- Carbon Sequestration and Storage
- Chemical Weathering and Carbonation
- Cryosphere
- Decarbonisation
Using Path Dependency in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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