National and global energy resources: consider the environmental issues that may arise from the use of different energy resources

The idea

Every energy resource carries an environmental cost, and comparing them means tracing the whole chain from extraction to waste. Burning coal, oil and gas releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change, plus sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain. Nuclear fuel gives low carbon emissions in operation but leaves radioactive waste needing long-term safe storage. Renewables are not cost-free: wind turbines and solar farms alter landscapes and habitats, hydroelectric schemes flood valleys, tidal barrages disturb estuaries, and biomass burning still emits carbon dioxide. A useful method is a table listing each resource against carbon dioxide output, pollution, land use and habitat disruption, then judging which issues are local, national or global.

What earns the marks

• Identifies carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels as a greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change.
• Recognises sulfur dioxide from fossil fuel combustion as a cause of acid rain, damaging soils, lakes and buildings.
• States that nuclear power produces radioactive waste requiring safe long-term storage, despite low carbon emissions during operation.
• Describes visual and habitat impacts of renewable resources, such as wind farms, solar farms, hydroelectric reservoirs and tidal barrages.
• Notes that biomass combustion releases carbon dioxide and requires land that could otherwise be used for food or wildlife.
• Compares resources by scale and type of impact, distinguishing local effects such as land use from global effects such as climate change.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming renewable resources have no environmental impact.

  Put it right: All energy resources have some impact, for example land use, habitat change or noise.

• Confusing the greenhouse effect with acid rain.

  Put it right: Carbon dioxide drives climate change, while sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain.

• Stating that nuclear power releases carbon dioxide during operation.

  Put it right: Its main environmental issue is radioactive waste, not operational carbon emissions.

Exam tips

• Name the specific pollutant and its specific effect rather than writing vague phrases such as harms the environment.
• Use comparative language such as more, less, local or global to show judgement between resources.
• Link each issue to the resource that causes it, for example tidal barrages and estuary habitats, to gain credit for detail.