The impact of development on the environment of two or more African countries

This topic examines how economic development, industrialisation, and urbanisation have transformed the physical and human environments of African countries, with a focus on contrasting case studies such as Nigeria and Kenya. Students explore the dual impact: while development brings infrastructure, employment, and improved living standards, it also leads to deforestation, biodiversity loss, water and air pollution, and land degradation. The topic is central to understanding the tensions between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 15 (life on land).

In Nigeria, rapid urbanisation and oil extraction have caused severe environmental damage, including oil spills in the Niger Delta, gas flaring contributing to acid rain, and mangrove destruction. Meanwhile, Kenya’s development, driven by agriculture, tourism, and geothermal energy, has led to deforestation in the Mau Forest, soil erosion, and pollution in Lake Nakuru. Both cases illustrate the concept of environmental degradation as a cost of development, but also highlight mitigation strategies such as reforestation programmes, renewable energy transitions, and stricter environmental regulations.

This topic fits within the WJEC A-Level Geography theme of 'Global Systems and Global Governance' and 'Changing Places'. It requires students to apply knowledge of development theories (e.g., Rostow’s model, dependency theory) and environmental concepts (e.g., the tragedy of the commons, sustainability). Understanding these impacts is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of international agreements like the Paris Agreement and national policies such as Kenya’s Vision 2030.