Management and sustainable use of energy resources are required at a range of spatial scales from local to international — Edexcel GCSE Geography A
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Management and sustainable use of energy resources are required at a range of spatial scales from local to international explained
Management and sustainable use of energy resources are required at a range of spatial scales from local to international covers 3 specification points, including A.
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Why renewable and non-renewable energy… and B. Different views held by individuals,…. Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
a. Why renewable and non-renewable energy resources require sustainable management.
This statement asks why both renewable and non-renewable energy resources need sustainable management. Non-renewable resources such as coal, oil and gas are finite, so extraction depletes reserves, and burning them adds pollution and climate change. Renewable resources such as wind and hydroelectric power are replenished naturally, yet they still need management: a dam can displace communities and disrupt rivers. Sustainable management meets present needs without reducing future supply, limits environmental damage and shares access fairly. Give a specific example for each resource type, then explain the purpose that management serves for each.
b. Different views held by individuals, organisations and governments on the management and sustainable use of energy resources.
This statement asks you to compare the views that different actors hold on managing and using energy resources sustainably. Individuals, organisations and governments weigh energy needs, economic costs, environmental protection and social fairness differently, so their views on the same issue can conflict. For example, a household may prioritise low bills, an environmental pressure group may prioritise cutting carbon emissions, and a national government may balance energy security against jobs and industry. Your task is to identify who holds each view, state that view clearly, and explain the reasons behind it. Strong answers connect each view to a named energy resource and to a scale from local to international, showing how the view can change as the scale changes.
c. How one developed country and one emerging country or developing country have attempted to manage their energy resources in a sustainable way.
This statement asks you to explain how one developed country and one emerging or developing country have each attempted to manage their energy resources sustainably. Germany's Energiewende, which expanded renewable generation and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, is one developed-country example. Kenya's geothermal power, drawn from volcanic heat in the Rift Valley, is one developing-country example. Both examples are illustrative, since the specification does not prescribe countries. For each case, describe the approach, explain how it aims to manage the resource sustainably, and give specific policy or project detail.
Your focus
- Explain why a named non-renewable energy resource needs sustainable management.
- Explain why a named renewable energy resource still needs management.
- Explain the purpose of sustainable management for present and future energy use.
Show all 9 objectives
- Identify at least two actors who hold different views on energy management.
- Explain the reasons behind each actor's view using a named energy resource.
- Compare how views on the same energy issue differ across local and international scales.
- Identify one developed country and one emerging or developing country that have managed energy resources sustainably.
- Describe a specific sustainable energy management approach in each chosen country.
- Explain how each approach seeks to manage its energy resource sustainably.
Management and sustainable use of energy resources are required at a range of spatial scales from local to international exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains why non-renewable resources are finite and need management to prevent depletion.
- Explains why renewable resources still need management, using a valid example such as dam impacts or over-harvested biomass.
- Explains the aim of sustainable management in terms of meeting present needs without reducing future supply.
- Links management to limiting environmental damage or sharing access fairly.
- Uses correct terminology such as reserves, depletion and replenishment.
- Identifies at least two different actors, such as an individual, an organisation and a government, and matches each to a distinct view.
- Explains the reasons behind each view, such as cost, energy security, environmental impact or social equity.
- Links each view to a named energy resource or management issue rather than offering general opinions about energy.
- Recognises that views may shift with scale, for example a local community compared with an international agreement.
- Selects one developed country and one emerging or developing country, and keeps the two clearly separated in the answer.
- Describes a specific sustainable management approach in each country, such as renewable generation or energy efficiency schemes.
- Explains how each approach aims to manage the resource sustainably, for example by reducing fossil fuel reliance or protecting local ecosystems.
- Uses specific policy or project detail for each country rather than general statements about renewable energy.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Address both resource types separately so the answer covers the whole statement.
- 💡Give one specific example for each resource type rather than general claims.
- 💡End each point by stating what sustainable management achieves for present and future use.
- 💡Plan two or three actors with contrasting priorities before you answer, so your explanation has clear differences to draw on.
- 💡For each actor, state the view, give one reason for it, and link it to a specific energy resource or scale.
- 💡Check that your answer shows differences between views, not only descriptions of one actor's position.
- 💡Choose two case studies you can describe in detail, and check that one fits the developed category and one fits the emerging or developing category.
- 💡For each country, state the approach, then explain how it promotes sustainable use of the resource.
- 💡Support each point with a specific named policy, project or resource, and keep the two countries separate.
Common Mistakes
- Assumes renewable resources need no management; explain that renewable sources can still be damaged or overused.
- Describes a management method without explaining why it is needed; state the purpose it serves.
- Confuses renewable with non-renewable; define each by whether it is replenished naturally on a human timescale.
- Treats all governments as holding one fixed view; correct this by showing that governments differ by country and political priorities.
- Describes a view without saying who holds it; name the individual, organisation or government every time.
- Offers a personal opinion on which view is right instead of explaining the reasons each actor holds; keep to explaining the views held.
- Uses two developed countries or two developing countries; correct this by including one of each category, as the statement requires.
- Describes energy use without any management strategy; correct this by focusing on deliberate approaches to using energy sustainably.
- Gives a general account of renewable energy worldwide; correct this by naming the country and its specific approach.