AO1 – Knowledge and understanding of the demand and security of energy and/or mineral resources. Knowledge and understanding of the geopolitics of resources.

AO2 – Application of knowledge and understanding to evaluate the extent to which management of energy and/or mineral resources is a geopolitical issue. Application of knowledge and understanding to assess the importance of geopolitics in resource and global security.

Notes for answers

The question links different parts of the Resource Security section specifically demand for energy and/or mineral resources and the geopolitics of resources. It also links future possibilities for resources and strategies for managing resources. There is no requirement for students to consider both resources and full marks could be achieved by only using one.

AO1

Components of demand for energy and mineral resources.
Global patterns of production, consumption and trade of energy and mineral ores.
Factors leading to increased demand: population pressures, increased affluence, climate change, technological advancements etc.
An understanding of the concept of geopolitics – the process by which countries and regions attempt to manage and affect the use of resources.
Knowledge and understanding of the geopolitics of energy and mineral ores in terms of distribution, trade and management.
Strategies to manage the consumption of energy and minerals, including international agreements and use of new technologies.

AO2

Evaluation of the role played by geopolitics in managing demand of resources. For example, OPEC control the supply of oil and in the 1970s withheld supplies of oil resulting in high oil prices. This in turn reduced the use of oil. However, this was inadvertent and not intentional.
Evaluation of the extent to which geopolitics can cause an increase in resource insecurity or demand would also be a valid response. Islamic State (ISIS) took control of many oil facilities in Iraq and disrupted the supplied increasing the insecurity of oil supplies in the region. Decision made in one country can increase demand in another. For example, increased demand on the US oil supplies during the Gulf Wars.
Analysis of the extent to which geopolitics is necessary in solving resource conflict. For example, President Obama signed an agreement in 2010 to restrict use of conflict minerals such as Coltan in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Increasing demand for Coltan for mobile phones was funding armed conflict.
Analysis of the increasing need for self-sufficiency in obtaining resource security and reducing the reliance on imports in some countries. Technological advancements may reduce the need for geopolitical decisions. For example, new technologies may allow us to separate and process rare earth chemicals reducing need for mineral such as coltan.
Analysis of the extent to which future technologies can overcome physical challenges in the specified place. For example, in Mexico City, extraction of water from deeper aquifers may be possible. Ecological rainwater capture is also being explored. However, these may be thwarted by economic costs. Fracking may have an important impact on the need to drill in Alaska. Therefore, less need to overcome the physical challenge of cold environments.
Evaluation of the role geopolitics can play in managing demand through international agreements. Climate change agreements should reduce demand on fossil fuels.
Evaluation of the importance of geopolitics in protecting wilderness areas with increased pressure on the demand for resources. For example, Montreal Protocol protects Antarctica from commercial mineral exploitation. These may need to increase in future as demand increases.
Analysis of future possibilities in terms of the roles played by TNCs rather than governments. Some may argue that TNCs are themselves important agents in geopolitics and/or point to the link between major TNCs and governments in shaping attitudes and policies regarding energy and mineral ore demand.
Analysis of how future changes in demand will be affected by growing populations, levels of business activity, urbanisation patterns and climate change. LICs are likely to see huge increases in energy demand. There may be greater use of large scale power plants, but sustainable small scale developments may be the way forward in many poorer countries. Therefore the degree to which geopolitics is important will vary depending on the size of future developments.
Answers should evaluate the relative importance of geopolitics in managing resource security in the face of increasing demand. Any conclusion is possible as long as it supported by evidence in the body of the answer. The conclusion will be very much dependant on resources discussed and the evidence used.

Credit any other valid approach.

Level 4 (16–20 marks)

Detailed evaluative conclusion that is rational and firmly based on knowledge and understanding which is applied to the context of the question (AO2).
Detailed, coherent and relevant analysis and evaluation in the application of knowledge and understanding throughout (AO2).
Full evidence of links between knowledge and understanding to the application of knowledge and understanding in different contexts (AO2).
Detailed, highly relevant and appropriate knowledge and understanding of place(s) and environments used throughout (AO1).
Full and accurate knowledge and understanding of key concepts and processes throughout (AO1).
Detailed awareness of scale and temporal change which is well integrated where appropriate (AO1).

Mineral Security (AQA A Level Geography)

Topic Questions