AO1 (3 marks)/AO2 (9 marks)

Marking instructions
Markers must apply the descriptors in line with the general marking guidance and the qualities outlined in the levels-based mark scheme below.
Responses that demonstrate only AO1 without any AO2 should be awarded marks as follows:

Level 1 AO1 performance: 1 mark
Level 2 AO1 performance: 2 marks
Level 3 AO1 performance: 3 marks.

Indicative content guidance
The indicative content below is not prescriptive and candidates are not required to include all of it. Other relevant material not suggested below must also be credited.
Relevant points may include:

AO1

Re-balancing the carbon cycle could be achieved through mitigation (carbon taxation, renewable switching, energy efficiency, afforestation, carbon capture and storage) but this requires global scale agreement and national actions both of which have proved to be problematic.
Renewable and recyclable energy (nuclear power, wind power and solar power) could help decouple fossil fuel from economic growth; these energy sources have costs and benefits economically, socially, and environmentally and in terms of their contribution they can make to energy security.
Radical technologies, including carbon capture and storage and alternative energy sources (hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles) could reduce carbon emissions but uncertainty exists as to how far this is possible.
Biofuels are an alternative energy source that are increasing globally; growth in biofuels however has implications for food supply as well as uncertainty over how ‘carbon neutral’ they are.

AO2

According to the IEA renewables are predicted to account for 36% of the total reduction in CO2 emissions if the UN sustainable development (Goal 13) is to be met therefore showing that the use of renewables is a key element in the implementation COP21 agreed in Paris 2015 which aims to rebalance the carbon cycle by cutting global emissions to below 20 Gt per year by 2040 and so reduces the risks of further planetary warming.
In particular renewables have a vital role to play in the creation of low carbon electricity with recent developments of solar photovoltaics (PV) allowing renewables to account for two-thirds of global new net electricity capacity additions thus reducing the contribution of fossil fuels to the world’s increasing demand for electric power.
Furthermore renewables also play a vital role on the switch to electric vehicles as the CO2 emissions saved by using such vehicles can only be realised if the electricity used to recharge the vehicles is itself obtained from carbon free sources.
Renewables also have a key role to closing the electrification gap in developing Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with renewables being increasingly used in off-grid capacity from industrial applications, solar home systems (SHSs), and minigrids which will allow basic electricity services to delivered and therefore reduce the use of traditional cooking and lighting fuels thereby reducing carbon emissions and so reducing the risks of further planetary warming.
Despite these key roles energy efficiency and other sources will deliver far more of the carbon reduction needed to keep the temperature of the earth well below 2C than the treaty envisages.
Indeed, this already proved to have been key in reducing the rate of rising emissions as since 2000 energy emissions have been responsible for as reduction of 12% of CO2 emissions had not such efficiencies been in place. Crucially CO2 energy intensity is set to decline at a rate of over 2 % per year and so will allow continued economic development whilst meeting the COP21 targets.
The use of biofuels which are expected to represent over 90% of total energy consumption for vehicles not using fossil fuels by the end of the target date as in contrast to VHHD countries where electricity charging stations are being developed, in other LHD and HMHD it will be simpler to replace fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel with bioethanol and biodiesel.
In addition it also seems clear that if these reduction in CO2 are to be achieved as well as the use of renewables, efficiency and biofuels there will also be the need for the addition of carbon sinks. All players recognise the need for afforestation as well as CCS technology to be developed alongside renewables if COP21 is to be met which therefore reduces the risks of further planetary warming.
Furthermore renewables will only be able to reduce the levels of CO2 emitted – there are other anthropogenic emissions that are leading to the degradation of the carbon cycle such as methane and carbon monoxide that the use of renewables will have a limited impact upon. In addition renewables still account for only just above 10% of final energy consumption and the energy sector remains dominated by fossil fuels.
Overall the use of renewables is a key component of the ways in which governments can meet their pledges to the COP21 and and so reduce the risks of further planetary warming. It is however just one of the many steps to take if global warming is to be kept below 2C.

Accept other assessments of the importance of renewable energy in reducing the risks of further planetary warming.

Increasing Demand for Energy (Edexcel A Level Geography)

Topic Questions