Changing Attitudes to Energy and the Environment (Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0))

• Different groups have contrasting views which vary between two points:
  
  • Business as usual which means that oil and gas will continue to supply most of the world's energy
  • Sustainable energy use where renewables will replace fossil fuels and reduce emissions
• The groups that have a view include:
  • Transnational corporations including oil and gas companies
  • Governments
  • Consumers
  • Climate scientists
  • Environmental organisations

Transnational corporations 

• Companies such as Shell, Exxon and BP who produce oil and gas supplies
  • BP state that they are working towards net zero and support sustainability
  • Shell support innovation to reduce carbon emissions
  • Continue to explore oil and gas reserves
  • Aim to maximise their profits

Government

• UK government views on energy future:
  • Investment in nuclear energy such as Sizewell C
  • Banning of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030
  • Schemes such as grants for installing energy efficient heating - ground and air source heat pumps
  • £265 million in subsidies for renewable energy sources
  • Main aim is to maintain energy security

Consumers

• Mainly consume electricity produced by fossil fuels
• Purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles make up 23% of all new car sales
• The additional cost often dissuades people from making sustainable choices
• Main concern is reliable and cheap energy
• Increased awareness of carbon emissions

Climate scientists

• Most climate scientists (over 95%) support the consensus that climate change is caused by human activity 
• They encourage more sustainable actions such as greater use of renewable energy
• Scientific evidence shows how the climate has changed

Environmental organisations

• Support and promote sustainable options as a way to:
  • Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
  • Protect wildlife and the environment

• Increasing wealth, environmental concerns and education are changing attitudes to energy consumption and carbon footprints

Ecological and carbon footprint

• Awareness of carbon footprints and ecological footprints has increased
• An ecological footprint is a measure of a person or groups use of natural resources
  • It is calculated in global hectares (gha)
  • Ecological footprints are higher in developed countries - USA 15.5 gha per person
  • In developing countries they are lower - Haiti 0.7gha per person

Ecological footprint

• The global average carbon footprint is 7 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) a year 
• People in developed countries have the highest carbon footprints - USA average is 21 tonnes CO2e a year
  • People in developing countries have the lowest carbon footprints - Malawi average is 0.2 tonnes CO2e a year
• All activities, individuals, organisations, places and products have a carbon footprint

Average CO2 emissions per person

Increasing wealth

• Increasing wealth leads to greater demand and use of energy due to:
  • Increasing numbers of cars
  • More imported food, increasing food miles
  • Greater amounts of technology which uses energy
• Greater wealth also means that more people can afford:
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Homes improvements such as insulation, double glazing
  • Sustainable energy sources such as solar panels and air source heat pumps
  • Electric and hybrid cars
  • More investment in renewable energy

Environmental concerns

• Concern for the environment has increased due to the:
  • Work of pressure groups such as Friends of the Earth, WWF and Greenpeace
  • Greater prominence of environmental political parties - Green Party in the UK, the European Green Party
  • Increased awareness of the impact of utilising fossil fuels
• As people's main needs for food, water and shelter are met due to the development of countries they are no longer the main concerns
  • Pollution and environmental concerns become increasingly important to people

Education

• Climate change, global warming and carbon footprints are increasingly part of the school curriculum 
• Increased information from governments and environmental organisations about the impact of using fossil fuels
• People have a better understanding of their impact on the environment and so may:
  • Choose to buy local food - reducing food miles
  • Buy an electric or hybrid car
  • Use public transport more
  • Make home improvements to make homes more energy efficient