Note: in AQA GCSE Geography you study ONE of food, water or energy in detail. This lesson is for students who choose energy. The earlier lessons on food security and water security cover the other two options.
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Many countries rely on fossil fuels for their energy security
Almost everything we do needs energy: lighting homes, running factories, moving cars and trains, and charging phones. Demand for energy resources is rising across the world, but supply can be insecure. When supply is not reliable, it can lead to conflict.
Key terms:
Energy use is very uneven. Consumption and supply are not the same thing, so keep them apart.
The highest use per person is in rich countries such as the USA and Canada, and in some oil-producing countries in the Middle East. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa use very little per person. China uses the most energy of any country in total because it has so many people and so much industry.
Energy resources are not spread evenly. Some countries have large resources, for example the Middle East with its huge oil reserves and Russia with its gas. Other countries have very few and must buy energy from abroad.
Areas of deficit, where energy is short, include much of Europe, Japan and South Korea, which import a lot of their energy, and many poorer parts of sub-Saharan Africa where supply is poor. A country can use a lot of energy and still be secure if it has plenty of supply of its own or can reliably afford to buy it. A country with little supply and little money to buy more is energy insecure. Countries with a surplus can sell energy to countries with a deficit. This is why energy travels around the world by pipeline, ship and power cable.
Three main reasons explain why global energy consumption keeps rising.
As countries develop, they build factories, roads and cities. More people can afford cars, fridges, air conditioning and televisions. Richer people use more energy.
More people means more homes to heat and light, more food to produce and more journeys to make. Even if each person used the same amount, the total would rise.
New devices need power: phones, computers, data centres and electric vehicles. Technology can also make some things more efficient, but overall we have found many more ways to use energy.
Where fossil fuels are found affects a country's energy supply
Several things decide whether a country can get enough energy.
Students often write that a country is energy insecure because it uses a lot of energy. That is not enough. Insecurity is about supply not meeting demand. A rich country can use huge amounts of energy and still be secure.
When energy supplies are not secure, there are serious knock-on effects.
Countries become more willing to explore for energy in difficult and environmentally sensitive areas, such as the deep ocean and the Arctic. This is risky and harder to clean up if something goes wrong. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows the damage an accident can do.
Energy prices rise when supplies are short, so homes and businesses pay more. New energy projects and extra fuel burning can harm the environment, for example through pollution and loss of habitats.
Farms use energy for machinery, pumping water, fertilisers and transport. If energy is short or expensive, less food may be grown and food prices rise.
Factories cannot run without power. Shortages and power cuts reduce production, which can cost jobs and slow down economic growth.
Where demand exceeds supply, there is potential for conflict. Countries may argue over who owns oil and gas fields or over pipelines that cross borders. Countries that depend on imports depend on the exporting country, which can raise prices or cut supplies. This makes energy security very important to governments.
A country has a growing population and many new factories, but its own oil and gas are running out. It imports 60% of its energy from one neighbour. Explain why this country is energy insecure.
Its demand is rising, its own supply is falling, and it depends on one supplier. If that supplier raises prices or cuts supply, the country cannot meet demand.
(a) Give two reasons why global energy consumption is increasing. [2 marks]
(b) Explain how political factors can affect energy supply. [3 marks]
(c) Explain why energy insecurity may cause problems for a country's economy. [4 marks]
(a) Economic development means people can afford more energy-using goods (1). Rising population means more people need energy (1).
(b) Governments can cut off or restrict supplies in a disagreement (1). Pipelines often cross several countries, so a dispute can stop the flow (1). Wars or sanctions can stop energy being exported or imported (1).
(c) Factories need energy to produce goods, so shortages reduce industrial output (1). Less output can mean fewer jobs and slower economic growth (1). Energy prices rise when supply is short, so businesses and households pay more (1). Farming also needs energy, so food production can fall and food prices can rise (1).
In a 4-mark 'explain' question, aim for two developed points: make a point, then add a 'so' or 'because' to link it to the effect.