Conservation Strategies

IB Geography I

Opening ActivityBarriers to Sustainable Development• Poverty • Renewable Technology• Population Growth • Tipping Point• Development • Education • Enforcement • International Consensus • Habit

Take 5 minutes to decide which of these barriers to

sustainable development you think is most difficult to overcome and which is

easiest to overcome and support answers with

explanation.

Key Questions

• How can resource consumption be reduced by conservation, waste reduction, recycling and substitution? (Monday)

• What strategies can be used to reduce the consumption of one resource (Chicago Case Study) (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Conservation of Resources (defined)

• The management of the human use of natural resources to provide the maximum benefit to current generations while maintaining capacity to meet the needs of future generations

The Three R'sReduce: This refers to using less of a product e.g. less packaging, less energy.

Reuse: This means using a product more than once. This might be returning it to a manufacturer e.g. coke bottles or selling/passing onto another consumer e.g. charity shops

Recycling: The re-processing of industrial and household waste so that materials can be reused. Currently materials like paper, card, plastics, glass and some metals are recycled.

Recycling • A lot of waste currently

ends up overseas, more often than not in China. In fact demand for recyclable products is currently higher than supply there.

• There are environmental and ethical issues of shipping waste overseas

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdIeUev22qM

Reuse

• Plastic bags • Returning wire hangers

to dry-cleaners • Donating clothes and

other items to charities • Repairing household

items rather than buying new

• Jars/containers

Overfishing • A level of fishing resulting in the depletion of

the fish stock

Quotas• Involving agreement between countries to take

only a predetermined amount of a resource • Fish quotas were introduced in the EU because

many of the fish stocks in EU waters were falling below unsustainable levels.

• Why We need to Transform the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uvF8B0rmEU

Fishing Quotas

Advantages• They help protect critically

endangered species. • This ensures the continued

biodiversity of our oceans.• Ensures that food webs and

chains remain intact so that other species don't become endangered.

Disadvantages • Because of fishing quotas

many fishermen lose their jobs

• Because boats have to meet quotas, many fish (dead and alive) are thrown over board.

• Fishing quotas can create an illegal trade (black market) in fish.

Rationing • Very much a last resort

management strategy when demand is massively out of proportion to supply

• For example, people might only be allowed a very small amount of fuel and food per week

Subsidy

• Financial aid supplied by government to an industry for reasons of public welfare, reduces the costs for the consumers by reducing the costs for the producers

• Subsidies are controversial because by making the price of a resource cheaper, demand is likely to increase which minimizes conservation efforts

Recycling Deserts

• Areas where rates of recycling are well below the national or regional averages

Landfill vs. Incineration

• A landfill is a site at which garbage/refuse is buried under layers of earth

• Incineration is a waste treatment technology that involves the combustion of organic materials.

Product Stewardship • A system of environmental responsibility whereby

producers take back a product, recycling it as far as possible, after the customer is finished with it.

• Companies that participate in Product Stewardship are: – Battery companies – Electronics companies (computers, phones, etc) – Vehicles (scrap metal, tires, parts) – Mercury containing products (thermometers, fluorescent light

bulbs, medical waste)

Substitution

• The use of common and thus less valuable resources in place of rare, more expensive resources.

• Examples: – Replacement of copper by aluminum or fiber

optics – Replacement of Fossil Fuels with Renewable

sources of energy

Carbon Credits • Permits that allow an organization to emit a

specified amount of greenhouse gases

Carbon Trading

• A company that does not use up the level of emissions it is entitled to, can sell the remainder of its entitlement to another company that pollutes above its entitlement.

Case Study

• IB possible exam question: – Evaluate a strategy at a local or national scale

aimed at reducing the consumption of one resource.

• To address this objective, we will focus on researching strategies Chicago is implementing to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in transportation.

Unpacking the question:

• Evaluate a strategy at a local or national scale aimed at reducing the consumption of one resource.

Evaluate= to make a judgment by weighing the strengths and limitations Strategy= Transportation StrategiesLocal= Chicago One Resource= Fossil Fuels

The Resource: Fossil Fuels

Framing the Problem

• The release of carbon into the atmosphere can enhance the greenhouse effect, causing global warming along with associated side effects e.g. rising sea levels, climate refugees, increased frequency and magnitude of tropical storms and desertification.

The Problem in Chicago

• Since 1980, Chicago’s average temperature has increased approximately 2.6 degrees.

• Our current trajectory poses risks to our economy and health.

• The most obvious change to come could be hotter summers and more frequent and intense heat waves.

• Heavy rains and snow could become more frequent in winter and spring. Increased intensity of downpours will make travel more dangerous, flood basements, pollute bodies of water, damage crops, stress the city’s infrastructure and disrupt transportation.

Urban Hotspots

Sources for Evaluation

• “Improved Transportation Options” from Chicago Climate Action Plan

• “Chicago Climate Action Plan Progress Report” • “State Hits Brakes on City Plans for protected

bike lane” by Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune