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EnglandGeography

Component 3: Geographical Debates

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is the evidence for climate change, what drives it, and how should the world respond?

The evidence for and causes of past and present climate change; the greenhouse effect and feedbacks; the differential impacts on people and environments; and the mitigation and adaptation responses, evaluated synoptically across physical and human geography.
An OCR A-Level Geography answer to the Climate change debate in Geographical debates, covering the evidence for past and present climate change, natural and anthropogenic causes, the greenhouse effect and feedbacks, the differential impacts on people and environments, and the mitigation and adaptation responses, treated synoptically for Paper 03.
13 min answer →

How is the geography of disease shaped, and how can disease be managed in a connected world?

The spatial distribution and diffusion of communicable and non-communicable disease; the links between disease, environment and development; the global and national strategies to manage disease; and the synoptic evaluation of disease as a barrier to and product of development.
An OCR A-Level Geography answer to the Disease dilemmas debate in Geographical debates, covering the spatial distribution and diffusion of communicable and non-communicable disease, the links between disease, environment and development, the global and national strategies to manage disease, and the synoptic evaluation of disease and development for Paper 03.
13 min answer →

How do oceans function as systems and resources, and how should their use and governance be managed?

Oceans as physical systems (circulation, the role in climate and carbon); oceans as contested resources (fisheries, minerals, energy); the geopolitics and governance of marine space; and the synoptic evaluation of ocean management under environmental and political pressure.
An OCR A-Level Geography answer to the Exploring oceans debate in Geographical debates, covering oceans as physical systems (circulation, climate regulation, carbon storage), oceans as contested resources (fisheries, minerals, energy), the pollution and environmental pressures, the geopolitics and governance of marine space (UNCLOS, EEZs), and the synoptic evaluation of ocean management.
13 min answer →

How do tectonic processes generate hazards, and why do similar events have such different impacts?

Plate tectonic theory and the processes generating earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis; the relationship between hazard, vulnerability and risk; the variation in impact by development and governance; and the synoptic evaluation of tectonic hazard management.
An OCR A-Level Geography answer to the Hazardous Earth debate in Geographical debates, covering plate tectonic theory and the processes generating earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis, the hazard-vulnerability-risk relationship, why impacts vary by development and governance, and the synoptic evaluation of tectonic hazard management for Paper 03.
13 min answer →

What drives food security and insecurity, and how can the world feed a growing population sustainably?

The patterns of global food production and consumption; the causes and consequences of food insecurity; the role of globalisation, trade and technology in food systems; and the synoptic evaluation of strategies to achieve sustainable food security.
An OCR A-Level Geography answer to The future of food debate in Geographical debates, covering the patterns of global food production and consumption, the causes and consequences of food insecurity, the role of globalisation, trade, TNCs and technology in food systems, and the synoptic evaluation of strategies for sustainable food security for Paper 03.
13 min answer →