How reliant are we on resources, and what pressures are growing?
The global distribution of food, water and energy and the concept of resource security and insecurity; the ecological footprint as a measure of demand; and how rising population and economic development increase resource consumption.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Resource Reliance on resource security, covering the global distribution of food, water and energy, resource security and insecurity, the ecological footprint, and rising demand.
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What this dot point is asking
This is OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Component 2, People and Society, the opening enquiry of Resource Reliance: "How reliant are we on resources, and what pressures are growing?" OCR expects you to describe the global distribution of food, water and energy and explain resource security and insecurity, explain the ecological footprint as a measure of demand, and explain how rising population and economic development increase resource consumption.
The global distribution of food, water and energy
The three key resources are unevenly spread across the world, and supply often does not match where people live.
- Food. Some regions produce large surpluses (the USA, Europe), while others face deficits and hunger (parts of sub-Saharan Africa), because of climate, soils, conflict and poverty.
- Water. Fresh water is abundant in some areas and scarce in others (arid regions, fast-growing cities), and supply varies through the year.
- Energy. Fossil-fuel and renewable resources are concentrated in particular countries, so many nations must import energy.
This uneven distribution is why trade in resources is so important, and why some places are secure while others are not.
The ecological footprint
Why demand is rising
Two forces push global resource demand upwards.
- Rising population. The world's population is growing towards nine billion, so there are simply more people needing food, water and energy.
- Economic development. As countries develop and people grow wealthier (especially in emerging economies), consumption per person rises: people eat more (and more meat, which uses more land and water to produce), use more water, and consume far more energy for cars, homes and industry. Urbanisation adds to this.
Together a larger population and higher consumption per head make demand rise sharply, increasing the risk of insecurity.
Try this
Q1. Define resource security. [2 marks]
- Cue. Having a reliable, affordable and sustainable supply of a resource to meet a population's needs.
Q2. Explain two reasons why global demand for energy is rising. [4 marks]
- Cue. A growing population needs more energy, and economic development raises energy use per person for cars, homes and industry.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR 20194 marksExplain why demand for resources is rising across the world. (Component 2)Show worked answer →
A 4-mark "Explain" question assessing AO1 and AO2. Markers reward developed reasons.
Award credit for: the world's population is growing, so there are simply more people needing food, water and energy. At the same time economic development raises living standards, so people in emerging economies eat more (and more meat), use more water, and consume far more energy for cars, homes and industry. Rising wealth and urbanisation also increase consumption per person. Together a larger population and higher consumption per head push demand up sharply. Top answers link both population growth and rising consumption to demand, not just one.
OCR 20216 marksAssess the usefulness of the ecological footprint as a measure of resource use. (Component 2)Show worked answer →
A 6-mark "Assess" question marked by levels of response, assessing AO1, AO2 and AO3, with a judgement.
Strong answers define the ecological footprint (the area of land and water needed to provide the resources a person or country uses and to absorb their waste) and explain its usefulness: it gives a single, comparable measure of demand on the planet, shows that ACs have much larger footprints than LIDCs, and highlights whether humanity is living within the Earth's means. They then give limitations: it is an estimate based on assumptions, simplifies complex impacts into one figure, and does not capture everything (such as some forms of pollution). A good judgement concludes that the footprint is a useful, powerful way to compare and communicate resource use and sustainability, but should be used alongside other measures. Markers reward the definition, both sides and a judgement.
Related dot points
- The global food system, including how food is produced, traded and consumed; the causes and consequences of food insecurity; and the factors that will affect whether the world can feed a growing population.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Resource Reliance on the global food system, covering how food is produced, traded and consumed, the causes and consequences of food insecurity, and whether the world can feed nine billion people.
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A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) UK in the 21st Century on economic change, covering the shift to a post-industrial economy, economic hubs and science parks, regional inequality, and the role of globalisation and technology.
- What makes a city sustainable; the challenges and opportunities for a city in an AC; and strategies for sustainable urban living, including transport, housing, energy, water and waste, that improve quality of life while reducing environmental impact.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Urban Futures on sustainable cities, covering what makes a city sustainable, the challenges and opportunities for a city in an AC, and strategies for sustainable urban living.
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A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Changing Climate, covering evidence from the Quaternary, natural causes such as orbital cycles and volcanic activity, the human enhanced greenhouse effect, impacts, and mitigation and adaptation.
Sources & how we know this
- OCR GCSE (9-1) Geography B (J384) specification — OCR (2016)