Conservation Strategies
IB Geography I
Opening Activity
Barriers to Sustainable Development
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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's
Reduce: 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.co
m/watch?v=wdIeUev22q
M
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=1uvF8B0r
mEU
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:
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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 Strategies
Local= 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