GCSE
Humanities
Environmental
Issues
Revision Guide
Exam Format
Paper 1 mins
Monday 8th June 2015 – 1 hour 15
In this Paper you are required to answer all questions.
 Culture & Beliefs
 Environmental Issues
This paper is marked out of 72 and accounts for 37.5% of
your final grade.
Paper 2 mins
Friday 12th June 2015 – 1 hour 15
You choose TWO options from the five below. The TWO we
have studied are underlined. Ignore the other three sets of
questions.
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Conflict & Co-operation
Prejudice & Persecution
Global Inequality
Family and Socialisation
People and Work
This paper is marked out of 72 and accounts for 37.5% of
your final grade.
Paper 3 -
Controlled assessment.
This has already been completed under controlled conditions,
this accounts for 25% of the overall grade.
Revision ideas
Design a revision
timetable
Condense your
notes onto cue
cards
Practice revision
questions
Get someone to
test you
Set up a study
group
Create a revision
poster for each
topic
Key to exam success
Good subject
knowledge
Good time
management skills
Read and
understand what
the question is
asking you
to do
Look at the mark
scheme to see how
much you need to
write
Make sure you
structure your
answers
Answering 12 mark
questions
Three different types of essays:
 Conventional Essay – Given a list of things to include but
only have to choose two and explain them e.g. paragraph for
each one.
 Comparative essay – Produce a paragraph for each side of
the argument e.g. Nature Vs Nurture; explaining two views
about a moral issue (euthanasia, abortion); etc
 Source based essay – Ensure you use the sources to reach
a Level 3/4 (7-12 marks) e.g. ‘In Source A it says that….’
Golden Rules:
 Your opening sentence should be a reframing of the question
e.g. ‘Nature is important in shaping who we are because...’
 Remember to use the PEE chain! (Point, Evidence and
Explanation).
 Your explanation at the end of each paragraph should
always answer the question e.g. ‘This shows that nurture is
important in shaping who we are because humans need to
be socialised by other humans to learn correct norms of
behaviour’.
 Use Humanities terminology in your answers to reach a
Level 4 (10-12 marks).
 Use connectives to make your work flow better e.g. in
addition; in contrast; as a result; therefore; this shows that;
etc.
Answering 4 mark
Questions
There are three types of 4 mark questions which can arise in the
exam:
 Source based response e.g. where you have to recall
information from a particular Source. Ensure you explain two
points to achieve full marks.
 Recall questions asking for two ways e.g. ‘Briefly explain two
ways in which a large-scale ecosystem is being destroyed.’ One
mark is given for identification of method and one mark for
example / explanation (Deforestation is one way that the Amazon
Rainforest is being destroyed, as mahogany trees are cut down to
make furniture).
 4 mark recall questions e.g. where you have to provide a
paragraph response showing you understand terms and phrases
(see example below).
Sample Answer
From your own studies, explain how the family influences a person’s identity. (4 marks)
A family influences a person’s identity in two ways. First, the person’s family name and the people
he/she is related to are part of someone’s identity. This is how they are known by other people.
The other way a person’s identity is influenced by the family is by the way they are brought up. The
family teaches them basic social skills, like language and how to eat, but also the person copies the
way the family behave and learns their attitudes and beliefs.
They will think that the family’s ideas and attitudes are normal. So if a person is brought up in a polite
family they will be polite, and if the family is argumentative and violent they are likely to be the same. A
person’s identity comes from the way they behave with others, so the family will be a big influence.
Explanation of
Socialisation
Socialisation
Links Socialisation
to identity
Example and explanation
of effects of Socialisation
Case Studies
Task 1
Make a mind map for each of the examples with as many points
as you can remember.
Task 2
Make up a question where you would need that case study to be
able to answer it.
Environmental Issues
 Pressure Groups – WWF, Green Peace – indirect and
direct
 Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest
 Impact of tourists on the environment
 Yanomami living a sustainable way of life
 Climate Change
 Renewable v non renewable
 Example of 2 endangered species.
 Examples of things that cause pollution.
Environmental Issues
Keywords
Key word
Natural
resources
Renewable
resources
Non-renewable
resources
Minerals
Fossil fuel
Nuclear power
Power station
Renewable
energy
Alternative
energy
Wind power
Solar power
Geothermal
energy
Hydro-electric
power (HEP)
Wave power
Tidal power
Biofuels
Ecosystem
Definition
Raw materials found within or on the earth which can be
used by humans.
Will not run out, or can be replaced, provided they are
not over used.
Can only be used once and can never be replaced.
Any rock which is mined, drilled or quarried, for example
coal, gold.
Fuel formed from the remains of ancient plants and
animals.
Energy produced from uranium atoms.
Place where electricity is generated.
Energy from natural resources that are infinite or can
be re-used, for example hydro-electricity.
Does not deplete natural resources and does not harm
the environment, for example solar power.
Energy generated from wind.
Energy generated from sunlight.
Energy obtained from rock heated by the earth’s core.
Energy generated by water spinning a turbine.
Energy generated by waves in the sea.
Energy generated as the tide goes in or out of a coastal
area or estuary.
Energy generated from organic matter (biomass),
including wood and crops.
All living and non-living things in a particular environment
and the way they work together.
Sustainable
Deforestation
Extinct
Coral bleaching
Urbanisation
Industrialisation
Pollution
Acid rain
Greenhouse
gases
Global warming
Environmental
refugees
Biodiversity
Endangered
Habitat
Poaching
Alien species
Tourism
Honey pot
Leisure
Global
responsibility
Direct action
Methods that preserve and maintain rather than
destroy.
Loss of forests due to climate change or the use of
trees without replacing them.
The total disappearance of a particular type of living
organism.
When sea temperatures rise, the coral die and lose their
colour.
The movement of people from the countryside to live in
towns and cities.
The change from a farming society to a society based
around production of goods in factories.
Something that poisons or damages air, water or land.
Rain, snow, fog or dust with a pH below 5.
Gases such as carbon dioxide that trap heat in the
earth’s atmosphere.
A warming of the climate in recent decades, due to
human influences.
People displaced by environmental disasters caused by
climate change.
The variety of species found in a particular area.
When the numbers of a species are so low or it is facing
such severe threats it may become extinct.
The natural environment of an animal or plant.
Catching or killing animals illegally.
A plant or animal that moves from its original habitat to
a new area.
A trip made for pleasure, usually including at least one
night away.
An area of attractive scenery or historic interest
visited by large numbers of tourists.
Free time to do whatever you want subject to finance
and ability.
Individuals and businesses making choices that affect
the world in a positive way.
The use of violent or non-violent methods to influence a
political decision.
Stewardship
Pressure groups
Lobbying
Recycling
Protocol
International
agreements
Sustainable
development
Agenda 21
Global citizen
Government
action
Carbon footprint
Carbon
offsetting
National parks
Ecotourism
Sustainable
tourism
Conservation
Looking after something so it can be passed on to the
next generation.
Organised groups that attempt to influence policy or
business decisions on a particular issue.
Individuals or groups attempting to influence the
opinions of MPs to vote a certain way on a specific
subject.
Turning used products into new products in order to
prevent waste, reduce pollution and lower greenhouse
gases.
A written record of an agreement between two or more
countries.
Agreements between two or more countries.
Economic and social development that meets the needs
of current and future generations.
A commitment to move towards sustainable development
at government and local level.
Thinks about their effect on the world by preserving
the environment and keeping natural resources for
others to use in the future.
Laws or incentives introduced by a government to reduce
global warming.
The impact of human activity measured in carbon
dioxide units.
Removing the same amount of carbon from the
atmosphere as produced by an activity such as air travel.
A reserve of land usually declared by national
government to be protected from human development
and pollution.
Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and the well-being of the local people.
Has a low impact on the environment and local culture
and contributes to biodiversity.
Protection of the environment and natural resources of
the earth including plant and animal life.
Environmental Issues
(Paper 1 Core)
Environmental issues
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Pollution (air, water and noise)
Global warming
Deforestation
Recycling
Coral Reefs
Renewable / Alternative Resource - energy that occurs naturally and is
always available e.g. Sun; Wind; Wave; Tidal; Biofuels; Geothermal).
Non-renewable resource - once used there will be no more created e.g. fossil
fuels, (such as coal, oil, gas) and minerals, such as uranium (used for Nuclear
Power).
Deforestation – Cutting down and the burning of trees over a large area
Stewardship – People using the land understand how to treat it with respect
and concern for the future e.g. ARPA (created 80 reserves and parks in the
Amazon).
Sustainable Development – Making use of resources but in a way that does
not eventually destroy it.
Desertification – Where an area becomes very dry due to low rainfall.
Pollution – Something that poisons or damages the air, water or land.
Acid Rain – Rain, snow, fog or dust with a PH below 5.
Ecosystem Case Study:
The Brazilian Rainforest
Extraction of
minerals
Small-scale
farming
Logging
Problems with
the Brazilian
Rainforest
Major
engineering
projects
Cattle
Ranching
Ecosystem Case Study: Coral
Reefs, Ahus in Papua New
Guinea
Fishing
Global
Warming
Pollution
Nuclear
Testing
Threats to
Coral Reefs
Mining
Tourism
Ecosystem
Definition – All living and non-living things in a particular
environment and the way they work together.
Examples – Sea e.g. Coral Reefs; Atmosphere; Tropical
Rainforest; Antarctica; Wetlands; etc
Methods to reduce pollution
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Burn less fossil fuels
Use more renewable sources of energy
Recycling of waste products
Stop dumping waste
Green taxes e.g. companies which pollute the most pay more tax
Encourage more people to use public transport
Advantages & Disadvantages of tourism
Advantages
Develops the economy e.g. more
industry and more jobs, etc.
Improves lifestyle of locals
e.g. more money to develop local
services
Protection of places of beauty
and interest
Disadvantages
Transport e.g. Airports, roads, docks need to be
built/extended resulting in more noise and air
pollution.
Accommodation & use of resources e.g. more hotels
built in nice coastal areas, taking resources away from
locals.
Leisure activities & changes in land use
Changes in lifestyle for local people.
Pressure Groups
Case Study:
Greenpeace
Aims of Greenpeace
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Climate change - Promote the use of clean and renewable fuels
Forests - End illegal and destructive logging of ancient forests and protect
inhabitants
Oceans - Defend the world’s oceans and the life that depends on them
Nuclear Power - Bring an end to nuclear power
Peace – End the storage of nuclear weapons
Toxics – End the use of toxic chemicals
Methods used by Greenpeace
Direct Action - Protest; Lobbying; Criminal Damage (sabotage)
Indirect Action – Petitions; Campaigns; Press Releases; Research
 Scientific Research – Investigate potential environmental threats and try to
provide permanent solutions to them.
 Political work – Lobby political parties to try and influence environmental
issues; carry out campaigns/demonstrations about issues
 Greenpeace business – Offer lectures / newsletters to businesses explaining
how environmental problems link to business
 Greenpeace environmental trust – Registered charity which aims to improve
public understanding of environmental issues
 Greenpeace ships – 3 ships e.g. Rainbow Warrior, which allow them to witness
events in far off places. They pursue and film whalers and blockade other
ships carrying toxic materials.
Businesses and the Environment
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Supermarkets – Charge for carrier bags or offer reward points for using own
bags.
Energy Companies – Send out energy efficient light bulbs and team up with
local councils to offer discounted loft insulation.
Triple Velvet – Plant trees to replace rolls of toilet paper used.
Global Warming
Causes
Burning of fossil fuels
Methane gas from
cattle
F-gases
(fridges/aerosols)
Nitrous Oxide
(fertilisers)
Effects
Changes in climate
Increase of droughts
Increase risk of forest fires
More severe storms
Melting ice caps
Flooding/loss of coastal areas
Extinction of species
Resolutions
Switch to renewable
energy sources
More Recycling
Public transport / walking
Reduce air travel (business
use video conferencing)
Shop locally
Carbon offsetting
Definitions linked to Global Warming
Carbon Footprint – The impact of human activity measured in Carbon dioxide units.
Carbon Offsetting – Removing the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere as
produced by an activity such as air travel e.g. tree planting scheme by businesses or
investment in renewable energy.
Biodiversity
Habitat
Destruction
Climate Change
Pollution
Loss of
Biodiversity
Invasive
Alien Species
Exploitation
Definitions: Biodiversity and National Parks
Biodiversity – The variety of species found in a particular area.
Poaching – Catching or killing animals illegally.
Endangered – When the numbers in a species are so low they face the threat of
extinction.
Conservation – Protection of the environment and natural resources of the earth
including plant and animal life e.g. National parks.
Ecotourism – Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and
the well-being of the local people e.g. National Parks in Kenya (stay at eco-lodges
using solar power).
Solutions to
Environmental Issues
Agenda 21
Kyoto Protocol
Protocols
Sustainable
Development
Global Citizen
International
Agreements
Solutions to Environmental Issues
Recycling
Government action
Carbon footprints
National Parks
Carbon offsetting
Renewable resources
What is an environmental issue?
Natural Environment is any part of the planet that is already
there, e.g. Land or Sea
Problems that we face:
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Global warming
Recycling
Animal Extinction
Deforestation
Pollution (Noise/Air/Sea)
Land fill sites
Desertification
Reasons:
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Population --> 0.5billion to 6billion in 2000 years --> world
is over populated
Technology --> more technological advances --> need more
natural resources to provide energy
Uses of the Amazon
- An ecosystem is a mixture of plants & animals working
together in a natural environment.
-Deforestation is the cutting down or burning of trees and
plants over a wide area.
Actions in the Amazon:
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Logging
Extraction of minerals
Cattle Ranching
Engineering projects
Groups in the Amazon:
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Researchers/Scientists - want to study life/ecosystems,
against above actions
Commercial companies - want to make money, for the
above actions, expanding business, provides jobs
Rainforest depletion and how we can
help...
Desertification --> habitats die --> more carbon dioxide
released
- Stewardship = people who use natural environments
understand what it needs to survive
- Sustainable development = making use of resources without
harming environment
Stewardship:
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Yanomani, take what they need without damaging the
rainforest
Original and natural
Hard to achieve
Sustainable development:
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Making some areas untouchable
Governments need to restrict things to help their country
Make use of the forest that you have already used
Case studies - ARPA and Stewardship
ARPA:
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Amazon Region Protected Areas program
Agreement signed by President Cardoso, Brazil
$81 million donated so far
Used to buy surveillance equipment to stop illegal
poaching and logging
Allows endangered plants and animals to have a secure
habitat
Protects plants that make up half of our modern day
medicines
Environmental Stewardship:
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New type of scheme
Supporters farmers who make good use of their land
Wants to - Conserve wildlife/Maintain landscape/Protect
natural resources
Farmers are given money or resources
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Ecosystem
THE BRAZILIAN RAINFOREST
There are many problems with the Brazilian rainforest,
including extraction of materials, logging, major engineering
projects, cattle ranching and small-scale farming. You could
choose any of these as your case study of how they are
destroying the ecosystem of the Brazilian rainforest.
Climate change
- Floods/heatwaves/gales/droughts/forest fires/snow have
become more frequent since 1980's.
- Effects include ruined homes and businesses as well as people
sometimes being left physically hurt.
Droughts in Southern Africa:
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short term = no water making it difficult to survive
long term = crops don't grow, meaning countries have to
import food
Slowing climate change;
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we should recycle/use less electricity/run electric cars
we need more renewable energy sources such as wind
turbines and solar panels
more nuclear power stations
National Parks
- Large area of the countryside that are protected, to
preserve and care for the environment.
- Popular tourist destination, making lots of money
- Over 3500 footpaths that are used regularly, leading to
erosion
- Orienteering leads to habitats being disturbed.
- Sometimes damage to livestock and wild animals, such as glass
scattered across the park.
How are natural resources exploited? Case study Aral Sea & Exploitation of fish
Aral Sea:

used to be 66,100km squared

Soviet Government cut off water supply from local rivers
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sea level fell by 14 metres
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climate change - winters warmer and summers cooler
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desertification
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diseases became more prominent from polluted water
Overexploitation of fish:
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there is now more demand for fish
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oceans are of ecological importance
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overfishing to make more money
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most of the fish caught are young, meaning they will not
reproduce
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taking more fish than are able to produce in a given time
frame
Pollution of the oceans
Pollution = any substances in water, soil or air which damage
the natural quality of the environment.
- Land/industry/domestic waste = sewage, agricultural waste,
food and drink
- Atmosphere = vehicles/fires/gases/dust
- Off shore production = oil/gas extraction
- Dumping at sea = disposal by barges/ bilge/dredging/ships
rubbish
- Marine transport = pleasure boating/cargo spills/oil leaks
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: CORAL REEFS
There are many threats to coral reefs: global warming, nuclear
testing, fishing, pollution, tourism and mining are some of them.
Coral reefs are ecosystems, consisting of many plants, animals
and organisms, and any of these threats could destroy part of
the ecosystem, which would eventually lead to the whole
ecosystem being destroyed
Development of tourism
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Improve lifestyle - more jobs/better health and
education/expanding businesses
Develop economy - raises wages/produces jobs/outside
investment/ development in industry
Protection of places of beauty and interest
Transport
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essential
more air pollution/greenhouse gases produced
changes to the ecology of the area
Accommodation
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coastal areas that were mainly undeveloped until recently
local people are often moved or left with little resources
sewage is dumped in the sea
building that tourism demands creates pollution as well as
water, electricity and plumbing having to be installed
Pros and cons of leisure and tourism
Advantages:
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money
jobs
investment
increase property values
improve lifestyle
protect areas
Disadvantages:
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pollution
destroy local area through building
over crowding
changing culture
Pressure groups
Union of Concerned Scientists
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experts in what they talk about
from USA
produce publications for the public and media
hard to challenge them
Friends of the Earth
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first pressure group in UK
campaign/fundraising/advertising
Greenpeace
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best known pressure group in UK
make headline news with dramatic stories
unusual and risky methods
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Pressure
groups
Greenpeace is an environmental organisation or pressure group
with aims to help the environment. These include promoting the
use of clean, renewable fuels, defending the world's oceans,
and ending the use of toxic chemicals. They use direct action
(protests, lobbying, etc.) and indirect action (petitions,
campaigns, etc.) to raise awareness and stop people from doing
things which the organisation believes is wrong. They
investigate potential threats to the environment, do political
work, have a registered charity and offer lectures and
newsletters, all in the hope of raising awareness about the
environment
More about Greenpeace
- International environmental organisation since 1971
Demonstrations/protests:
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Against ESSO - large amounts of fuel are causing global
warming
Local issue - shut down SELCHP incinerator in South
London for 4 days
National issue - published 'zero waste' report for Britain
to become rubbish free
International issue - Greenland, visited isolated
communities using dogs and sleds
Air plot:
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One of the biggest campaigns that they are working on
Campaigning against third runway at Heathrow
Have bought piece of land where the proposed runway is
to be
If the expansion took place, Heathrow would be the
largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK
Environmental Issues
Exam Questions
 Name two environmental issues. (2)
 Name two causes of pollution. (2)
 Name two effects of pollution. (2)
 Name two renewable resources. (2)
 Name two non-renewable resources. (2)
 Give the meaning of the term ‘conservation’. (2)
 Give the meaning of the term ‘pollution’. (2)
 Name two methods used by environmental pressure
groups to change people’s attitudes on an environmental
issue. (4)
 Explain the terms Urbanisation and Industrialisation. (4)
 From your own studies, explain how natural resources can
be conserved. (4)
 Briefly explain how pollution levels can be reduced. (4)
 Briefly explain two ways in which a large-scale ecosystem
is being destroyed. (4)
 Using an example from your own studies, explain how
successful one environmental pressure group has been in
influencing people’s attitudes and behaviour. (12)
 From your studies, explain the methods used by a group
or organisation to influence attitudes on an environmental
issue. (12)
 From your studies, show how people interact with a largescale ecosystem. Examples include a tropical rainforest
and a marine ecosystem. In your answer you should:
identify the large-scale ecosystem you have chosen;
describe that ecosystem; explain how people interact
with that ecosystem in different ways. (12)
 Why is it important to conserve the natural environment?
Use your own studies to answer. (12)
 From your own studies, explain why pollution is a global
issue. (12)
 Explain how business organisations and environmental
pressure groups try to influence attitudes towards
environmental issues. (12)
Useful Websites
Humanities Exam Board - http://www.aqa.org.uk/
Ensure you look at the Humanities Specification if you enter
this website.
Environmental Issues
1.) www.cat.org.uk (Centre for Alternative Energy)
2.) www.btcv.org.uk (Conservation Volunteers (British Trust for))
3.) www.foe.co.uk (Friends of the Earth)
4.) www.greenparty.org.uk
5.) www.greenpeace.org
6.) www.rainforestconcern.org
7.) www.tourismconcern.org.uk