ASRJC 2023 J1 MYE Ans Key

ASRJC 2023 JC1 H1 GEOGRAPHY MYCT ANSWER GUIDE 1 Cluster 1: Sustainable Future and Climate Change 1 Resource 1 shows the percentage of the total population that lives in urban areas for selected world regions from 1990 to 2050 (projected). Resource 2 shows the ecological footprints of Athens, Greece, and Cairo, Egypt. Resource 3 is a cross section of a home in Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) to show water and power systems. BedZED is the UK’s largest sustainable urban development and was designed to be carbon neutral. (a) Using Resource 1, describe the variations in growth of urban populations in the world regions between 1990 and 2050. [4] Possible responses: • Overall increase in the percentages of tot al population living in urban areas for all world regions between 1990 and 2050. • However, there are differences in the rate of increase between more developed vs less developed regions: o More developed regions such as Europe and North America increased at a slower rate from 1990 to 2018 and also expected to be so from 2018 to 2050 ▪ For examp le, the percentage of total population livi ng in ur ban areas in Europe increased by 4% from 1990 to 2018 and is expected to increase by 10% from 2018 to 2050. ▪ The percentage of total population living in ur ban areas in North America is expected to see a consistent increase of 7% from 1990 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2050. o This is in contras t to less developed regions like Africa and Asia which increased at a faster ratE. ▪ For exa mple, the percentage of total population living in ur ban areas in Africa increased by 11% from 1990 to 2 018 and is expected to increase by 16% from 2018 to 2050. ▪ The percentage of total population living in ur ban areas in Asia increased by 18% from 1990 to 2 018, and is expected to increase by 16% from 2018 to 2050. (b) Suggest reasons for the variations in growth of urban populations in the world regions as seen in Resource 1. [4] Possible responses: • Trend of counter -urbanisation and lower rates of natural increase in developed regions o Reasons for counter-urbanisation: ▪ Changing residential preferences amongst people due to p eople’s perceptions of t he differences in q uality of life between large cities and smaller towns and villages; ▪ Improvements in health, education, and social service s in som e rural areas. ▪ [Facilitating factor] Improvements in transport, especially the construction of new motorways, and/or rail route s that enabl e longer-distance commuting; ▪ [Facilitating factor] Improvements in information and communications technology such as e-mail and video-conferencing facilities o Reasons for lower rates of natural increase: ▪ Changing perceptions of children and lifestyle aspirations

ASRJC 2023 JC1 H1 GEOGRAPHY MYCT ANSWER GUIDE 2 ▪ Women living in developed regions typically have greater access to education and modern methods of family planning • Trend of rural-urban migration and higher rates of natural increase in less developed regions o Reasons for rural-urban migration: ▪ Perceived access to greate r employment opportunities in urban areas; ▪ Perceived access to higher standards of sani tation and healthcare in urban areas; ▪ Perceived access to higher quality of education in urban areas; etc. o Reasons for higher rates of natural increase: ▪ Migrants are oft en younger, on average, compared to the populations living in areas of origin or destin ation. This can also contribute to natural increase of the urban population in the receiving region since a younger population has a gr eater potential to have child, and thus contribute to the population momentum for growth. (c) Explain how the concept of ecological footprint can help to measure sustainability. [4] Possible responses: • EFA is a quantitative assessment of all the biophysical resources needed to support the consumption by particular groups of people (e.g. a country or city). • The Ecological Footprint (EF) is typically express ed in terms of global hectare s (gha) of biolo gically productive area (of world average productivity) that are required to support that activity. Specifically, it takes into consideration: o The population’s demand (footprint) for natural resources . i.e. the ecological assets that a give n population requires to produce the natural resources it consumes (including plant -based food and fiber products, livestock and fish p roducts, timber and other forest product s, space for urban infrastructure) and to absorb its waste. o The supply (biocapacity) of resources that nature (or a given area) can provide. On the supply side, a city, state or nation’s biocapacity represents the productivity of its ecological assets (including cropland, grazing land, forest land, fis hing grounds, and built-up land). These areas, especially if left unharvested, can also absorb much of the waste we g enerate, especially our carbon emissions. • The sustainability of a country/ city ca n be assessed by looking at the relationship between these 2 components: o If a population’s Ecological Footprint exceeds the region’s biocapacity, that region runs an ecological deficit, and is considered to be l ess sustainable. [1m] In such a situation, the overexp loitation of natural resources could lead to environmental damage i n the short-term, and longer-term impacts such as biodiversity loss, wh ich could then undermine inter generational equity and affects progress towards sustainability. o If a region’s bioc apacity exceeds its Ecological Footprint, it has an ecological reserve and is considered to be more sustainable. [1m] In such a situation, ecological asse ts are more likely to be available for u se by future generations, thus ensuring intergenerational equi ty and progress towards sustainability. (d) Using Resource 2, compare the components of the ecological footprint of Athens, Greece with those of Cairo, Egypt. [4]

ASRJC 2023 JC1 H1 GEOGRAPHY MYCT ANSWER GUIDE 3 Possible responses: Athens Similarity/ Difference Cairo Greatest component of EF: Both cities are similar in terms of the greatest component of EF. Food is the greatest component of EF for both Athens and Cairo, at 31% and 36% respectively. Smallest component of EF: Both cities are similar in terms of the smallest component of EF. Government is the smallest component of EF for both Athens and Cairo, at 4% and 7% respectively. Housing makes up only 7%, while services only make up 5%. Significant difference in contribution by housing and services Contribution by both housing and services is almost double that of Athens – housing is at 13%, while services is 9%. (e) With reference to Resource 3, explain why living in BedZED could be environmentally sustainable. [6] Possible responses: • Solar panels on roof to provide electricity: o This is more environmentally sustainable as it reduces the use of fossil fuels which leads to carbon emissions, contributing to global warming. • Rainwater collection for consumption (such as to flush toilets): o This is more environmentally sustainable as it reduces the need to tap on main water resources and minimises wastage from rainwater simp ly flowing away. • Use of biofuels to create electricity and heat water: o This is more environmentally sustainable as it reduces the need to tap on new energy resources or fossil fuels to generate electricity or heat. [1m] It also red uces the volume of waste since it taps on dead branches and leaves, which contr ibutes to a more circular urban meta bolism which is more environmentally sustainable. • Use of low flush toilet/ lower energy lighting and appliances/ electric cars o This is more environmentally sustainable as these reduce consumption of water and en ergy resource