Key Terms: Resource Futures (AQA A Level Geography): Revision Note

Resource futures - key terms

Business as usual – A scenario in which countries do not alter their current resource use, assuming no major changes are needed.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) – Technology that captures CO₂ emissions from sources like coal plants and stores them underground to reduce climate impact.

Clean coal technology – Innovations such as coal gasification and CCS that aim to reduce the environmental damage of coal use.

Desalination – The process of removing salt from seawater, increasingly used in water-scarce regions through methods like reverse osmosis.

Economics of substitution – When high costs of certain minerals drive demand for cheaper alternatives or substitute materials (e.g. plastic instead of steel).

End of operation costs – The expenses associated with decommissioning ageing power stations, particularly nuclear.

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) – A method of extracting oil and gas from shale rock using high-pressure fluids, often controversial for its environmental effects.

Future-proofing – Planning resource management to be resilient to future challenges such as climate change or demand increases.

Integrated basin management – A water management strategy that involves all users within a river basin in decision-making processes.

Nuclear fusion – A theoretical future energy source involving the merging of atomic nuclei; not yet commercially viable.

Photovoltaic technology – Solar panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity; increasing in efficiency and affordability.

Protectionism – Government policies aimed at protecting domestic industries and resources from foreign competition.

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) – A group of minerals essential to modern technologies (e.g. electronics, green energy), often geopolitically sensitive.

Remote sensing – The use of technology such as satellites or drones to identify and monitor mineral deposits and environmental impacts.

Resource frontiers – New and often remote areas (e.g. the Arctic or rainforests) targeted for resource extraction as other reserves deplete.

Reverse osmosis – A modern method of desalination that forces seawater through a membrane to remove salt.

Subsidies – Government financial support given to promote certain energy sectors (e.g. renewables) or reduce reliance on imports.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Global targets set by the UN, including ensuring access to clean water and sanitation.

Technological optimism – The belief that future resource shortages or environmental issues will be solved through innovation.

Trade protection – Actions like export restrictions or tariffs used by countries to secure domestic access to strategic resources.

Water inequality – When access to water is determined more by economic status and infrastructure than by physical availability.

Water recycling – The treatment and reuse of wastewater, increasingly necessary to meet growing demands in water-scarce regions.