Energy issues

This Question and Answer looks in detail at an AS human geography question from the OCR specification. The topic is energy, particularly renewable energy and the influence of political decisions on energy supply. These are contemporary themes which are common to other specifications too (see Box 1). The questions considered here could be completed by students of other specifications either in class, for homework or as part of revision. The question is printed in bold type and the students’ answers are in italics. The examiner’s comments are the responsibility of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW and have been neither provided nor approved by the examination board

Table 1 Mark scheme for part (a) (i)

The question considered here is Question 3 from January 2013 Unit F762: Managing change in human environments. The topics it deals with are important and current as many countries push for a greater contribution to energy supply from renewables such as wind, biofuels and solar. The move towards renewables is motivated not only by environmental concerns but also by a desire to use more domestic energy sources instead of relying on foreign imports.

Study Figure 1 which shows energy consumption in Africa, 2010. Describe the variations in energy consumption shown in Figure 1. (4 marks)