Discuss why resource conservation strategies may be more effective than population control in reducing global resource consumption.

Responses should have a clear understanding of the terms “conservation strategies” and “population control” and comment on their utility value when it comes to reducing world resource consumption.

Resource conservation strategies include:

• recycling
• substitution
• waste reduction
• conservation.

Population control may relate to:

• anti-natal/pro-natal policies/trends
• migration
• positive checks including disease, famine, war (Malthus’ view)
• population control by empowering women.

Good responses that score well at AO3 (synthesis/evaluation) will consider both sides of this question and may use one or more of the following approaches:

Spatial – Responses may argue that there is a negative correlation between a country’s ecological footprint/resource consumption and high population growth rates. This will fuel the argument that conservation strategies will be more effective in reducing global resource consumption.

Temporal – Population control would only be important in terms of reducing the world’s resource consumption in the short term because conservation strategies may take a long time to enact and for their benefits to be felt. Stronger responses may comment that as nations develop, population growth rates tend to decline and as such, controls are unnecessary. This is usually accompanied by an increased ecological footprint.

Perspectives – The world’s high-income countries may have the resources to enact conservation measures, but this is unlikely to be a priority for low-income countries. Improved standards of living are linked to reduced fertility. Responses could use the Malthusian debate to help structure their viewpoint. “Control” could include government
strategy but also decisions made by the individual woman within the family.

Responses may take a balanced view or may argue one is more effective than the other. They should also tackle the question on a “global” scale (as that is the question).

At band D, responses will describe details of conservation strategies or population control (alternative approaches) making links to how they may reduce global resource consumption.

At band E, responses will either explain “two sides” of the question or will synthesize well developed themes to discuss how resource consumption is not only linked to population and conservation strategies, but extends into economic and lifestyle considerations.

At band F, expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.