“Our climate and Earth’s biodiversity will benefit if we stop using oil as our main energy source.” Discuss this statement.

Refer to Paper 1 Section B markbands (available under the "Resources" tab) when marking this question.

Sources of oil are from traditional deposits or new sources such as tar sands and oil shale. The major benefit of reducing usage of oil is reduced carbon emissions with its implications for future global climate change. These may include changing climate belts, extreme weather episodes, increased drought and changing monsoons. Other benefits include reduced frequency/severity of pollution events from oil spills, and less damage to ecosystems such as tundra, coastal and coral reefs from oil exploration, development and tanker/pipeline transport. Some responses may recognize the link between climate change and biodiversity – warming/acidifying oceans and pressures on coral reefs, warming in UK leading to decline in mountain vegetation, warm water species in seas around northern Scotland.

A healthy biodiversity brings benefits in the control of flooding, climate regulation and the provision of genetic materials for medicine. These are negatively affected by carbon emissions and so the reduction of oil use will maintain or re-establish these benefits.

Increases in CO₂ may enhance the productivity of some plants in natural ecosystems and agricultural systems. These increases may not compensate for other outcomes of climate change.

Reducing dependence on oil implies the development/use of alternative sources of energy and raw materials (eg plastics/chemicals). Many of these alternatives have some negative environmental impacts. For example, hydro-electric power (HEP) may be considered a sustainable, non-carbon source of energy, but HEP dams have consequences for water and habitat/biodiversity both at their sites and downstream. Reducing dependence on oil may lead to more nuclear power stations, bringing their own environmental risks. Reduction of oil may not stop other contributors to climate and biodiversity change such as fuelwood.

Stronger responses may challenge what is meant by “benefit” and conclude that most impacts of oil alternatives are neither positive nor negative but environmentally benign (neutral). Another approach might be to use the concept of scale and discuss how more localized environmental problems, eg nuclear accidents, must be balanced against the threat of global climate change on account of oil use. Some may examine the spatial variation of benefits.

At band D, expect responses to describe some effects of reducing oil consumption.

For band E, expect detailed explanation of a range of effects on climate and biodiversity of reduced oil consumption/alternative energy sources or some discussion of the extent to which the reduction in the use of oil will impact climate change and biodiversity, possibly at varying scales.

For band F, expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 section B markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).