Outline two differences in the growth of the middle-class population of Ukraine and Serbia.

Difference 1:

Difference 2:

Explain how the growth of a country’s middle-class population can lead to changing diets.

Explain how the growth of a country’s middle-class population can lead to land-use pressures.

Suggest one way in which greater use of renewable energy can decrease the size of a nation’s ecological footprint.

Suggest one way in which greater use of renewable energy can increase the size of a nation’s ecological footprint.

Award [1] per correct point. Quantification of at least one valid point needed for both marks.

Possibilities include:

• more growth in Ukraine
• Ukraine has overtaken Serbia
• Ukraine starts at lower %.

Allow [1] for a valid dietary change and [1] for an explanation of why this is happening due to growth of middle class.

Valid possibilities include:

• Increase in meat/dairy consumption – due to increase in wealth, expensive foods are affordable.
• Diversification of diet as increase in wealth enables more imported food.
• Increase in healthy eating, middle class are educated and can see benefits of healthy diets.
• Reduced intake of coarse grains and vegetables.
• Increased intake of sugars, Westernized diets affordable.

For example: Middle income groups are now eating more fast foods and processed foods [1] as they have more disposable income [1].

Allow [1] for a valid land-use change and [1] for an explanation of the pressure this creates for another land use or user group.

Valid possibilities include:

• more cropland needed, cutting down of forests/expansion onto marginal land
• transport infrastructure
• land used for housing developments, as people become richer and no longer have to live with parents
• land acquisition in developing countries by transnational companies for food and minerals, takes land from indigenous populations.

For example: Middle income groups have more money and aspirations and want to live in their own houses [1] this increases the demand for housing which is built on land previously covered by trees [1].

Award [1] for a valid way and [1] for development linked to decrease in ecological footprint (land/sea/vegetation).

Valid possibilities include:

• less need for fossil fuels like coal which means less land required to obtain energy
• less need for fossil fuels like oil which means less land/sea polluted by oil spills
• more energy is produced by wind farms which means less nuclear waste / land contamination issues
• renewable energy is produced without the burning of fossil fuels and the resultant emissions, so less land/vegetation/ocean is required to absorb greenhouse gases.

For example: Decreased use of fossil fuels because of switching energy sources [1] decreases the amount of land required for mining or disposal of waste [1].

Award [1] for a valid way and [1] for development linked to increase in ecological footprint.

Valid possibilities include:

• solar and wind farms require large areas of land and these can reduce the natural vegetation of an area
• valleys drowned for HEP reservoirs which reduces vegetation and covers areas of soil
• use of electric cars increases demand for rare minerals which increases land destroyed by mining.

For example: Greater use of biofuels requires palm oil cultivation [1] across extensive areas of land [1].

Many were able to interpret the graph and could identify two differences with suitable quantification. However, a significant number did not use or manipulate the statistics provided on the resource to support their statements. In other cases, answers were just statements of two points of the graph and not a difference and thus marks were lost.

This was generally well answered with most candidates able to identify a valid dietary change, usually increase in meat and dairy consumption, and link this to the increase in wealth/disposable income that accompanies the growth of a nations middle-class population. Some examined changing diets in the context of globalization and outlined the switch from traditional to Westernized diets. Where some candidates lost marks was on the linkage of diet change to a valid and appropriate explanation, again emphasizing the importance of question analysis.

Candidates found this question more challenging. Those that succeeded recognized that an increasing middle-class population would result in a desire for improvements in living standards. Answers that followed this approach examined the desire for better housing or food and explained how this led to land-use pressures such as competition for land or incursions into natural landscapes. Often however, answers failed to identify or develop the link between growth of middle-class population and pressures. A significant number simply looked at population growth per se or examined urbanization.

Many answers failed to provide a valid link to the ecological footprint in both sub sections of this question. To gain the development mark candidates had to elaborate on the land/sea/vegetation element of the footprint, and most were content to simply repeat the increase/decrease aspect of the question.

Most gained partial credit by identifying the need for less fossil fuel or the decrease in output of waste products but only a small number linked it to the features of the ecological footprint.

The better answers referred to the decreased efficiency of renewal energy and the need for greater areas of land and some focused on biofuels but the link to an increase in the ecological footprint was often neglected.

Many answers failed to provide a valid link to the ecological footprint in both sub sections of this question. To gain the development mark candidates had to elaborate on the land/sea/vegetation element of the footprint, and most were content to simply repeat the increase/decrease aspect of the question.

Most gained partial credit by identifying the need for less fossil fuel or the decrease in output of waste products but only a small number linked it to the features of the ecological footprint.

The better answers referred to the decreased efficiency of renewal energy and the need for greater areas of land and some focused on biofuels but the link to an increase in the ecological footprint was often neglected.