Describe the trends shown in the slum populations of Lesotho between 2005 and 2014.

Suggest two reasons why progress towards access to safe water has been slow in some regions.

Reason 1:

Reason 2:

Explain one economic advantage and one environmental advantage of the circular economy.

Economic advantage:

Environmental advantage:

Award [1] for each of the following trends.

• overall increase / increase 2005-2009
• 2009-14 decrease.

Quantification required for allocation of [2].

In each case, award [1] for a valid reason for slow progress and [1] for further development/exemplification.

For example: In Madagascar there has been a lack of investment in water provision [1] which has meant that the development of infrastructure such as water points is missing [1] for a large proportion of the rural population.

Other possibilities include:

• High population growth rates in developing countries means that there is a greater demand for water.
• Lack of hygienic wastewater disposal leads to polluted groundwater supplies.
• Open defecation often pollutes water courses.
• Lack of investment in rural areas means there is an inequality between rural and urban supply of safe water.
• Political decisions can mean money is given to other areas of development – leads to lack of investment in water supply such as wells.
• Conflict between groups may lead to the destruction of infrastructure or a focus of spending on armaments.
• Climate change may lead to prolonged drought which may cause water supplies to dry up.
• Sea level rise in coastal areas – leads to salinization of supply making it undrinkable.
• Natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods may destroy infrastructure such as pipelines.
• Agricultural extraction may lead to a lack of water for human consumption / including the exporting of virtual water.
• Lack of funding from HICs – e.g. UK cut funding for clean water.
• Dams built on rivers that cross two or more countries – water held upstream.
• Remote areas – difficulty/financial problems of construction of infrastructure.

In each case, award [1] for identification of a valid advantage and [1] for further development/exemplification.

For example: The circular economy results in employment growth [1] – jobs are created through more labour-intensive activities/logistics/new innovative industries [1].

Economic advantages:

• economic growth – increased revenue from circular activities
• substantial resource savings – no need to extract raw materials
• incentives for innovation – collaboration between, manufacturing, design and recyclers
• more durable products save money in the long term
• improving the security of supply of raw materials
• increases disposable income as encourages buying used items or leasing/renting which is cheaper
• less dependence on imports
• company reputation is enhanced by being part of the circular economy – attracts customers
• reducing healthcare costs – fewer harmful emissions into air and water
• reduces clean-up costs – discarded plastics in rivers and oceans.

Environmental advantages:

• fewer emissions – reduced consumption of fossil fuels
• land productivity and soil health – nutrients returned to soil/reduction in use of artificial fertilizers
• less damage to ecosystems – fewer resources needed so land not used for mining/intensive agriculture, water bodies not impacted by dumping of toxins
• reduces climate change – less energy used for production/supply lines leads to fewer emissions.
• reduces use of non-renewable resources – less environmental damage from oil and mineral extraction
• aims for zero waste – less material goes to landfill.

Most candidates were able to identify the two trends shown on the graph, increase from 2005-09 and decrease from 2009-14. Although the majority gained full marks a number failed to use quantification and lost the second mark.

Candidates seemed confident with the topic of water security and could identify reasons why progress towards safe water was slow in some regions. Answers were usually focused on financial, political and social explanations with lack of investment, conflict and disposal of domestic waste the prevailing reasons. There were however some good answers that recognized the influence of the water-food-energy nexus and others that developed causes related to climate change. Some candidates were confused by the focus on progress and examined the absolute lack of water as a reason which was not the core of the question.

The concept of the circular economy was understood by the majority of candidates, but many found difficulty in applying it to the two elements of the question. Comments on the economic advantages often focused on raw materials but having recognized the savings that would be made many answers failed to develop this effectively. A recurrent feature of answers was that they could identify the advantage, but development seemed to be more difficult. Responses to environmental advantages generally fared better with candidates recognizing that less waste was produced and linking this with improvements to habits, terrain and location.