Which change would increase a country's demand for energy?

growth in manufacturing industry. Factories are heavy users of energy.

Why do wealthy countries use more energy per person?

people can afford more vehicles and appliances. Wealth buys things that use energy.

How does a cold climate affect energy demand?

it increases demand, for heating. Heating is the main use of energy in cold countries.

A fuel becomes scarce. What usually happens?

its price rises and people look for alternatives. Scarcity pushes the price up.

Which is an example of disruption to supply?

a pipeline being damaged in a conflict. The fuel cannot reach the people who need it.

Two countries have the same population. One uses four times as much energy. Which factor cannot be the reason?

population size. The populations are equal, so population explains nothing here.

What affects the demand for energy · Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management

In plain words

A person in one country may use fifty times as much energy as a person in another. The difference is not down to greed. It follows from how rich the country is, how cold it is, how many people live there and what it makes.

8 things to know

Transport: more cars, lorries, ships and aircraft burn more fuel. As trade and travel grow, so does demand.
Personal wealth: people with more money buy cars, air conditioning and electrical goods, and travel more. National wealth: richer countries have more industry, more transport and electricity in every home.
Climate: cold places need heating and hot places need air conditioning. Demand also changes with the seasons.
Human population size: more people need more energy for homes, food and transport.
Industry: factories use very large amounts of energy, especially those making steel, cement and chemicals. Demand rises fast in a country that is building up its industry.
Disruption to supply: a war, an accident or a natural disaster can cut off the supply of a fuel. The price rises, and countries turn to other resources or use less.
Unreliable supply: where power cuts are common, people and businesses buy their own generators or batteries, or do without.
Scarcity of resources: as a fuel becomes scarce its price rises. Demand for it falls, and demand for alternatives rises.

Worked example

Country A is rich and cold. Country B is poor and warm. Both have 20 million people. Explain why country A uses far more energy.

Wealth: people in country A can afford cars, appliances and travel, and its industry uses a great deal of energy.
Climate: country A needs heating for much of the year.
Population is the same in both, so it does not explain the difference.

Tips and tricks

Tie each factor to a direction. Do not write "climate affects demand". Write "a colder climate increases demand, for heating".
Population size and wealth are separate factors. A country with a small population can still use a lot of energy.

6 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

What affects the demand for energy: 6 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

Which change would increase a country's demand for energy?
- a fall in population
- growth in manufacturing industry (the answer)
- warmer winters in a cold country
- fewer cars on the roads
Factories are heavy users of energy.
Why do wealthy countries use more energy per person?
- they have more sunshine
- they have larger populations
- people can afford more vehicles and appliances (the answer)
- their energy is always renewable
Wealth buys things that use energy.
How does a cold climate affect energy demand?
- it increases demand, for heating (the answer)
- it reduces demand, because people stay indoors
- it has no effect
- it increases demand, for air conditioning
Heating is the main use of energy in cold countries.
A fuel becomes scarce. What usually happens?
- its price rises and people look for alternatives (the answer)
- demand for it rises
- its price falls
- it becomes renewable
Scarcity pushes the price up.
Which is an example of disruption to supply?
- a new power station opening
- a pipeline being damaged in a conflict (the answer)
- a rise in population
- a cold winter
The fuel cannot reach the people who need it.
Two countries have the same population. One uses four times as much energy. Which factor cannot be the reason?Stretch
- national wealth
- climate
- population size (the answer)
- industry
The populations are equal, so population explains nothing here.

6 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 7 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

What affects the demand for energy

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 · 7 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

Explain how the climate of a country affects its demand for energy.[2]
Show answerHide answer
A cold climate increases demand because buildings need heating. A hot climate increases demand because of air conditioning.
I got this one
Explain why the demand for energy rises as a country becomes wealthier.[3]
Show answerHide answer
More people can afford cars and electrical goods. More homes are connected to electricity. Industry and transport grow, and both use large amounts of energy.
I got this one
Suggest how a shortage of oil could change the demand for other energy resources.[2]
Show answerHide answer
The price of oil rises, so people use less of it. Demand rises for alternatives, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy.
I got this one

Answers: What affects the demand for energy

1. A cold climate increases demand because buildings need heating. A hot climate increases demand because of air conditioning.
2. More people can afford cars and electrical goods. More homes are connected to electricity. Industry and transport grow, and both use large amounts of energy.
3. The price of oil rises, so people use less of it. Demand rises for alternatives, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy.