Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0) — The Human Environment
The world you live in today is powered completely differently than the world your great-grandparents inhabited. Over the past century, the global energy mix has transformed dramatically. In the early 20th century (1900–1940), global supply was dominated by coal and traditional biomass (like wood and manure).
These two sources each provided around 50% of the world's energy in 1900, with coal peaking at over 50% of the total mix by 1940. Following World War II, there was a rapid shift towards oil and gas. The mass production of internal combustion engines caused oil to peak at 50% of global supply in the early 1970s.
During the 1960s and 1970s, nuclear energy was introduced. The 1973 Oil Crisis, where prices jumped from $3 to $12 per barrel, triggered a global drive for energy efficiency and diversification.
From the 1980s to the present, we have seen the growth of modern renewable energy (which does not deplete) and unconventional non-renewable energy sources (which cannot be replaced once used). By the first half of 2025, global electricity generation from wind and solar combined exceeded coal power for the first time in history.
Despite this progress, fossil fuels still provide approximately 80–84% of primary energy globally. Modern renewables account for around 11% of primary energy, which is often converted into secondary energy like electricity. Some energy is also generated from recyclable energy sources.
Have you ever considered how much electricity your smartphone, fridge, and Wi-Fi router consume compared to a life with no modern appliances at all? There are three main reasons why global energy demand has skyrocketed over the past 100 years: population growth, economic development, and industrialisation.
The global population grew from approximately 1.8 billion in 1920 to 8 billion in 2022. This massive increase creates a clear causal chain: population increase higher demand for food use of and machinery increased energy demand. Furthermore, urbanisation means cities require far more energy for services and lighting than rural areas.
Rising wealth and economic development in High Income Countries (HICs) also directly increase energy use. As a country's standard of living improves, people buy more energy-hungry appliances and vehicles.
Industrialisation is the transition from primary farming to secondary manufacturing sectors. Industry consumes approximately 37% of all global energy, and manufacturing basic materials like steel accounts for nearly 50% of this use.
Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs) like China and India are experiencing the fastest demand growth due to this shift. This rapid manufacturing growth worsens a country's energy intensity, meaning more energy is required to produce one unit of GDP.
Calculating energy per person helps geographers compare massive countries like China with tiny nations fairly. We use specific formulas to measure these changes.
Calculate the energy per capita for a nation that consumes kWh of energy per year and has a population of .
Step 1: Identify the values.
Step 2: Substitute into the equation.
Step 3: Calculate and state the final answer with units.
Why does a wind farm get built in one location while an oil rig is constructed in another? The types of energy a country uses are heavily influenced by physical factors. A country's geology determines the location of fossil fuel deposits, such as oil in the North Sea.
Meanwhile, climate and relief dictate the viability of renewables. Solar power requires sunny climates, while hydroelectric power needs high rainfall and mountainous terrain.
Technological advances have completely changed the global energy landscape. The development of fracking has opened up previously inaccessible reserves of oil and gas. At the same time, the cost of solar energy has plummeted by 99.9% since 1975, making renewables highly competitive.
Political and environmental pressures are accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels to combat resource depletion. International agreements, such as the 2015 Paris Agreement, force countries to limit carbon emissions and transition away from coal.
Furthermore, countries are striving for energy security by reducing their reliance on imported energy to avoid price volatility and political blackmail. This helps close the energy gap between rising domestic demand and falling domestic production.
Buying an energy-saving lightbulb reduces your electricity bill, but total global energy consumption is still rising. This counterintuitive situation is known as the efficiency paradox.
While energy consumption per capita in HICs has declined since the 1970s due to better insulation and efficient appliances, total global demand continues to rise rapidly due to economic growth in NEEs and Low Income Countries (LICs).
Global energy consumption is highly unequal. The richest 1 billion people consume 50% of the world's energy, while the poorest 20% consume only 4%. For example, the USA uses 16% of global energy despite having only 4.25% of the global population.
Consumption per capita varies wildly: HICs like Qatar use around kWh per year, whereas LICs in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Somalia, use as little as kWh per year. This creates a vicious circle where a lack of energy prevents economic development, which in turn keeps energy consumption low.
Students often confuse 'energy mix' with 'energy supply'; remember that the energy mix refers to the proportions of different energy sources a country uses, not the total volume of energy.
When the command word is 'Explain', you must provide a causal chain; simply stating that the population grew will not score full marks unless you link it to increased food demand and intensive farming.
Always use the specific term 'NEEs' (Newly Emerging Economies) rather than generic phrases like 'developing countries' when discussing the rapid industrialisation of nations like China and India.
In data interpretation questions, remember that a fall in a country's percentage use of coal does not necessarily mean they are using less energy overall, just that their energy mix has transitioned to other sources.
Energy mix
The specific combination of different energy sources (renewable, non-renewable, and recyclable) used by a country or region to meet its total energy demand.
Traditional biomass
Fuel sourced from organic matter, such as wood or animal manure, which was commonly used as a primary energy source in the early 20th century.
Renewable energy
Energy from sources that are infinite and will not run out, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
Non-renewable energy
Finite energy sources that will eventually run out, such as coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power.
Primary energy
Energy found in nature that has not been subjected to any conversion or transformation process.
Secondary energy
Energy that has been processed from primary sources, making it usable for consumers, such as electricity or petrol.
Recyclable energy
Energy sources that can be reused or replanted, such as biofuels and nuclear reprocessing.
Industrialisation
The transformation of an agrarian society into an industrial one, involving extensive manufacturing and a shift away from primary farming.
Intensive farming
Agriculture that uses high levels of inputs like machinery, heating, and chemicals to maximise yield, requiring high energy consumption.
High Income Countries (HICs)
Wealthier nations with a high gross national income per capita and widespread access to modern energy infrastructure.
Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs)
Countries undergoing rapid industrialisation and economic growth, leading to soaring domestic energy demand.
Low Income Countries (LICs)
Poorer nations with low gross national income per capita, where energy insecurity often hinders economic development.
Energy intensity
A measure of how much energy is needed to produce one unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Fracking
The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas.
Resource depletion
The reduction of finite resources because they are extracted from the Earth faster than they are replaced.
Energy security
Access to an uninterrupted, affordable, and reliable supply of energy, often achieved by reducing reliance on imported fuels.
Energy gap
The difference between a country's rising demand for energy and its ability to produce that energy from its own domestic resources.
Efficiency paradox
The situation where per capita energy consumption falls due to efficient technology, but total global demand continues to rise due to population and economic growth.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Geography A
Energy mix
The specific combination of different energy sources (renewable, non-renewable, and recyclable) used by a country or region to meet its total energy demand.
Traditional biomass
Fuel sourced from organic matter, such as wood or animal manure, which was commonly used as a primary energy source in the early 20th century.
Renewable energy
Energy from sources that are infinite and will not run out, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
Non-renewable energy
Finite energy sources that will eventually run out, such as coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power.
Primary energy
Energy found in nature that has not been subjected to any conversion or transformation process.
Secondary energy
Energy that has been processed from primary sources, making it usable for consumers, such as electricity or petrol.
Recyclable energy
Energy sources that can be reused or replanted, such as biofuels and nuclear reprocessing.
Industrialisation
The transformation of an agrarian society into an industrial one, involving extensive manufacturing and a shift away from primary farming.
Intensive farming
Agriculture that uses high levels of inputs like machinery, heating, and chemicals to maximise yield, requiring high energy consumption.
High Income Countries (HICs)
Wealthier nations with a high gross national income per capita and widespread access to modern energy infrastructure.
Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs)
Countries undergoing rapid industrialisation and economic growth, leading to soaring domestic energy demand.
Low Income Countries (LICs)
Poorer nations with low gross national income per capita, where energy insecurity often hinders economic development.
Energy intensity
A measure of how much energy is needed to produce one unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Fracking
The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas.
Resource depletion
The reduction of finite resources because they are extracted from the Earth faster than they are replaced.
Energy security
Access to an uninterrupted, affordable, and reliable supply of energy, often achieved by reducing reliance on imported fuels.
Energy gap
The difference between a country's rising demand for energy and its ability to produce that energy from its own domestic resources.
Efficiency paradox
The situation where per capita energy consumption falls due to efficient technology, but total global demand continues to rise due to population and economic growth.
