Global Distribution of Resources

Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 6.1.1

Which Resources Do Humans Need to Survive?

Food, water, and energy are fundamental to human life and development.

Without food, people die of starvation or famine.
Crops are produced by farming and animals are reared (raised) eating crops.
If people do not eat enough food, they are said to be 'malnourished'.
When the human body doesn't have enough food, it has low energy, has a less effective immune system, can do less manual labour, and can do less thinking.
These things are bad for people's quality of life, the productivity of their work and the development of a country.

Humans can survive for 3-4 weeks without food, but only 3-4 days without water.
Humans need to drink water to survive. The water has to be clean and not contain water-borne diseases like cholera, which can kill humans.
Animals and livestock need water to grow and survive.
Water can be polluted by industrial pollution or contaminated with bacteria - water pollution affects developed and developing nations.

Useful energy is generated by burning wood, burning fossil fuels or by solar/hydroelectric power.
Vehicles (cars, buses, planes, ships, and lorries) need energy to transport food, clothing, water, and everything else.
Manufacturing and secondary industries need energy to transform raw materials into useful products.
Humans need energy to create heat, allowing them to survive in cold winters.
Secure sources of energy are vital to a developed economy.
Countries that are able to sustainably produce more energy usually have a higher standard of living.