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This lesson examines how superpower resource consumption shapes the environment and how global environmental governance is influenced by the competing interests of superpowers. You will analyse energy security, rare earth minerals, climate negotiations, and the debate about environmental responsibility between developed and developing nations. This lesson addresses the Edexcel Enquiry Question: "What are the environmental implications of superpower status?"
Superpowers and great powers consume a disproportionate share of the world's resources. This has profound environmental implications and is a source of geopolitical tension.
| Country | Primary Energy Consumption (exajoules, 2023) | Share of World Total (%) | Per Capita Energy Use (GJ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 159.4 | 27.0 | 113 |
| USA | 93.6 | 15.9 | 280 |
| India | 41.5 | 7.0 | 29 |
| Russia | 29.8 | 5.0 | 207 |
| Japan | 17.1 | 2.9 | 137 |
| World total | 590 | 100 | 74 |
Key observations:
| Country | CO₂ Emissions (Gt, 2023) | Share of World (%) | Per Capita (tonnes) | Cumulative Historical (1751–2023, %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 12.6 | 33 | 8.9 | ~15 |
| USA | 4.7 | 12 | 14.0 | ~25 |
| India | 3.1 | 8 | 2.2 | ~4 |
| Russia | 1.8 | 5 | 12.4 | ~7 |
| EU-27 | 2.6 | 7 | 5.8 | ~22 |
The distinction between current annual emissions and cumulative historical emissions is critical:
Exam Tip: Always distinguish between current and historical emissions when discussing climate responsibility. China's current annual emissions are the highest, but the USA and Europe have emitted far more in total over time. This distinction is central to the fairness debate in climate negotiations and is frequently examined.
Energy security refers to a country's ability to access reliable, affordable and sufficient energy supplies. For superpowers, energy security is a strategic priority that shapes foreign policy and geopolitics.
| Country | Primary Energy Source | Self-Sufficiency | Key Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Oil (36%), gas (34%), renewables (13%) | Largely self-sufficient (net energy exporter since 2019 due to shale revolution) | Reliance on oil for transport; geopolitical entanglements in the Middle East |
| China | Coal (55%), oil (19%), renewables (15%) | Imports ~73% of oil and ~42% of gas | Extreme coal dependency; oil import routes through Strait of Malacca (chokepoint) |
| Russia | Gas (54%), oil (22%) | Major net energy exporter | Economy dependent on energy exports; vulnerable to low oil/gas prices |
| India | Coal (55%), oil (28%) | Imports ~85% of oil | Coal dependency; rising demand with limited domestic oil/gas |
| EU | Mixed (gas 25%, oil 32%, renewables 23%) | Imports ~58% of energy | Historically dependent on Russian gas; now diversifying rapidly |
Control of energy resources and supply routes is a defining feature of superpower competition:
Rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals are essential for modern technology — smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, military equipment and semiconductors. Control of these resources is an emerging dimension of superpower competition.
China dominates the global rare earth supply chain:
| Critical Mineral | Primary Use | China's Share of Processing (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Rare earths | Magnets, electronics, defence | ~90 |
| Lithium | EV batteries | ~60 |
| Cobalt | EV batteries | ~73 (processing); DRC has ~74% of mining |
| Gallium | Semiconductors | ~98 |
| Graphite | EV batteries, nuclear | ~65 |
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