Find out how Energy, Transport, Food, and Waste affect the Environment, Money, People's Wellbeing, and Jobs.
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Energy
Find out about these three Energy Options:
What are they?
Fossil fuels are natural energy sources that formed a very long time ago from dead plants and animals. Over millions of years, heat and pressure turned them into fuels we can use today.
Examples:
The main types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas.
People use coal to generate electricity in power stations, oil to make fuels like petrol and diesel for cars and planes, and natural gas to heat homes and cook food. These fuels have been important for running machines, producing electricity, and helping industries create many of the everyday products we rely on today.
Fun Fact: The fossil fuels that we use today started forming when the dinosaurs roamed the earth!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Provide strong energy that powers cars, planes, and electricity. -
Cost: Cheaper to use at first, because they need less money to set up than new energy sources. -
Wellbeing: Reliable, quick and easy to use, with systems already in place to store and manage them. -
Jobs: Helps support huge industries like mining, transport, and energy production providing lots of jobs.
Overall Benefits: Fossil fuels are powerful, reliable, and widely available, making them easy to use for daily energy needs.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Burning fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide and creates pollution that dirties the air and harms nature. -
Cost: Prices can rise and fossil fuels will eventually run out. -
Wellbeing: Pollution from burning fuels can harm people's health and quality of life. -
Jobs: As the world moves to cleaner energy, fossil fuel jobs may decrease.
Overall Trade-Offs: Fossil fuels give us energy now, but they will not last forever, and they damage the planet.
Tip! Try planting a tree near your home. Trees help to reduce the carbon released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burnt.
What is it?
Renewable energy comes from natural sources like the sun, wind, and water, and it will not run out. We can turn these sources into electricity to power things we use every day in our homes and schools.
Examples:
Solar power comes from the sun and is used in rooftop panels, street lights, and even small gadgets like calculators.
Wind power is created by large turbines that spin in the wind to make electricity, and it can also be used to pump water on farms.
Water power (hydropower) comes from moving water like rivers, dams, or the sea, and it helps produce electricity for towns and cities.
Fun Fact: The Sun gives Earth more energy in just one hour than all the people in the world use in an entire year!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Use natural sources that do not create harmful gases, helping keep the air and water clean.
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Cost: After setting up the expensive equipment, energy is often free to produce and money will be saved in the long term.
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Wellbeing: Safer for people's health because it does not create smoke or poisonous gases.
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Jobs: Create new jobs in building, maintaining, and running renewable energy systems.
Overall Benefits: Renewables are clean, safe, and sustainable, helping protect our planet while providing energy.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Renewable energy needs material and energy to set up and is dependent on unreliable sunlight and wind.
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Cost: It can be expensive to build and install renewable energy systems at the beginning.
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Wellbeing: Wind turbines can be noisy, and large projects can change how places look.
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Jobs: Some jobs in fossil fuel industries may be lost as renewable energy grows.
Overall Trade-Offs: It can be expensive to set up and is not always reliable if it is weather-dependent.
Tip! Use a solar powered calculator in your maths lessons.
What is it?
Saving energy means using less power so we don't waste resources. It's about being smart with how we use electricity, gas, and water in our daily lives.
Examples:
Turning off lights when you leave a room, unplugging chargers when they're not in use, taking shorter showers, and shutting down computers instead of leaving them on all night are all ways to save energy.
These small actions can add up and make a big difference.
Fun Fact: Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth can save over 3,000 gallons of water a year - enough to fill a large fish tank!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Reduces pollution, helps slow climate change, and keeps the air cleaner.
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Cost: Saves money on electricity and fuel bills.
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Wellbeing: Helps make homes more comfortable and builds good habits.
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Jobs: Supports jobs that create energy-saving products like LED lights and smart devices.
Overall Benefits: Saving energy protects the planet, saves money, and helps people live healthier, more responsible lives.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Helps the environment, but saving energy alone cannot solve all environmental problems.
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Cost: Energy-saving products can cost more at the start.
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Wellbeing: It takes effort to build habits like turning off lights or unplugging devices, which some people find inconvenient.
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Jobs: Some traditional energy jobs may decrease as energy use goes down.
Overall Trade-Offs: Saving energy is very helpful, but it takes effort, money, and teamwork to make a big difference.
Tip! Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and switch off lights when you're last to leave a room.
Transport
Find out about these three Transport Options:
What is it?
Petrol or gas vehicles are used to carry people or goods from one place to another, usually on roads. They run on fuel made from oil. This fuel is called petrol in many countries, and gasoline (or gas) in the United States. The fuel is burned inside the engine to make the vehicle move. Most petrol vehicles are owned and used by individuals.
Examples:
Cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, and scooters that use petrol or gas.
Fun Fact: If you drove your car at 90 kilometres an hour, it would take you six months to reach the moon!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Newer petrol vehicles are more efficient and produce less pollution, with filters that reduce harmful fumes.
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Cost: Usually cheaper to buy than electric vehicles.
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Wellbeing: Reliable, quick to refuel, and easy to use every day.
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Jobs: Create jobs in car factories, garages, petrol stations, and the oil industry.
Overall Benefits: Petrol vehicles are convenient, affordable, and easy to use, with roads and petrol stations already in place.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Burning fossil fuels releases fumes that cause air pollution which contributes to climate change.
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Cost: Petrol prices can change and may become expensive over time.
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Wellbeing: Air pollution and engine noise can harm people's health and quality of life.
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Jobs: The shift to greener transport may reduce some of these jobs over time.
Overall Trade-Offs: They harm the environment and use fuels that will run out, making them unsustainable in the long term.
Tip! If you get a lift to school and there's a spare seat, ask if someone else can join so the car is full.
What is it?
Public transport is made up of vehicles that carry many people at the same time. They usually follow a timetable, and people pay to use them. Most public transport is run by companies or the government, rather than individuals, and can carry large groups of people.
Examples:
Buses for short distances within a town, and coaches for longer journeys between towns.
Trains for short and long journeys between towns and cities, and trams for short distances in towns and cities.
Boats and ferries for travelling across water.
Fun Fact: The world's longest bus route is 3,000 kilometers in Argentina. That's almost the distance from London to Moscow!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Less pollution from fewer cars on the road, and modern public transport can be cleaner than petrol vehicles.
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Cost: Usually cheaper than owning a car.
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Wellbeing: More relaxing and less stressful than driving, with no need to worry about parking.
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Jobs: Creates jobs for drivers, mechanics, cleaners, and people who plan services and timetables.
Overall Benefits: Public transport reduces traffic, lowers pollution, and can be a more relaxing way to travel.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Not all public transport is electric. Many still use fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change.
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Cost: Public transport is expensive to run, so ticket prices can increase.
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Wellbeing: Can be crowded, noisy, and less clean. Delays or not getting a seat can make journeys less comfortable.
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Jobs: New technology may reduce some jobs over time.
Overall Trade-Offs: Better for the environment than cars, but can be costly, unreliable, and sometimes uncomfortable.
Tip! If your parents are planning a holiday, suggest using trains or buses instead of short flights, hire cars, or taxis.
What is it?
Walking and cycling are simple, everyday ways of travelling that use human energy instead of fuel. You use your legs when walking, and a bicycle when cycling. Neither walking nor cycling need petrol, gas, or electricity to move.
Examples:
Walking is usually for short or medium distances. You might walk to school, to a friend's house, to the park, or to a nearby shop.
Cycling is used for slightly longer journeys than walking, but not very long distances. You might cycle to school, to a friend's house, or to the park if it is too far to walk.
Many people also walk and cycle for enjoyment and as a way to stay fit.
Fun Fact: When you walk, one foot stays on the ground, but when you run, both feet can be in the air at the same time!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: No fuel is needed, so no pollution is produced, helping keep the air clean and fresh.
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Cost: Walking is free, and cycling is cheaper than using a car.
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Wellbeing: Both are great forms of exercise and support physical health and a positive mood.
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Jobs: Supports local shops and creates jobs in bike shops and repair services.
Overall Benefits: They are healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly ways to travel short distances.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: None. Both are clean and safe for the planet.
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Cost: Bikes cost money to buy and repair.
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Wellbeing: Can take longer, may feel unsafe, and can be uncomfortable in bad weather.
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Jobs: Create fewer jobs compared to other forms of transport.
Overall Trade-Offs: They can take longer, are not suitable for long distances, and can be uncomfortable in poor weather.
Tip! Set your alarm a bit earlier so you can walk or cycle to school instead of taking the bus or getting a lift, with an adult's permission.
Food
Find out about these three Food Options:
What is it?
Imported food is food that is grown or made in one country and then brought into another country to be sold and eaten. This means it travels across borders before reaching shops and homes.
Food that is imported comes into a country, while food that is exported is sent out to other countries.
Examples:
Bananas grown in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, are widely imported to the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Coffee produced in places like Brazil and Colombia and enjoyed globally.
Rice is exported majorly from Thailand and Vietnam, to Africa, the Middle East, and Hong Kong.
Beef is exported from Brazil, Australia, and the U.S. to Asia and Europe.
Seafood such as salmon is exported by Norway to countries around the world, especially to Hong Kong, Japan, and the U.S.
Fun Fact: Durian is banned in some hotels for being the 'smelliest fruit in the world', but it's still a popular imported food!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Lets people eat foods that do not grow locally.
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Cost: Can be cheaper when grown in large amounts overseas.
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Wellbeing: Provides a wider variety of foods all year round and allows people to try new foods and flavours.
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Jobs: Supports farmers, transport, and shipping jobs.
Overall Benefits: Imported food adds variety and lets people enjoy foods from around the world.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Transporting food over long distances uses fuel and adds pollution.
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Cost: Prices can rise because of transport and shipping costs.
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Wellbeing: Long journeys can make food less fresh, and people may feel less connected to local food traditions.
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Jobs: Can make it harder for local farmers to compete.
Overall Trade-Offs: Imported food offers more choice, but it is less sustainable.
Tip! Look at where your food comes from and try to buy local to reduce your carbon footprint.
What is it?
Local food is food that is grown, produced, or made in the same area or country where it is eaten. It does not travel long distances or cross borders like imported food. Local food usually comes from nearby farms, waters, or factories and is sold close to where it is produced.
Examples:
Rice grown and eaten in Thailand.
Oranges grown in Spain and sold in local markets.
Cheese produced and eaten in England.
Fish caught and sold in Hong Kong.
Lentils grown and eaten in India.
Yams grown and eaten in Nigeria.
Fun Fact: In Japan, each region is famous for dishes made from local ingredients, like Hokkaido's dairy and Uji's matcha tea!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Shorter transport distances mean less pollution.
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Cost: Money supports local farmers and shops.
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Wellbeing: Food is often fresher, and it supports local communities and connection to seasonal foods.
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Jobs: Strengthens local farming and food industries.
Overall Benefits: Local food is fresh, environmentally friendly, and supports local communities.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: No major environmental downsides, but local food alone cannot meet all food needs.
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Cost: Can be more expensive if grown in smaller amounts.
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Wellbeing: Less variety, as some foods are only available in certain seasons.
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Jobs: Smaller scale, with fewer jobs than global food industries.
Overall Trade-Offs: Local food is fresh and sustainable, but offers less variety.
Tip! Visit a local shop instead of a supermarket and try a local food. Does it taste fresher?
What is it?
Food waste is food that is thrown away or not eaten, even though it is still safe to eat.
Examples:
Fruit and vegetables that go bad before being eaten.
Leftovers that are thrown away after a meal.
Bread that goes stale and is thrown away.
Milk that spoils and is poured away.
Rice or pasta cooked in large amounts but not finished.
Fun Fact: Around the world, about one-third of all food is wasted. That's like cooking three meals and throwing one straight in the bin!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Food waste harms the environment by wasting resources like water and energy, and adding to pollution.
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Cost: Wasting food means losing money that was spent on buying it.
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Wellbeing: Does not benefit people and means food that could be eaten is wasted.
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Jobs: Does not support jobs or industries in a helpful way.
Overall Benefits: Food waste has no real benefits. It means edible food is thrown away and resources are wasted.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Wasted food means wasted resources and more greenhouse gases when it rots in landfills.
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Cost: Money spent on food is lost when it is thrown away.
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Wellbeing: Rotting food can create bad smells, attract pests, and leave less food available for people who need it.
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Jobs: Makes farming, transport, and shops less efficient.
Overall Trade-Offs: Food waste harms the environment, wastes money, and reduces food available for communities.
Tip! Avoid taking large portions. Try to eat everything on your plate. If you have leftovers, use them to make a new meal!
Waste
Find out about these three Waste Options:
What is it?
Landfills are large areas of land where rubbish is collected and buried. They are designed to store waste safely, often with layers of soil covering the trash.
Examples:
Everyday items like food scrapes, broken toys, old clothes, and packaging such as plastic bottles or cardboard boxes can end up in landfills. Some landfills are very large and can hold waste from entire cities.
Fun Fact: The world's largest landfill, Apex Regional Landfill in Nevada, is so big it covers more than 1,200 football fields!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Provide a place to safely contain waste.
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Cost: Cheaper and easier to set up than more advanced systems.
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Wellbeing: Help keep towns clean by collecting rubbish in one place and preventing it from piling up in streets.
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Jobs: Support jobs in waste management and recycling.
Overall Benefits: Landfills are a simple way to manage waste and keep communities clean.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Release harmful gases and can damage soil and water.
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Cost: Long-term costs can increase due to cleanup and environmental damage.
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Wellbeing: Living near landfills can affect people's health.
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Jobs: Relying on landfills can slow the move to greener jobs and solutions.
Overall Trade-Offs: Landfills manage waste in the short term, but can harm the environment over time.
Tip! If you have a garden, make a compost bin from food waste and paper to help your plants grow!
What is it?
Recycling is the process of collecting used materials and turning them into new products.
Examples:
Paper can be recycled into new notebooks or newspapers.
Glass bottles can be melted and reshaped into new bottles or jars.
Plastic containers can be turned into items like park benches or clothing.
Metal cans can be recycled into new cans or parts for machines.
Fun Fact: Recycling just one aluminium can can save enough energy to power a TV for about three hours!
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Reduces waste and lowers pollution.
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Cost: Saves money by turning old items into new ones.
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Wellbeing: Helps keep streets clean and makes people feel they are protecting the planet.
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Jobs: Supports jobs in recycling plants and industries.
Overall Benefits: Recycling protects the planet, saves resources, and creates jobs.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Recycling still uses energy and can create some emissions.
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Cost: Recycling systems can be expensive to set up.
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Wellbeing: Sorting waste can be inconvenient and time consuming. Recycling only works if items are sorted correctly.
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Jobs: Some recycling jobs can be unsafe without proper protection.
Overall Trade-Offs: Recycling is better than landfill, but it needs effort and well-designed, easy-to-use systems.
Tip! Ask your school for recycling bins and encourage classmates to sort rubbish into plastics, paper, and metals.
What is it?
Reusing means finding a new way to use something instead of throwing it away after one use. It is about giving items another purpose.
Examples:
Glass jars can be reused to store buttons or snacks.
Cardboard boxes can be reused to keep toys or books.
Plastic bags can be reused to carry lunches or sports gear.
Clothes can be reused by passing them on to younger siblings or friends.
Fun Fact: Reusing items often saves even more energy than recycling them.
Benefits:
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Planet Health: Extends the life of items, reduces waste, and keeps rubbish out of landfills.
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Cost: Saves money by using things more than once.
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Wellbeing: Encourages creativity and sustainable habits.
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Jobs: Supports second-hand shops and repair services.
Overall Benefits: Reusing reduces waste, saves money, and protects the environment.
Trade-Offs:
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Planet Health: Some items cannot be reused safely.
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Cost: Fixing items can sometimes cost more than buying new.
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Wellbeing: Reused items may wear out, be less hygienic, or require extra effort and storage space.
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Jobs: Big industries may resist reusing because it lowers the demand for new products.
Overall Trade-Offs: Reusing is sustainable but depends on effort and item quality.
Tip! Don't throw away your old boots... transform them into planters and watch your flowers grow!
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