Even though there is an
uneven distribution of
fossils fuels
Most large fossil fuel reserves are
under countries that are politically
unstable, and therefore the energy
supplies re at risk of being
disrupted
Global energy use is increasing and
fossil fuel reserves are decreasing
In times where energy
security is threated or cant
be reached there maybe
threats of conflict
For example the US have stated that it
will use military force if necessary to
protect its interests in the Middle East
and secure the free movement of oil.
Conflicts
The Straits of Hormuz
Iran is enriching uranium claiming
that they are creating Nuclear
energy
However western
governments believe that
they are creating nuclear
weapons and have become
worried about what threat
this could cause to Isreal
As a response to this economic sanctions
have been placed onto Iran as an effort
to stop the enriching
As a response to the
sanctions put in place Iran
have stated that it could
'easily' close the straits of
Hormuz using its navy
In response to this military action
from the US navy will most likely
happen
This threat from Iran is serious as
40% of the worlds oil tankers pass
through the straits of Hormuz
Meaning that if it is closed oil prices
and trades will be disrupted
The Falklands
In 1982 Argentinian
forces invaded the
Falklands
Margret Thatcher in response
sent a taskforce to liberate
the islands resulting in a short
but bloody war
Argentina's lost in
the war were
649 Killed
1,068 Wounded
11,313 taken
prisoner
The UK's lost
in the war
were
258 Killed
775 Wounded
115 taken
prisoner
The Falklands are now
considerably more protected
than the 68 personnel there
where in 1982
Since the 30th
anniversary tensions
have increased
The Geopolitics behind this is the oil
reserves around the Falklands, which
is expected to be $168 billion worth
Co-operation
OPEC (Organisation of the
Petroleum Exporting
Countries)
Made of 12 oil exporting countries
Together they own
77% of all global oil
reserves
Including Venezuela, UAE,
Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Algeria,
Angola, Ecuador, Kuwait, Libya,
Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia
The main aim of the cartel is to;
Keep oil prices high so
that money isn't lost, as
oil is a finite resource
Still keep prices low so that
countries will use the oil as a source
of energy and not change to another
source
The Kyoto Protocal
The aim of this was to
stabilises emissions
Nearly all nations signed
up, the notable exception
being the USA
Developing countries such as China
and India where not asked to reduce
emissions
This was because these countries had not
contributed that much to the CO2 build up in
the atmosphere over the last centaury
Industrialised nations
aimed to cut emissions by
29%
Some countries
such as the EU made
these cuts
However China and USA created enough
emissions, to wipe out the cuts made