Lesson video

Hello and welcome.

My name is Miss Harrison and I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Grab everything you might need for today's lesson and let's begin our learning.

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to evaluate different sources of evidence to justify a decision about a geographical issue.

Before we can begin this learning, we need to define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords are: context, biodiversity hotspot, carbon sink, and Gross National Income per capita.

Context: this is the economic, environmental, historical or social background to an issue.

Biodiversity hotspot: this is an area with a very high number of different species, many of which are found nowhere else.

Carbon sink: a natural or artificial system that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases.

And Gross National Income per capita: this is the total income of a country divided by its population, which shows average income per person.

Now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we're going to explore in today's lesson is: What are geographical issues? Today we're exploring a real world issue that connects people, place and the environment.

How should Madagascar improve energy access while protecting its forests and the environment? I would like you to think, is this a geographical issue? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

This is a great example of a geographical issue because it involves making decisions about how land is used and how people interact with their environment.

But we need to think, what makes it one? Who might be affected and what might the consequences be? So why is the question of how Madagascar should improve energy access while protecting its forest a geographical issue? And there are four clear reasons.

It's about land use and change.

Decisions needs to be made about how the land is managed.

Should forest be cleared to build energy infrastructure or preserve to protect biodiversity? It involves multiple interest groups: local communities, government officials, international organisations and environmental groups, and they all have a say, and often they will disagree on what should happen.

It operates at different scales.

This isn't just a local issue.

While it directly affects the people and the environment in Madagascar, it also has global consequences, especially for climate change and conservation.

It connects different areas of geography.

This issue brings together topics from human geography, like energy and development, and physical geography, like ecosystems and deforestation.

And that's exactly what we mean by being synoptic, drawing on different parts of the subject to understand complex problems. Decision-making issues are often geographical because: Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the correct answers are A: they involve decisions about how land is used and changed over space.

C: they link together different parts of geography, and D: they affect different places.

So for B, whilst it is true, it's more of a describing of a presentation technique and it doesn't explain why an issue is geographical.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

So geographical issues can cover a wide range of topics and places.

And here are some examples: How should the Canadian government manage Canada's energy resources and the environment? What is the best way for Ecuador to manage its oil reserves located beneath the forest? How should Iceland manage the country's natural environment and resources more sustainably? How should Ghana's government seek to develop its economy so that it is no longer reliant on overseas aid? And how should Cambodia's government try to deal with the challenge of deforestation? These are all geographical issues.

So now let's look at a second example of a geographical issue.

The issue is what is the best way for Ecuador to manage its oil reserves located beneath the rainforest? And once again, this is clearly a geographical issue and here's why: involves decisions about land use.

Should Ecuador drill for oil to support its local economy or protect the rainforest, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth? It affects different places at different scales.

Locally drilling could damage indigenous land and habitats.

Globally, it could impact carbon emissions and climate targets.

It brings in a range of viewpoints: Indigenous communities, the Ecuadorian government, oil companies and environmental groups all have different priorities.

And it links different areas of geography.

This issue connects human geography, like economic development and resource management with physical geography, like rainforest ecosystems and climate change.

And these four reasons are why this is a true synoptic issue.

Geographical issues often focus on a specific place, like Ecuador.

But to fully understand them, we need to look at the wider geographical context.

The issue we're studying asks, what is the best way for Ecuador to manage its oil reserves located beneath the rainforest? Now Ecuador is the specific country and its rainforest is the specific place, but the decisions made here link to much bigger global issues.

For example, around the world, countries want to use their natural energy sources to grow their economies and ensure energy security for the future.

At the same time, tropical rainforests like the one in Ecuador, play a vital global role.

They act as carbon sinks helping to slow climate change and they're also biodiversity hotspots, home to thousands of species found nowhere else.

So even though the issue is based in one location, it's connected to global environmental, economic and political decisions.

I would like you to identify the specific place and wider geographical context in this question.

Pause the video here was to attempt this and press play to continue.

Fantastic.

The answers are: Iceland is the specific focus of this question and the wider geographical context is that climate change and pressures on biodiversity are driving the need for countries to adopt more sustainable approaches to resource management.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

Even though a geographical issue like Ecuador's oil reserves may be linked to one main topic, in this case, energy resources, there are always connections to other topics too.

In geography, we call this synoptic links, linking ideas from across different themes.

So what other topics could help us to understand this issue better? Energy resources.

This is the obvious starting point.

We're looking at how Ecuador should use its oil, which is a non-renewable energy source.

Global biomes including tropical rainforests Because the oil lies beneath the Amazon rainforest, decisions about drain directly affect the unique and valuable biome.

Tourism: The rainforest attracts ecotourism, which is an alternative income source for local communities that doesn't damage the environment.

Population: Ecuador's growing population means there is a rising demand for energy, jobs and development, but also a need to protect resources for future generations.

Economic development and globalisation: Selling oil can boost the economy and link Ecuador to global trade, but it also increases the environmental risks and reliance on fossil fuels.

So to fully evaluate this issue, geographers need to think across all of these topics.

I would now like you to look at the following geographical issue and fill in the table.

I'd like you to focus on place in focus, wider context, groups that hold a viewpoint, and topics that help us understand the issue.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answers.

For place in focus, is Cambodia.

For wider context: deforestation is a major issue as it impacts global carbon sinks, biodiversity and local people's lives.

Groups that may hold a viewpoint: environmentalists, local residents, government officials, farmers, business owners, and much more.

Topics that may help us to understand the issue is: energy, biomes, climate change, economic development, globalisation and population.

Well done if you managed to include any of those points in your answer, you've done brilliantly.

We're now going to explore our second question of today's lesson.

What data helps us understand geographical issues? To understand a complex geographical issue, like how should Madagascar improve energy access while protecting its forests and environment? We need to gather evidence and that means using a wide range of data sources.

Different sources help us to understand the context of the issue and build a strong argument.

Let's go through the types of sources that we could use.

Newspaper articles: they can show us how the media presents the issue and reveal local or international public opinion, but they may also include bias.

Graphs, charts, and data tables: They give us numerical evidence, such as how many people lack access to electricity or how much forest has been lost over time.

Maps and satellite imagery: They help us locate the issue, visualise the environment, and identify patterns in land use or deforestation.

Photographs or sketches: they give us a visual sense of what the area is like and can show changes to the landscape over time.

Articles and books: often include expert opinions and in-depth explanations that can provide useful background information.

And viewpoints from different people are especially important.

They reveal how the issue affects local communities, government officials, businesses or conservationists, and they help us to understand conflicting opinions.

All of these sources are valuable when you're asked to evaluate and justify your decision, and you must make sure that you explain how and why different types of data helps support an argument.

What sources of data can be used to investigate a geographical issue? I would like you to complete the table.

Pause here and press play to continue.

Excellent.

The answers are maps and satellite imagery and photographs or sketches.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

When studying a geographical issue, such as how Madagascar should improve energy access while protecting its forests, data plays a vital role in helping us make well-informed decisions.

Firstly, data helps geographers to understand the context of the issue.

The map shown highlights that much of Madagascar is covered by tropical rainforest, and this tells us that any decision about energy development must consider the large scale of forest cover and the potential impacts of these important ecosystems. Secondly, the data acts as evidence.

In this case, the map shows that Madagascar is an island dominated by rainforest.

This suggests that it's likely a biodiversity hotspot, home to many unique species, and this is strong evidence to support arguments for protecting the environment while finding ways to expand energy access.

Geographers use this kind of data to support evaluation, helping them balance social, economic and environmental factors when deciding what is the most sustainable solution.

When studying geographical issues, a written summary is incredibly important.

It gives us a key context and offers factual evidence that we can use when building arguments.

In this case, we learn that only around 20% of people in Madagascar have access to electricity.

This highlights a serious social and economic challenge.

Most people, especially in rural areas, still rely on wood and charcoal for cooking and heating.

While this might seem reliable and familiar, it comes with a major problem: deforestation.

This issue is more than just about energy.

It links to environmental damage, like the destruction of Madagascar's unique forests and loss of biodiversity.

The government now faces a difficult decision: how to improve energy access without making environmental damage worse.

We can see that different people might focus on different parts of the issue.

For example, Alex highlights that how few people have electricity, which shows why energy access is urgent.

Meanwhile, Andeep focused on the fact that wood is reliable, pointing out why people can continue using it, even if it has environmental impacts.

Both perspectives are valuable and geographers must balance evidence and viewpoints to suggest sustainable solutions.

Graphs and charts are a key source of contextual information in geography and they help us to understand trends over time and can be used as evidence when building arguments.

In this case, the line graph shows that deforestation in Madagascar increased steadily between 2000 and 2014, reaching a peak of just 1%.

After 2014, the rate began to fall, dropping to around 0.

9% by 2020.

Even though the rate declined slightly, a deforestation rate of around 1% is still very serious.

If this continues, Madagascar's tropical rainforest could be severely reduced or even lost entirely by the end of the century.

This data is important for geographies because it highlights the urgency of balancing energy access with environmental protection.

It also supports arguments about the need for more sustainable energy alternatives that won't worsen deforestation.

True or false, Alex is using the line graph as evidence to make a point within a debate.

Pause the video here was to decide if this statement is true or false, and press play to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is true.

Well done if you identified that correctly.

When exploring a geographical issue, it's important to understand that not everyone agrees.

Different people and interest groups have different opinions based on their priorities, needs and experiences.

In this case, people discussing how Madagascar should improve energy access while protecting its environments.

The quotes show a range of viewpoints.

Some believe solar power is the best option, especially for remote areas.

Others are more focused on protecting forests, arguing that cutting trees for firewood causes damage and there are calls for a mix of energy sources to ensure access is improved quickly.

Some viewpoints highlight the need for government investment in clean energy to make it a realistic option, and many recognise that although electricity is essential, it shouldn't come at the cost of damaging nature.

These perspectives reflect social, environmental, and economic considerations, and geographers need to take them all into account when evaluating sustainable solutions.

Newspaper articles can be really helpful when studying a geographical issue.

They often include up-to-date information, personal stories, and strong opinions that show how different people are affected.

However, it's important to remember that newspapers can be biassed.

This means that they might only show one side of the argument, depending on the views of the writer or the publication.

For example, one headline here argues that woodfuel is essential because it's the only energy source available to many families right now.

The other strongly support solar power, saying Madagascar must stop using woodfuel to protect its forest.

These two articles clearly take different sides.

As geographers, we need to think carefully about this.

We must always look for multiple perspectives and consider whether a source might be pushing a certain opinion and if particular voices are not being represented.

By doing this, we can make better, fairer decisions based on evidence, not just emotion or bias.

I would now like you to read the news article below.

Is it for or against restricting the use as a fuel for cooking and heating? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is against.

Well done.

I would now like you, for each newspaper article, decide whether the headline suggests that the writer is in favour of a proposal to prevent deforestation by expanding solar power in Madagascar.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Before we check our answers, I would like you to complete one more task.

I would like you to explain one argument for and one against the government allowing the population to continue to use woodfuel for cooking and heating, based on the text provided.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answers.

For the first question, I asked you to decide whether the headline suggests that the writer is in favour of a proposal to prevent deforestation by expanding solar power in Madagascar.

For the first one: Power or preservation? Madagascar faces tough decisions on energy and forests.

This is balanced.

Our families need energy now.

woodfuel is still the only option for many.

Against.

Solar power is the future: Madagascar must ditch woodfuel to save its forests, and that's for.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

I then asked you to explain one argument for and one against the government allowing the population to continue to use woodfuel for cooking and heating.

For the argument for: wood is a reliable source of fuel for cooking and heating.

Madagascar is a low-income country with poor access to electricity, so a cheap and reliable source like wood is important for the population.

Against: Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot.

Continued deforestation will threaten extinction of unique species and lose an important carbon sink.

Well done on this task.

I hope you managed to include some of those points in your answer.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson.

How do we use evidence to make decisions? In the exam, you'll complete a decision-making exercise where you're presented with a real world geographical issue and asked to decide on the best course of action.

In this example, the issue is how can Madagascar improve energy access while protecting its forest and the environment? You'll be given three possible options, such as option one: expanding solar mini grids in rural areas.

Option two: investing in large hydroelectric dams. Option three: continuing to use woodfuel, both regulations to replant forests.

To answer successfully, you will need to use evidence from the resource booklet provided, which includes graphs, viewpoints, and written summaries, but you'll also be expected to draw on your own knowledge from across your GCSE geography studies, topics like ecosystems, development, energy, population, and sustainability.

Your job is to carefully evaluate all the options and consider their impacts and explain clearly which one is the best and why.

You need to use evidence and your wider geographical understanding.

When you answer a decision-making question, it's really important that you refer to all three options.

You can't just explain the one that you've picked.

You need to show that you've considered all the evidence and thought carefully about why the other options aren't as strong.

So for the option that you chose, you need to start by explaining the main benefits of your chosen option.

Then acknowledge any drawbacks but also explain why these problems might be less serious or can be managed.

Most importantly, you need to reflect on why this option is the best overall, especially in terms of sustainability and long-term impact.

And for the two options you don't choose, you need to be clear about their drawbacks and explain why those options make them less sustainable or suitable than the one that you picked.

You need to try and explain that they are not as sustainable, either environmentally, socially, or economically, and you must use evidence from the resource booklet to support this.

You must back up your arguments using information from the sources provided, and also draw on what you've learned across your GCSE course from topics like energy, forest development and more.

And remember, make sure you are referring to the sources clearly, not just writing your opinion.

True or false? There is always a correct solution to a geographical issue.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

This statement is false.

I would like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Excellent, the reason why this statement is false is because there is not a correct answer to a geographical issue.

Geographers try and balance economic, social and environmental concerns and use evidence to justify their opinion.

Well done if you explained that correctly.

When geographers make decisions, they don't just look at what works right now, they aim to find a sustainable solution and that means choices that work for people and the environment, not just in the short term but also in the long term.

To be fully sustainable, a solution must balance three key things.

Economic sustainability: This means solution needs to be profitable or affordable in the long term.

It must support the economy, either by creating jobs, improving access, or helping people earn a living.

Environmentally sustainable: It must also be good for the environment, helping to protect natural resources like forests, rivers, or clean air and avoiding long-term damage, such as deforestation or pollution.

Finally, the solution should be good for people's quality of life, especially for future generations.

That means improving access to services like energy, healthcare or education and meeting basic human needs in a fair way.

A decision that is socially sustainable is.

A: profitable in the long term? B: good for the environment in the long term? C: good for people's quality of life in the long term? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is C: good for people's quality of life in the long term.

When justifying a decision, geographers must go beyond giving an opinion, they need to build a strong case using clear, supported reasoning.

To do this, there are six key things they must consider.

First, they must always refer to evidence.

This means using specific data and examples, especially from the resource booklet.

Graphs, maps and written sources all contain valuable information and you'll be expected to draw on your own knowledge from across the GCSE course.

Next, consider a range of different topic areas.

Many issues link physical and human geography.

For example, how energy choices affect both the environment and local people.

Consider the impact of different groups of people.

A solution might benefit one group but disadvantage another, so it's vital to show who wins and who loses.

Think about the impact over time, short term versus long term.

Some options may bring immediate benefits, but cause harm later on.

And examine the impact at different geographical scales.

What does this mean for individual communities, the wider region, or even globally? And finally, impacts can be social, economic or environmental.

And they often overlap.

Make sure you clearly explain the type of impact and use the resource booklet to support any analysis.

And the best answers clearly reference specific sources, compare the strengths and weaknesses of each opinion, and always aim for sustainable solutions that work for people and the planet.

Let's look at why Izzy's answer is a strong response to this question.

How can Madagascar's government improve energy access while protecting its forests and the environment? First, Izzy refers to the future, showing she's thought about long-term timescales, an important part of geographical decision making.

She also makes clear geographical understandings, explaining how access to electricity can help rural communities connect, trade and grow economically.

Importantly, she considers key interest groups like local residents and young people, showing awareness of how different groups are affected.

This answer also demonstrates synoptic thinking, linking together topics like energy, migration and development.

Exactly what examiners want to see.

In summary, it's a strong answer because it refers to timescales, shows clear geographical knowledge, considers different people, links multiple geography topics, and it's a great model of how to build a well-rounded argument using evidence and understanding.

Now let's look at Jacob's answer and why it's another strong example.

Jacob begins by using data as evidence.

He refers to the deforestation rates, specifically that around 10% of Madagascar's forests were lost between 2010 and 2020.

This shows he can support his ideas with real, relevant figures.

He also shows strong geographical understanding.

He explains that expanding solar mini grids could reduce people's need to cut down trees for fuel.

This shows he understands the connection between energy access and environmental protection.

Finally, Jacob explains why Madagascar's forests matter on a global scale.

He refers to them as a carbon sink, linking the issue to climate change and demonstrating wider geographical knowledge.

So in short, Jacob's answer is effective because he uses real data to support his points, shows a strong understanding of key geographical topics and links local actions to global environmental impacts.

What is a weakness in Andeep's answer? Pause the video here wants to attempt this and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The weakness is he doesn't use data.

Well done for identifying that correctly.

What is the weakness in Laura's answer? Pause the video here and attempt this and press play to continue.

Excellent.

The weakness is she doesn't explain why this matters.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

I would now like you to study the three options below for how Madagascar's government can improve energy access while protecting its forest and the environment.

You have three options here.

Option one: Expanding solar mini grids to rural communities.

Option two: Investing in large hydroelectric dams. Option three: Continuing the use of woodfuel but regulating and replanting forests.

I would like you to select the option that you think is the best for people and the environment of Madagascar.

Justify your choice.

Use the information from the following slides to support your answer.

Before I let you answer this question, I would like to remind you of a few things you must include.

When you tackle the decision-making question, there are some key things that you must include to write a strong and balanced answer.

Firstly, you need to justify why you've chosen your preferred option, but don't stop there.

You must also explain why you didn't choose the other two options.

Make sure your comparison is clear.

And next you must refer to evidence.

That includes using data and information from the resource booklet, but also your own knowledge from across your GCSE geography studies.

You also need to cover a range of topic areas.

Don't just talk about the environment, think about energy, economy, population and more.

And then consider the impacts on different groups of people, who benefits and who might lose over different geographical scales, from local villages to national or even global effects.

Over time, short-term impacts now and long-term consequences for the future.

And finally, always remember impact can be social, economic or environmental, and often more than one at the same time.

This checklist should guide your thinking and help you write a well-structured, thoughtful and high scoring answer.

Please use the resources that are on the following slides to answer this question.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answer.

You should have used the text extract, the maps of significant areas of deforestation in Madagascar, the line graph showing deforestation trends, the newspaper article and the different viewpoints to help you to formulate your answer.

So let's look at it.

Your answer might have included some of the following points.

So you needed to identify which one you thought was the best option.

We have put: On balance, I think the government should expand solar mini grids to rural communities.

Currently, only 20% of Madagascar's population has access to electricity.

This is a major issue that limits long-term economic growth and reduces quality of life as people are unable to use essential devices like fridges, lighting or communication and computer technology.

Expanding solar mini grids in rural areas would improve access to electricity in a way that is less destructive than building a hydroelectric dam and can work on a relatively small scale.

There is also more potential for local investment than with the dam.

If the government sets up training programmes, locals can maintain and repair the system, creating long-term jobs in rural communities.

This might encourage young people to stay rather than migrate to cities, reducing the pressure of rural to urban migration.

Solar mini grids would also help reduce the use of woodfuel, which drives deforestation.

Between 2010 and 2020, around 10% of Madagascar's forests were cut down, destroying biodiversity and damaging major carbon sink.

Protecting the rainforest is both environmentally and economically important as Madagascar's biodiversity hotspot status could support sustainable ecotourism in the future.

Investing in a hydroelectric dam is a risky strategy for a country with a GNI per capita of just 510 pounds.

It could leave Madagascar in a long-term debt with a population paying high interest rates.

And while dams provide reliable electricity, their construction would cause major environmental damage to forest ecosystems. I would strongly advise against continuing widespread use of woodfuel.

Even though it is cheap and reliable, it is not environmentally sustainable.

Regulating its use and replanting trees is a good short-term step, but difficult to enforce over large areas.

A blanket ban would be easier to manage alongside the rollout of solar mini grids.

Overall, solar mini grids are the most effective way to increase energy access while protecting the environment.

They use small-scale intermediate technology and can involve local communities and offer a bottom-up approach to development that improves lives and supports sustainability.

Well done on this task, you've done brilliantly, and I hope you managed to include some of those points in your answer.

We've now come to the end of our learning on making a geographical decision, and you've done brilliantly.

Before we end this lesson, let's summarise what we've learned today.

Geographical issues aren't just about one topic.

They connect different parts of geography.

These issues involve decisions about how land is used and how it changes over space.

To explore geographical issues, we use a range of data.

This might include things like graphs, maps, and viewpoints from different interest groups.

All of these helps to understand what's going on and what the impact might be.

Importantly, data isn't just for understanding the issue.

It can also be used as evidence to support an argument when you're deciding which solution is best.

Geographers use all of this information to make decisions.

Their goal is to find sustainable solutions that balance the needs of people and the environment, not just for now, but for the future too.

Well done in today's lesson, you've done brilliantly and I look forward to learning with you again very soon.