ee.4.3 New technology and sustainable development in extreme environments
Content
- Geographic inquiry and concept(s)
- Future possibilities for managing extreme environments and their communities
- Geographic knowledge and understanding
- New technology and sustainable development in extreme environments, including greater use of solar power and desalination
- Case study or detailed examples
- Neither required by the syllabus
- Aims of this lesson
- To be able to discuss possible futures where new technology and sustainable development play a greater role in extreme environments.
- To be able to describe, explain and evaluate the expansion of solar power in Morocco.
- To be able to describe, explain and evaluate the expansion of desalination in the United Arab Emirates.
Base knowledge and understanding
News article
‘Severe water stress’: why desalination plants are the Gulf’s greatest weakness
Recent attack on plants led to fears of escalating strikes, but Iran knows drought has left it equally vulnerable
The Guardian · 11 March 2026
Key terms
- Desalination
- A process that takes away mineral components from saline water. Saltwater (especially sea water) is desalinated to produce water suitable for human consumption or irrigation.
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Review
- Outline one way in which indigenous groups may be affected by resource competition in extreme environments. [2]
- Explain two ways in which competition for resources in extreme environments can create conflict between different groups. [4]
- Examine how competition for resources in extreme environments has led to tensions between indigenous groups and transnational corporations. [10]
- Examine the role of civil society organisations and indigenous groups in managing resource competition in extreme environments. [10]