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"There are economic and environmental issues associated with the exploitation of energy sources"

Use evidence from Figure 10a and Figure 10b to explain this statement. (6 marks)

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Here is a possible response explaining the statement "There are economic and environmental issues associated with the exploitation of energy sources" using evidence from Figure 10a and Figure 10b:

Figure 10a shows the environmental impacts associated with different energy sources. Fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas all produce large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide, when burned for energy. These emissions contribute to global warming and climate change. Fossil fuel combustion also produces other pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates that cause air pollution and acid rain. In contrast, nuclear and renewable sources like hydro, wind and solar have much lower greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

However, Figure 10b shows the costs per kilowatt hour of electricity for different energy sources. Fossil fuels like coal and natural gas are the cheapest options, while renewable sources are generally more expensive. Nuclear energy also has high costs due to the expense of building and decommissioning nuclear plants.

This evidence demonstrates that while renewable and nuclear energy have fewer environmental impacts, they come at a higher economic cost compared to fossil fuels. Conversely, fossil fuels are cheaper sources of energy but produce the most environmental issues through their emissions and pollution.

In summary, the exploitation of all energy sources involves a tradeoff between economic and environmental considerations. There are no "free" sources of energy - each option has associated economic costs and environmental impacts that must be weighed.

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