Chapter 1

Question 1

What are the 3 principle fossil fuels

Answer 1

Coal, oil and gas

Question 2

4 uses for fossil fuels

Answer 2

Plastics, pharmaceuticals, fiber and transport

Question 3

Why is global action required against fossil fuels?

Answer 3

*Global action is required as every nation is using them.
*Global action is also required as the effects of excessive resources use affects the whole world

Question 4

Why do we need to conserve fossil fuels?

Answer 4

Population growth and the emerging countries like India will higher the demand for fossil fuels, this increase demand will use up more fossil fuels.

Question 5

What is the lifespan of fossil fuels

Answer 5

Coal- 114 years
Natural gas- 52.8
Oil 50.7

Question 6

Why does the accessibility of a new crude oil field need to be considered.

Answer 6

Engineering solutions may not currently exist to access and exploit this field

Question 7

What is the name of the global scientist panel that proves climate change is real

Answer 7

Intergovernmental panel on climate change (ipcc)

Question 8

State 3 pieces of evidence that climate change is caused by humans

Answer 8

1- more volatile weather patterns
2- sea temperatures rising
3- polar ice caps are melting

Question 9

State 3 more pieces of evidence that says humans caused climate change

Answer 9

1- rises in sea level
2- level of carbon dioxide in atmosphere risen
3- hot days and nights and heat waves are more common

Question 10

What is carbon trading?

Answer 10

Carbon trading is a method that aims to reduce carbon emissions of a nation, by providing incentives for major polluting industries.

Question 11

What protocol set the national target level for carbon trading?

Answer 11

The Kyoto protocol

Question 12

What can a nation do if the don’t use all there permits

Answer 12

Their permits can be sold to another nation which failed to stay in their limits.

Question 13

What numerical value of co2 does a permit allow?

Answer 13

A tonne of carbon dioxide

Question 14

2 Advantages of carbon trading

Answer 14

Environmental- the scheme should help reduce co2 emissions
Control- the permits should provide a government control over the legal limit of co2 released

Question 15

2 extra adv of carbon trading

Answer 15

Financial incentive- countries will have the incentive to reduce co2 so they can sell extra permits and make money.
Flexibility- allows companies to enter a period of transition that suits them.

Question 16

2 disadvantages of carbon trading

Answer 16

Size of permits- countries measured there own greenhouse gas needs and could have inflated this value meaning they get more permits than they need.
Measuring of emissions- companies measure their own use and therefore their values are questionable

Question 17

State the Definition of renewable energy source.

Answer 17

A renewable energy source is, ‘a form of energy derived from natural sources that do not use up natural resources to harm the environment’.

Question 18

State the definition of a fossil fuel

Answer 18

A fossil fuel is, ‘fuel consisting of the remains of organisms preserved in rocks in the Earth’s crust with high carbon and hydrogen content’.

Question 19

2 more disadvantages of carbon trading

Answer 19

1- Economy- companies may not be willing to use this scheme if it will affect their profitability, also some argue that the price of permits are not high enough to stimulate any change
2- Complexity of the market- There are difficulties governing the carbon trading scheme as a result investors manipulate the permits to buy and sell in order to make money rather than to help the environment.