Management Strategies of Climate Change

Question 1

Explain intergovernmental agreements

Answer 1

Leaders of the countries involved agree legally binding strategies to keep temperature rises within 1.5C.

Question 2

Example of an intergovernmental agreement

Answer 2

COP26 – The Glasgow Climate Pact 2021

Question 3

Advantages of intergovernmental agreements

Answer 3

Global approach improves consistency and fairness.
Countries work together, improving economic and political ties

Question 4

Disadvantages of intergovernmental agreements

Answer 4

Countries only agreed to a weaker commitment to ‘phase down’ rather than ‘phase out’ coal by a late intervention by China and India.

Question 5

Explain Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Answer 5

Governments can introduce schemes to make it easier for people to reduce, reuse and recycle products so that less refuse is sent to landfill sites. This will reduce the amount of methane entering the atmosphere

Question 6

Example of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Answer 6

E.g. In 2021 Dumfries and Galloway Council introduced recycling bins for homeowners for papers and plastics.

Question 7

Advantages of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Answer 7

UK recycling rates have increased the fastest in Europe over the past decade

Question 8

Disadvantages of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Answer 8

Even with councils providing bins, some people may still not engage with the scheme.
Some people may put things in the wrong bins

Question 9

Explain improvement of home efficiency

Answer 9

Households could reduce energy consumption by insulating their homes to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated by the burning of fossil fuels

Question 10

Example of improvement of home efficiency

Answer 10

Government Policies such as ‘Helping Households to cut their Energy Bills’ encourages the use of smart meters improving energy efficiency

Question 11

Advantages of improving home efficiency

Answer 11

Results in lower fuel costs so people save money.
Grants from the government help lower initial costs and thus encourage people to use the scheme

Question 12

Disadvantages of improving home efficiency

Answer 12

Not all homes are suitable for cavity wall insulation- especially older houses.
Semi- detached houses need permission of neighbours before work can begin.
The rollout of the smart meters has been slow, meaning some energy companies have yet to offer their customers the option of taking one

Question 13

Explain renewable energy

Answer 13

Scotland is reducing greenhouse emissions by increasing energy production from renewables such as wind, wave and solar

Question 14

Example of renewable energy

Answer 14

For example, in 2020 renewables produced 43% of the UK’s energy supply

Question 15

Advantages of renewable energy

Answer 15

Creates jobs that support local economies.
Some schemes allow communities an input and a share of the profits

Question 16

Disadvantages of renewable energy

Answer 16

Land use conflict- for example many believe wind turbines to be a scar on the landscape.
Wind, tidal, wave solar all have criticisms such as disruption to ecosystems; eg. wind turbines and the disruption to bird species through physical presence and noise

Question 17

Explain banning the sale of petrol an diesel cars

Answer 17

The UK government plans to ban the selling of new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars and vans in the UK by 2030.
This means that once the ban comes into place people will only be able to buy electric or hydrogen cars and vans – these are clean forms of transport with no greenhouse gasses emitted

Question 18

Advantages of banning the sales of petrol and diesel cars

Answer 18

As countries move to renewable energy as a major source of electricity- this will make electric cars more eco friendly

Question 19

Disadvantages of banning the sales of petrol and diesel cars

Answer 19

There is not the necessary infrastructure in place for electric vehicles.
Although improving, the battery technology is limited and as such the cars have a short range (200miles approx) before needing recharged and charging takes a lot longer than filling a tank with petrol/diesel

Question 20

Explain improving extreme weather preparations

Answer 20

Preparations have been made to prepare for more extreme weather events.

Question 21

Example of a preparation made for extreme weather

Answer 21

For example, the Thames flood barrier is a series of gates which can be raised across the river to present sea water flooding London.

Question 22

Advantages of improving preparations made for extreme weather

Answer 22

Saves the environmental and socio-economic impacts of affected communities

Question 23

Disadvantages of improving preparations made for extreme weather

Answer 23

This has successfully protected London from flooding on numerous occasions however it is expected that a second barrier may be needed to cope with flooding beyond 2070.
Advance warning systems need to be further developed to advise householders of the potential risks of flooding.