Managing Our Environment

Question 1

What are some potential impacts of climate change?

Answer 1

Severe droughts

More destructive storms and flooding

Widespread food and water shortages

Melting of polar ice caps, causing a rise in sea levels which will drown coastal regions

The extinction of many plant and animal species, leading to falling crop yields in some parts of the world

Spread of disease will be encouraged

Potential uninhabitable planet for future generations

Question 2

What is climate change?

Answer 2

Average world temperatures are rising, though not all areas see temperatures rise at the same rate.

This results in changing precipitation patterns and wind speeds, leading to more extreme weather events.

Question 3

What is the mechanism that causes climate change?

Answer 3

Greenhouse effect.

Question 4

How does the greenhouse effect affect climate change?

Answer 4

The energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere and heats the earth. That heat radiates out into the atmosphere but, as it is long wave radiation, some of it is trapped by gases in the atmosphere.

Humans are adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, causing more heat to be trapped which leads to a change in climate.

Question 5

What is a ‘carbon footprint’?

Answer 5

A measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, particularly on climate change.

A measurement of all the greenhouse gases that we each produce converted into the equivalent weight of carbon dioxide produced so they can be compared.

Question 6

What are some human causes of climate change?

Answer 6

Burning fossil fuels. Most of our energy comes from burning fossil fuels, gases such as carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere.

Vehicles. More and more vehicles are using the roads. They release greenhouse gases like nitrogen dioxide.

Agriculture. Cattle in particular have a high environmental impact. Methane from cattle and nitrogen dioxide from fertilisers contributes to climate change. 15% of emissions comes from agriculture.

Question 7

What are some natural causes of climate change?

Answer 7

Natural climate cycles. The earths orbit changes slightly between circular and more elongated every 100,000 years. This is evident in the glacial/interglacial cycles of roughly the same period.

Sunspots. Areas on the sun where temperatures are temporarily lower, can affect temperature. Very few were seen during the little ice age (1645-1715).

Volcanic activity. When a volcano erupts it throws out large volumes of sulphur dioxide, water vapour, dust and ash into the atmosphere. These partially block incoming rays of sun, leading to cooling.

Question 8

What is the order of the waste hierarchy?

Answer 8

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Disposal

Question 9

Why is reducing waste important?

Answer 9

Space for landfill is running out

Waste contaminates soil with pollutants

Household rubbish takes hundreds or thousands of years to fully decompose

Decomposing landfill produces greenhouse gases

Unsustainable

Transport of waste requires energy

Question 10

What does reducing mean?

Answer 10

Reducing the amount of waste you produce by buying less and consuming less.

E.g. buying products with less packaging or turning tap off while brushing teeth?

Question 11

What does reusing mean?

Answer 11

Finding innovative ways of using items again.

E.g. taking old items to charity shops, reusing plastic bags, printer cartridges, leftover paint and computers, or selling items.

Question 12

What does recycling mean?

Answer 12

Collecting and converting old materials so that they can be used again, such as paper, glass or plastics.

All councils in Northern Ireland collect recyclable waste from boxes or wheelie bins given to households. Small villages have recycling banks and bins for glass or cans.

Question 13

What is renewable energy?

Answer 13

Energy collected from resources which will not run out on a human timescale.

Question 14

What are some types of renewable energy?

Answer 14

Wind
Biofuels
Wave
Hydroelectric
Solar

Question 15

What are the two ways to capture solar energy?
How are they different?

Answer 15

Concentrated solar power (CSP)
Parabolic troughs (curved mirrors) focus the sun onto a tube filled with synthetic oil which absorbs the energy, reaching over 400 degrees Celsius. This is used to boil water into steam which drives a turbine.

Photovoltaic cells.
Most solar panels on roofs are of this type. Large scale generation achieved from large arrays of them in solar farms. Turns the sun’s energy directly into electricity and can be permanently mounted or built to face the sun as it moves.

Question 16

What are the benefits of solar power?

Answer 16

Once established they are cheap to run and require little maintenance.

Non polluting technologies when in operation, producing no noise or greenhouse gases

Photovoltaic cells that have no moving parts last a long time (40 years)

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of solar power?

Answer 17

Bulky for domestic use (though new technologies are reducing this)

Electricity cannot be generated when there is no sunlight, though some do store energy (e.g. in super heated molten salt)

Many raise objections from those who see them as an eyesore.

Question 18

What is the Paris agreement?

Answer 18

Also known as the International Climate Change Agreement (ICCA), it was signed in Paris in 2015.

Question 19

What are the 2 main aims of the ICCA?

Answer 19

Commits all countries to tackling climate change.

Keep global average temperatures at less than 2 degrees, or 1.5 if possible, above where they were before industrialisation.

Question 20

How will ICCA be monitored?

Answer 20

Countries take their own actions and the process is transparent so that all countries can see what the others are doing. They will meet every 5 years to set more ambitious targets.

Question 21

What are the criticisms of the ICCA?

Answer 21

Doesn’t have an outside agency to ensure that each country sets and achieves its targets.

Aircraft emissions were not included in the agreement, despite them being the fastest growing source of emissions.

However, those who think it will work say that this is the first bottom-up agreement so it will be easier for all of the 195 countries to decide what works best for them, and to follow that.

Question 22

What is the emissions gap?
Why is it a concern?

Answer 22

Gap between target emissions and what is actually achieved. There are no penalties for not meeting targets.

Question 23

What is mass tourism?

Answer 23

Large scale movements of people to tourist destinations.

Question 24

What are the positive cultural impacts of mass tourism?

Answer 24

Enhanced role for women

Generates pride in locals about their history and culture

Opens up the culture of an area, helping people understand each other better

Culture of indigenous peoples might be protected due to tourist interest.

Question 25

What are the negative cultural impacts of mass tourism?

Answer 25

Some locals are encouraging to dress in traditional costumes and perform for tourists. This devalues local customs.

Tourists have defaced many famous sites, e.g. pyramids.

Some tourists travel to places to take selfies, taking pictures of themselves in exotic locations.

Entertainments like bars and discos designed to attract tourists may bring disturbing public behaviour, which many find disrespectful.

Question 26

What are the positive economic impacts of mass tourism?

Answer 26

Hotels, restaurants and entertainment services along Hawaii’s coastline have created many jobs for locals.

Taxes paid by tourists for using accommodation and services will increase the revenue collected by the government which can be used to pay for improvements of the population as a whole.

Question 27

What are the negative economic impacts of mass tourism?

Answer 27

Workers poorly paid, and often migrants, so potential benefit is lost. Employment in tourism is seasonal, so jobs may only be available for a short tourist season.

‘Leakage’ i.e. revenue can go towards international companies like airlines and hotels instead of local people and businesses.

Question 28

What are some positive environmental impacts of mass tourism?

Answer 28

Can improve quality of the environment in an area. Money earned can be spent on improving services and infrastructure such as transport links, housing, and sewage.

Conservation of natural scenery, e.g Hawaii.

Question 29

What are the the negative environmental impacts of mass tourism.

Answer 29

Puts pressure on local ecosystems, putting habitats at risk. Tourists produce waste and pollution, and use a lot amount of resources, e.g. water.

Cruise ships have polluted the oceans, as waste is dumped overboard and sewage discharged into the ocean.

Question 30

What can a tourist do to be more responsible?

Answer 30

Research the place you are visiting and learn some of the local language and customs.

Be respectful of local customs be polite, and ask before taking photos.

Contribute to the local economy by purchasing local goods and services like food and transport.

Use resources like water carefully

Don’t buy products made from endangered plant and animal species, and don’t pick wildflowers.

Stick to marked paths and don’t leave litter behind.

Question 31

What is ecotourism?

Answer 31

It involves visiting fragile or relatively undisturbed natural areas. It is intended to be a small-scale and low-impact alternative to mass tourism.

Question 32

What are the principles of ecotourism?

Answer 32

Conservation
Communities
Sustainable travel