Midterm 1 403 Flashcards
Provide two motivations for Australia to agree to the Singapore solar project.
- Provide job
- Green energy
Why does China say that it needs to continue using coal, despite its rampant build out of alternative energy sources like solar and wind?
Solar and wind energy are not reliable.
In a favoured phrasing, the IPCC report states that the last report in 2014 heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and other extreme events have all increased in intensity and frequency “f_____ b_______ n________ v_________”.
Far beyond natural variability.
Which of the following does the lecture list as consequences for human if the world warms 2 degree Celsius instead of 1.5 degree?
People facing water supply risk is 50% higher
65 million more people exposed to severe heat events every five years
Substantial increases in global poverty level
Significant increases in annual deaths from climate related illnesses
People facing water supply risk is 50% higher
65 million more people exposed to severe heat events every five years
Substantial increases in global poverty level
Significant increases in annual deaths from climate related illnesses
Briefly, defines ‘net-zero’.
Emissions equal capture.
Contributing to their lacking of funding for spending on climate projects, many poor developing countries have what other significant international payments they must take, which reduces their spending power?
International debt pay.
According to IPCC, which sector is the most important to decarbonize as fast as possible?
Power sector.
In terms of the IPCC’s goals for green buildings, while there have been an increasing number of zero-carbon buildings constructed around the world, what are two primary goals that still need considerable focus and investment.
- Renovate the old buildings
- The standard of any new build must be green
What are the three key policies for cities to pursue reductions in their transport sector emissions levels?
- Non-car travel
- Electrified transport
- Higher density
List two of the reasons discussed in lecture for why it is a problem that much of the potential for carbon emission reductions from environmental protection, restoration, and sustainable management exists in developing countries.
- Lack of science expertise
- Lack of funding
The IPCC’s fourth scenario, in which global temperatures rises to 2]3.t degrees C by 2100, is defined by collapse of what?
Collapse of international corporation
What is the ‘elegant solution’ that Saul Griffith suggest for the U.S. economy to enhance the effect of shifting its electricity grid to renewable energies.
Shifting everything possible to electricity
In the video, the graph that breaks down the carbon emissions in the U.S. by sector has what percentages for the following?
Electricity ___%
Industrial ___%
Residential ___%
Transportation ___%
Commercial ___%
Electricity 28%
Transportation 28%
Industrial 21%
Residential 14%
Commercial 12%
Provide a sufficient definition of ‘tipping point’ as it relates to climate change.
Threshold passed
What crop boomed in the 1990s and drove higher rates of deforestation? And how was it connected to cattle ranching?
Soy, high protein feed for cattle.
Which of the following is cited as a cause of the resurgence in deforestation in the Amazon during the Bolsonaro presidency?
Weakened Forest Code
Slashed IBAMA budget
Ruralista political power decreasing
Wave of fire set by agriculture interests
Weakened Forest Code
Slashed IBAMA budget
Wave of fire set by agriculture interests
Which of the following does the lecture list as probable impacts of sea level rise due to climate change?
Large scale damage and destruction of a wide variety of infrastructures —— roads, bridges, subways, energy systems, and sewage
Significant losses in the tourism and recreation sectors of many countries
Saltwater contamination of freshwater sources and agricultural areas
Massive dislocations and migrations of peoples to other regions and countries
Large scale damage and destruction of a wide variety of infrastructures —— roads, bridges, subways, energy systems, and sewage
Significant losses in the tourism and recreation sectors of many countries
Saltwater contamination of freshwater sources and agricultural areas
Massive dislocations and migrations of peoples to other regions and countries
In addition to the obvious loss of land due to sea level rise, what two other worries do island nations and dependencies worry about related to sea level rise?
- Water resources
- Tourism
Which of the following factors did the lecture list as contributing to rising intensities of hurricanes?
Warmer ocean temperatures from increased energy absorption create conditions fir hurricane development
Warm air holds less water vapour than cold air
Less cold, subsurface ocean water that normally acts as natural breaking mechanisms
Destruction of coral reefs that normally act as break on storms surges along coasts.
Warmer ocean temperatures from increased energy absorption create conditions fir hurricane development
Less cold, subsurface ocean water that normally acts as natural breaking mechanisms
Destruction of coral reefs that normally act as break on storms surges along coasts.
Briefly explain why vulnerable communities have most to fear from polluting industries during bad storms.
Class and race bias in where people live.
Extreme floods can be triggered by which of the following?
Intense precipitation
Shorter duration of storms
Close repetition of precipitation events
Increased atmospheric water vapour
Intense precipitation
Close repetition of precipitation events
Increased atmospheric water vapour
Besides death, name two other ways flooding causes health problems.
- Mental health
- Bacteria infection
Give three causes of more droughts due to climate change.
- More heatwave
- Higher temperature
What are two of the ways that droughts affect public health?
- Food insecurity
- Smoke
Which of the following were listed in lecture as key causes of increase fires due to climate change?
Rising temperatures dry soils and make vegetation more flammable
Smaller and earlier melting winter snowpacks lead to drier conditions acting as kindling for fires
Insect outbreaks weaken trees and make them more vulnerable to fire
Shifting rain patterns moving away from fire prone regions
Rising temperatures dry soils and make vegetation more flammable
Smaller and earlier melting winter snowpacks lead to drier conditions acting as kindling for fires
Insect outbreaks weaken trees and make them more vulnerable to fire
Shifting rain patterns moving away from fire prone regions
List three of the negative impacts of fires discussed in lecture.
- Smoke inhalation
- Losing carbon sink
- Dispatched animal
List three covered in lecture that climate change negatively impacts agricultural production.
- Rainfall patterns
- Heatwave
- Droughts
What two factors are expected to cause a 50% increase in the food needed to feed earth’s people between 2010 and 2050.
- Growing world population
- More middle class diets
What two features of Africa’s agricultural production make it especially vulnerable to climate change’s effects on food production?
- Rain-fed agriculture
- Small plots
What is the difference between direct and indirect economies costs of a country’s disease burden?
Direct cost: medical cost
Indirect cost: labor productivity cost
Briefly explain how deforestation and wildfires are causing more disease problems in human populations.
Drive close contact between wild animal and human
What are three key threats to trees due to climate change?
- Pests and diseases
- Droughts
- Heatwave
What two principles are ‘balanced’ in the Principle 21.
- Right to exploit natural resources
- Do not harm environment of another state
What features of the Montreal Protocol does the lecture list as significant achievements?
First international treaty to address a global environmental regulatory challenge
First agreement to have experts from key fields such as economics, chemicals, and the environment reported directly to the committee without edit or censorship
First agreement to recognized and allow for national differences in responsibility and financial capacity to respond
First treaty with a board that included democratic composition, that is, equal representation between countries from both the developed and developing regions of the world
First agreement to successfully institute a cap and trade program on carbon emissions
First international treaty to address a global environmental regulatory challenge
First agreement to have experts from key fields such as economics, chemicals, and the environment reported directly to the committee without edit or censorship
First agreement to recognized and allow for national differences in responsibility and financial capacity to respond
First treaty with a board that included democratic composition, that is, equal representation between countries from both the developed and developing regions of the world
(a) Briefly explain why HFC production suddenly boomed after passage of the Montreal Protocols? (b) Explain their impact on the ozone layer. (c) And what key problem do they cause?
Chemical substitute of CFC, no impact, greenhouse gasses
What are two of the criticisms made of the UNFCC?
- Inefficient environmental policy
- Insufficient decision making
Which of the following are among the most significant criticisms of the Kyoto Protocols?
Included too many countries in the initial negotiations, and should have focused on ambitious agreements among top emitters first
Divided the world between developed and developing, which created antagonisms between the two groups
Significant skepticism about the authenticity of the accounting of carbon offset programs
Lacked any meaningful sanctions or penalties for noncompliance
Included too many countries in the initial negotiations, and should have focused on ambitious agreements among top emitters first
Divided the world between developed and developing, which created antagonisms between the two groups
Significant skepticism about the authenticity of the accounting of carbon offset programs
Lacked any meaningful sanctions or penalties for noncompliance
Within the WTO agreements, countries are allowed to have environmental negotiations of trade so long as they satisfy what two conditions?
- Backed by science
- Non-discriminatory bans
