midterm 2 Flashcards
- While estimates vary, a consensus estimate of deforestation and land degradation’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is what %?
2.5% 5% 15% 35%
15%
- Briefly, explain why reforestation programs are not sufficient responses to the effects of deforestation.
Deforestation happens rapidly and destructivity, while reforestation is slower and longer term.
- What are two other non-GHG related benefits of reducing deforestation and forest degradation?
i. For water system, prevent flooding, helps soil quality
ii. Helps with soil erosion
iii. Protect fishery
iv. Protect biodiversity
v. Preserve culture and communities
- What are the two primary aims REDD+ seeks for developing countries?
i. Better sustainable practices, to expand forest
ii. Reduce emission, by slowing deforestation
- What was the ‘simple strategy’ at the core of REDD+ ambitions?
Rich countries pay poor countries to protect their forest
- T/F. Absent sufficient funding, REDD+ is merely a voluntary set of guidelines that merely encourage countries to craft national plans, set reference levels, and establish effective monitoring programs according to international standards.
T
- List three of the criticisms discussed in lecture of the REDD+ program.
i. Initial, should be complimentary of Kyoto protocol, non-participation of US, failure of Kyoto protocol
ii. Authenticity of carbon credits
iii. Traditional communities living in forest, who owns the land ? taking over the land from the traditional communities
iv. Insufficient funding, no support, fail as a program. Fail to change the economic dynamics
- What two organizations are now the primary financial mechanisms for REDD+ programs?
i. Green climate fund
ii. World bank
- NDCs are the core of the Paris Climate Agreement. (a) How often are they expected to be reset? And (b) what are the two requirements for the setting of NDCs?
a. 5 years
i. Ambitious
ii. Progressive
- T/F. The standards for reporting on NDCs are ‘universal’, meaning that the same accounting standards are used for everybody and everyone is treated equally in terms of accounting capacities.
F
- T/F. The Paris Agreement reaffirmed the financial obligations of developed countries to help developing countries to build clean, climate-resilient societies.
T
- The G_________ C__________ F________ is the central financial institution tasked by the Paris agreement to oversee the allocation of investments, aid, and technology, most especially to the vulnerable developing countries.
Green climate fund
- T/F. The Paris Agreement excluded and thus ended the technology transfer program (the Clean Development Mechanism) set up during the Kyoto Protocols.
F
- T/F. While often it has had a minimal focus in previous climate agreements, the Paris Agreement articulates a clear commitment to adaptation, even calling for ‘a balance’ between investments oriented towards adaptation and mitigation.
T
- (a) Which type of countries pushed to include in the Paris Agreement a separate section on loss and damage? (b) Which country most strongly opposed such a section? (c) And what was the final compromise?
a. Least developed countries
b. United states
c. Calls for the fund but no legal liability
- List three of the key differences between the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
i. Distinction of developed and developing countries is not as clear
ii. Paris: rich to poor/rich , Kyoto: rich to poor, clarity of tech transfer between rich and poor countries
iii. 5 years of reset is not in Kyoto
iv. Kyoto: treaty, Paris: agreement, Kyoto Treaty is legally binding but Paris Agreement is not
- Which of the following does the lecture list as frequently cited positives of the Paris Agreement.17. Which of the following does the lecture list as frequently cited positives of the Paris Agreement.
Powerful symbol, recognition of the urgent need for ambitious action on climate
Universal agreement that significantly bridged the divide between developed and developing countries
A major breakthrough in US-China bilateral climate relations
Pledged reductions at least (open question on whether they are kept) are sufficient to reduce emissions enough to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees C
Powerful symbol, recognition of the urgent need for ambitious action on climate
Universal agreement that significantly bridged the divide between developed and developing countries
A major breakthrough in US-China bilateral climate relations
- What are two of the key criticisms of the Paris Climate Agreement listed in lecture?
i. No mechanism, no legally binding
ii. Tracking quality problem, poor accountability
iii. Insufficient funding
iv. Insufficient tech transfer
- What was the key factor to keep the Paris Agreement intact while the US left the Agreement during the Trump administration?
China step up
- T/F. A recent report suggests that the global economy will suffer 2 billion dollars in losses per day by 2030 due to the impacts of climate change enhanced weather events.
T
- What are two of the significant signs of progress post-Paris Agreement listed in lecture?
i. Tech breakthrough, solar and wind
ii. Electric vehicles, transportation sector more electric vehicles
- Where was COP 28 held? And where is COP 29 held? And what does about both of these countries makes them seemingly odd choices to hold a climate conference?
COP 28: Dubai
COP 29: Azerbaijan
Both of them: petrol states
- What was the major agreement reached at COP 28? And how was it watered down and by whom?
transition away from fossil fuel, water down from phasing out to transition, Russia and Saudi Arabia
- What are two of the criticisms of this year’s COP host?
i. Petrol state
ii. Arthurian government
- COP 29 has been called the “F____________ COP.”
Finance COP
- What are the two top issues COP 29 is expected to focus on?
i. Increase green climate fund
ii. Authenticity of Carbon offsets standards
- Briefly summarize the dispute between developed and developing countries over who should bear the burden of climate financing.
Developing counties believes developed should pay.
Developed countries want some of the developing countries to pay, China to pay too
- (a) What does IEA stand for? And (b) what does it do?
a. International energy agency
b. Provide energy analysis and policies for countries
- T/F. While the IEA provides reports on the state of the fossil fuel industry, it’s annual world energy report so far avoids detailed analysis and policy recommendations related to renewable fuel sources, a consequence of its being funded mostly by large oil producing countries.
F
- What are the three scenarios in the IEA reports?
i. Net zero by 2050
ii. Announced pledges
iii. Stated polices
- T/F. The IEA has concluded that a pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5 °C is very difficult – but remains open.
T
- What is the most noteworthy prediction from the IEA’s World Energy Report 2023?
Peak demand for fossil fuel in this decade (2033)
- T/F. According to the report, while coal demand starts to decline by 2030, the demand for oil flattens out, and the demand for natural gas continues to rise by another 40% by 2050.
T
- T/F. IEA predicts that current pathways of energy consumption put the world on the path of achieving net zero by 2050, in line with Paris Agreement goals.
F
- Which of the following does the World Energy Report predict as part of their optimistic assessment of the future of renewable energy? (mark all that apply)
More than US$1 billion a day is being spent on solar deployment
Renewables become number one source of new power generation by 2025
Renewable energy becomes 50% of electricity generation by 2030
10 times as many electric cars on the road in 2030 as there are today
More than US$1 billion a day is being spent on solar deployment
Renewables become number one source of new power generation by 2025
Renewable energy becomes 50% of electricity generation by 2030
10 times as many electric cars on the road in 2030 as there are today
- T/F. The World Energy Report predicts that fossil fuels will still provide 70% of energy supply in 2030.
T
- What are the Net Zero targets for the following countries/organizations.
China EU India US Paris Agreement
China 2060 EU 2050 India 2070
US 2050 Paris Agreement 2050
- T/F. Republican candidates for US president have pledged to eliminate tax breaks in the US which are driving increasing sales of EVs.
T
- Which of the following does the IEA recommend for the world to reach Net Zero by 2050? (mark all that apply)
Fossil fuel use must decrease by 30% by 2030
Total stop of approval of new coal power plants and oil and gas furnaces to heat buildings
Renewables energy must reach 60% of electricity generation by 2030
EVs must reach 65% of new global sales by 2030
Fossil fuel use must decrease by 30% by 2030
Total stop of approval of new coal power plants and oil and gas furnaces to heat buildings
Renewables energy must reach 60% of electricity generation by 2030
EVs must reach 65% of new global sales by 2030
- T/F. The IEA has become more confident in the use of carbon capture technology in the near future due to recent impressive advances in its research and development.
F
- T/F. The IEA has repeatedly confirmed that no new oil, gas, or coal fields are compatible with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5ºC.
T
- T/F. The IEA warns that today’s oil and gas investments are nearly double what is needed in the NZE scenario in 2030.
T
- Estimates elsewhere have suggested that ___% of existing fossil fuel sources must stay in the ground for the world to have a shot at net zero by 2050.
10% 25% 45% 60%
60%
- T/F. Russia is responsible for over 90% of gas export projects approved since the start of 2022.
F
- The IEA insists that rich developed countries must commit to a fast P________-O_______ of fossil fuels.
Phase-out
- China is responsible for __% of the world’s coal use.
50%
- What is the ‘bad news is good news’ about China’s economy and the climate?
Slower economic growth in China, decline in fossil fuel demands
- In light of its soon-to-peak fossil fuel demand and impressive expansion of renewables, the IEA says that China, the world’s second largest energy consumer, is nearing a critical “I_____________ P__________.”
Inflection point
- T/F. OPEC sharply disagrees with the IEA’s predictions, arguing that they could cause significant economic chaos if acted on, and instead called for trillions in new investments in oil projects.
T
- T/F. In contrast to OPEC, US oil and natural gas companies are clearly agreeing with IEA predictions and the US drive towards net zero, halting investments in new oil and gas development and shifting investment patterns towards renewable energy markets.
F
- T/F. In response to OPEC criticisms, the IEA clarified that even in a net zero scenario oil and gas would be needed for years to come, and economic stability and a smooth energy transition requires their immediate reduction but not elimination.
T
- What did the executive director of the IEA state was his biggest worry about effective global climate action—adequate technological development or political fragmentation?
Political fragmentation
- What other cause in addition to (and likely compounding) the typhoon has contributed to Myanmar’s refugee and disaster response problem?
Civil war, agriculture damaged by flooded
- What two effects of the typhoon were responsible for most of the over 300 deaths in Vietnam?
i. Flooding
ii. Land slides
- T/F. Around 20 major storms and typhoons batter the Philippines every year.
T
- What is the nickname of the Amazon, given for its role in the world’s oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle?
Lungs of the planet
- T/F. While the drought in the Amazon is a currently serious issue, its scale and intensity are historically ‘unexceptional’ say scientists, noting the frequency of droughts in the region.
F
- The Amazon contains what percent of the world’s species?
10%
- Deforestation is undermining what two ways trees naturally help protect against higher temperatures in the Amazon?
i. Amazon produces its own clouds, provide moisture in the area
ii. Trees blocks sunlight from reaching the floor, deforestation lead to More sunlight into the forest bed, raising temperature in the floor
- In a sign of progress, the rate of deforestation has declined during Lula’s presidency, and he has pledged to halt all deforestation in the Amazon by what year?
2030
- T/F. Droughts can effect coffee plants by causing their flowers to not bloom, fail to produce cherries, and produce lower quality beans.
T
- What is the world’s second largest producer of coffee? And which market for coffee does it dominate?
Vietnam, instant coffee
- How do storms this year affect future coffee production?
Coffee plants takes years to get back from the setback, to get back to their normal level of production
- Increased coffee demand from what region is also contributing to rising world coffee prices?
Asia
- What are the two ways that climate change is damaging coffee harvests?
i. Frequent diesters, weather events
ii. Available of land for coffee production has declined
- T/F. Reports on the ground in Portugal suggest recent fires are displaying unprecedented intensity and violence.
T
- The intensity of the fires is indicated by Portugal achieving its highest ever total what?
Highest total carbon emission
- What does PM stand for? What is its relationship to fires and public health?
Particular mater (PM 2.5), fires produce PM, PM gets into lungs and bloodstream
- T/F. More than 20 years of NASA satellite data showed that severe burns more than doubled in frequency between 2003 and 2023.
T
- Forest scientists argue that some of the damage from the fires is due to changes in Portugal’s forest management, including a shift in many areas away from a M_____________ landscape towards a M______________.
Mosaic, monoculture
- Give three reasons why Florida’s Big Bend region has become so susceptible to hurricanes.
i. Warming waters, fuels for hurricanes, more warm water more intense hurricanes
ii. continental shelf, easily pick up by the hurricane
iii. Significant sea level rise, 6 inches of rise
iv. Sea grass, acts as natural breaks for hurricane, 50% depleted
- Increases in storm speeds of 35 mph in a 24 hour period are called a R____________ I____________, and more and more large storms are undergoing this process.
Rapid intensification
- While normally storms weaken as they move over land, Helene at times strengthened as it moved over areas already wet from ‘P_______________ R___________’. This is a destructive phenomenon scientists have identified in many large storms in recent years, which they now call the B____________ O______________ E___________.
Precursor rain
Brown ocean effect
- T/F. Luckily, in contrast to many poor countries in which post-disaster response is hampered by areas affected by poverty and lack of development, the US response has not struggled to reach any of the places hit by the storm.
F
- T/F. The recent shutdown of its last coal-fired power plant makes Britain first among the world’s major, industrialized economies to wean itself off coal.
T
- T/F. As they had done when surrounding coal mining operations that used to feed the plant were shut down back in the late 80s, local labor unions criticized the decision and wanted the plant to remain open.
F
- While by 2023 coal had fallen to only 1 percent of Britain’s power source, it had fueled its industrial revolution and even in 1990 it accounted for __% of Britain’s electricity.
80%
- What two countries now consumer the vast majority of the world’s coal?
India and China
- What turning point is the IEA hopeful for in 2024?
China coal consumption will peak this year
- What is so contentious about the nuclear site Microsoft is helping to reopen?
1979 disaster, melt down
- To power what kind of operation is Microsoft signing a 20 year lease with a nuclear energy company?
Data center
- T/F. Currently Microsoft is the only large tech firm trying to secure nuclear energy rights, as all others consider it too ‘non-green’ to support.
F
- What is the main reason that so many Pakistani businesses have been recently rushing to put solar panels on their rooftops?
Increase energy prices from state own companies
- In addition to domestic cost considerations, what two other motivations does the owner of Forward Sports cite as main motivations for rapidly increasing its green energy sources?
i. Low cost competitors from china and India
ii. Adidas wants more green power, to market itself as green seller
- T/F. Pakistan is now buying huge amounts of solar panels from China, even while many of the investors in its traditional energy grid (investors they are now struggling to pay in part because of the increased solar panels) are also from China.
T
- Explain why the poor in Pakistan have been suffering the most from this shake-up in the energy sector.
Poor people unable to swift to solar panel because they cant afford solar panel also need to have high prices of energy
- How does the deal the Pakistani government signed to save its traditional energy grid now prevent it from investing in new green technologies?
They need to pay for the debt instead of green technologies
- While the federal government struggles with declining demand for its energy grid, what have regional governments decided to do?
Huge subsidy for renewable energy
- T/F. Prior to its closure the Indian Point nuclear facility provided New York City with the majority of the energy that it did not get from fossil fuels.
T
- Nuclear plants generate about ______% of the electricity we use around the world.
Nuclear plants generate about ______% of the electricity the US uses.
Nuclear plants generate about ______% of the electricity in the US not from fossil fuels.
10
20
52
- T/F. The number of working nuclear reactors in the US has been increasing.
F
- Today in the US, when a nuclear reactor is shut down, what type of energy source replaces it?
Natural gas
- The fear of what was important factor in turning public opinion against Indian Point (and nuclear energy in the US in general)?
Fear of terrorist attack
- T/F. Based on deaths caused historically, even nuclear advocates admit that nuclear energy is much less safe than fossil fuels.
F
- Besides human safety, what other issue motivated opposition to Indian Point?
Environmental concerns
- T/F. In the last ten years, the price of electricity from renewables and natural gas has plummeted in the US, while the prices of nuclear energy have risen (due to regulatory costs).
T
- One advantage of nuclear energy over renewables at the moment is that it provides F________ power, available whenever and as much as needed, not dependent on the weather as renewables can be.
Firm
- What are the two aspects of a “Climate Hawk”?
i. Place high priority on climate change
ii. Supports aggressive policy action
- The core insight of the Environmental Kuznets Curve can be summed up in the phrase “the S__________ to P___________ is economic growth.”
Solution to pollution
- List three features of US environmental laws from the 1970s (including specific policies, agencies, or programs) that have been internationally influential for designing environmental regulations.
i. EPA, environmental protection agency
ii. Clean Air Act, Water Pollution Control Act
iii. Gasoline, lead in gasoline, phase out lead use gasoline
- What are two criticisms made of the Environmental Kuznets Curve?
i. Developed countries exported deforestation activity to developing countries (rich countries to poor countries)
ii. Total energy and resourced used continue to climb, total consumption and overall impact continue to increase (Energy consumption keeps rising in rich countries)
- What are the two primary ways that Washington Consensus development policies hindered the development of effective environmental policies in the developing world?
i. Strip and prevent any new environmental regulations/laws
ii. weaken state capacity
- Which of the following are among the criticisms made of environmental regulations? (mark all that apply)
Pro-business interests say such regulations are too expensive, hurt economic growth, harm international competitiveness and cause layoffs and firm closures
Difficulties in accounting and assessing value (of for example, clean water or clean air) make it difficult to effectively regulate environmental issues
Environmental regulations cause endless litigations in court, adding costs and preventing even pro-environmental policies from being implemented
Many environmentalists argue current regulations do not go far enough, and many regulations remain ‘dead letters’ in developing countries—that is, on the books but not enforced
Pro-business interests say such regulations are too expensive, hurt economic growth, harm international competitiveness and cause layoffs and firm closures
Difficulties in accounting and assessing value (of for example, clean water or clean air) make it difficult to effectively regulate environmental issues
Environmental regulations cause endless litigations in court, adding costs and preventing even pro-environmental policies from being implemented
Many environmentalists argue current regulations do not go far enough, and many regulations remain ‘dead letters’ in developing countries—that is, on the books but not enforced
- Which of the following were listed in lecture as types of state-driven financial interventions associated with public green finance spending programs?
Subsidies to stimulate new markets, encourage new companies, compete internationally
Loans, sometimes through green banks, good for large projects seen as risky by private markets
Grants with low administrative costs, good for lots of small projects or long-term R&D
Nationalization, or direct public ownership, for large, low revenue and/or vital systems
Subsidies to stimulate new markets, encourage new companies, compete internationally
Loans, sometimes through green banks, good for large projects seen as risky by private markets
Grants with low administrative costs, good for lots of small projects or long-term R&D
Nationalization, or direct public ownership, for large, low revenue and/or vital systems
- Briefly explain what a ‘Green Bond’ is.
Debt issued to fund Environmental projects by government
- What are three of the benefits of public climate spending projects?
i. Long term and large-scale planning
ii. Spur private spending
iii. Provide public goods
- T/F. The global consulting company McKinsey argues that spending on renewable projects produces more jobs that environmentally neutral or harmful projects.
T
- Which of the following are listed among McKinsey’s feasible projects with strong environmental and socio-economic benefits that it advocates should be part of a 10 trillion “decisive” global stimulus?
Improving industrial energy efficiency through equipment replacement, and new waste and heat technologies
Smart commercial and residential building designs, including massive house retrofitting
Widespread electrification of energy grid along with massive expansion of renewable energy sources like wind and solar
A green transportation revolution of scaled up EV manufacturing, charging networks, electrified bus and rail lines, and widespread “active transport” infrastructure
Improving industrial energy efficiency through equipment replacement, and new waste and heat technologies
Smart commercial and residential building designs, including massive house retrofitting
Widespread electrification of energy grid along with massive expansion of renewable energy sources like wind and solar
A green transportation revolution of scaled up EV manufacturing, charging networks, electrified bus and rail lines, and widespread “active transport” infrastructure
- Briefly explain the difference between explicit and implicit subsidies.
Explicit is when price is below a supply cost
Implicit is when external cost is excluded from the price
- (a) What is a principal reason it is so hard for governments to get rid of consumption subsidies? (b) What is a principal reason it is so hard for governments to get rid of production subsidies?
a. Product becomes expensive which will anger the consumers/voters
b. Powerful political influence of the industry
- What are three of the criticisms of explicit subsidies listed in lecture?
i. Over consumption of the good
ii. Favors the rich, rich family tend to have higher consumption rate which disproportional benefits
iii. Massive government spending could’ve spent on other stuff, e.g. health, infrastructure, new green technologies
- List two examples of negative externalities associated with the fossil fuel sector.
i. Air pollution
ii. Green house gases emission
- T/F. Despite repeated pledges by the G20 dating back to 2009 to reduce fossil fuel subsidies, total fossil fuel subsidies are expected to increase at least until 2025.
T
- In the 1970s a really big push on research and development in alternative energy was made in response to what crisis?
Oil crisis
- T/F. In the 1970s, the US allotted more than 8 billion dollars to solar research and development.
T
- T/F. In the 1980s, republican president Ronald Reagan massively expanded the funding for Project Independence, the large government investment in solar R&D.
F
- What country announced a major government subsidy for rooftop solar, building on its investments in solar technology for many small technologies?
Japan
- Briefly explain Germany’s feed-in tariff program.
Deploy solar at scale, guarantee producers a premium price
- T/F. As some had predicted, the more solar panels that were produced, the cheaper they got.
T
- Briefly, what is the significance of Suntech?
First solar company in China, with the major technological break through
- What did the United States’ Energy Policy Act of 2005 do to encourage solar development in the US?
Investment tax credits, 30% cost back in reduce tax costs
- T/F. In the course of single lifetime, solar power has transformed from a niche technology to the cheapest way to provide clean and reliable power to billions of people, thanks largely to markets created and subsidized by governments.
T
- What are the two kinds of carbon pricing programs?
i. Carbon tax
ii. Emission trading
- What do carbon pricing schemes seek to “make visible”?
Hidden costs of fossil fuels
- Carbon pricing schemes intend to (a) decrease what and (b) increase what?
a. Decrease demand carbon-based
b. Increase demand alternative
- What does SCC stand for? And is there widespread agreement on its proper amount?
Social cost of carbon
no
- Many analysts argue that carbon taxes are R______________ taxes, meaning that they disproportionately hurt lower-income populations. So many governments include forms of R______________ in their carbon pricing programs, such as tax credits or rebates.
Regressive
Redistributive
- In Britain a carbon tax programs has facilitated the switch of what industry away from what fuel source?
Electricity
- What is difficult balance that politicians face in crafting effective carbon pricing programs?
Price need to be high enough to be effective, but not so high that cause public backlash
- T/F. Australia is a case in which a fierce backlash by industry and consumers against a carbon pricing program resulted in its repeal.
T
- T/F. In France an initial proposal for a carbon pricing system was shelved after judicial and public opposition, and then a later carbon pricing program has halted its increases in the face of public protests against fuel price increases.
T
- T/F. Canada’s version of carbon pricing is an example of “carbon fee and dividend”, as it offsets the higher costs to most consumers through tax refunds.
T
- Which of the following is true of Sweden’s carbon pricing program? (mark all that apply)
Disappointing economic growth has raised pressure on politicians to suspend the program
Highest carbon tax rate in the world
One of highest levels of energy consumption and lowest levels of carbon emissions in developed world
Carbon tax revenues split between general government spending and tax credits
Highest carbon tax rate in the world
One of highest levels of energy consumption and lowest levels of carbon emissions in developed world
Carbon tax revenues split between general government spending and tax credits
- List three benefits of carbon tax programs as discussed in lecture.
i. Drive down emission
ii. Spur innovation
iii. Raising revenue
- List three costs or criticisms of carbon tax programs as discussed in lecture.
i. Low price
ii. Hard to access appropriate amount
iii. Regressive
iv. Carbon leakage
- T/F. A UNFCCC estimate suggests that a sufficient carbon pricing program (to meet Paris Agreement goals) would have required a global price of between $40-80 per ton by 2020, yet less than 4% of global emissions in 2020 were covered by such a program.
T
- T/F. The US was an early innovator of successful cap and trade programs.
T
- In a cap and trade program, polluters that expect to emit more than their permits allow must do one of what two actions?
Pay their cap or innovate
- In the Kyoto Protocols, the 37 Annex-I (that is, developed countries) could gain extra pollution permits by doing what?
Buying from other countries
Do a climate project, reforestation, tech transfer
- Which of the following is true of the EU’s ETS? (mark all that apply)
World’s largest emissions trading system, including all 28 EU countries and several others
Single, centralized cap is reduced every year and in increasing amounts
Has successfully helped drive down carbon emissions and spur low-carbon innovations
Covers over 80% of EU greenhouse gas emissions
World’s largest emissions trading system, including all 28 EU countries and several others
Single, centralized cap is reduced every year and in increasing amounts
Has successfully helped drive down carbon emissions and spur low-carbon innovations
- Which of the following were listed in lecture as among the common criticisms of emissions trading schemes? (mark all that apply)
Lack of harmonization with global carbon budgets determined by critical temperature thresholds
Emission scope limited by exceptions to major sectors and kinds of GHGs
Poor design of many programs has meant an oversupply and thus low price of permits, which fails to force innovations
Permit purchases facilitate small-scale modifications that lack the large-scale technological and infrastructural shifts the climate challenge requires
Lack of harmonization with global carbon budgets determined by critical temperature thresholds
Emission scope limited by exceptions to major sectors and kinds of GHGs
Poor design of many programs has meant an oversupply and thus low price of permits, which fails to force innovations
Permit purchases facilitate small-scale modifications that lack the large-scale technological and infrastructural shifts the climate challenge requires
- T/F. Estimates suggest that not only is China a bigger emitter than all other developing countries combined, it has not passed the US in per capita emissions.
T
- What are three of the reasons China’s climate vulnerability is very high?
i. Lot of poor people, where they live, lack of help
ii. Rapid urban development, poorly built cities, UHI affects and flooding
iii. Small plot farmers
- T/F. While during the Maoist era of Chinese economic development, the environment was well protected from damage and extreme exploitation due to Communist principles and low economic growth, during the more recent Liberal or Reformist period the environment has been systematically sacrificed for the sake of economic growth.
F
- What are three of the reasons listed in lecture that China has recently become serious about addressing climate change?
i. Growing awareness of its vulnerability
ii. Growing sense of global responsibility
iii. Energy security, reduce energy dependence
- T/F. China’s coastal sea levels are rising faster than the world average.
T
- T/F. China has the world’s largest population living at low altitudes.
T
- While estimates suggest that major infrastructure is unlikely to be submerged for several decades yet, China is already suffering from what kind of effects from rising sea levels? (name two)
i. Land subsidence, large cities in China are sinking
ii. Saltwater intrusion, damage agriculture, machines
- Specifically, the Pearl River Delta, one of China’s most populous and important regions economically, has recently been struggling with what issue due to sea level rise?
Saltwater intrusion
- T/F. Shanghai is a low-lying, major economic hub that is surrounded by water on three sides, has spent tens of millions on over 500km of sea wall, and yet still half the city is vulnerable to flooding by the end of the century.
T
- What type of economic sector is causing special levels of anxiety in China due to its geographical concentration in low-lying areas and thus vulnerability to sea level rise?
Green high-tech sector
- T/F. China’s annual average temperature has been rising even faster since 1980 and is currently rising faster than the global average annual increase.
T
- T/F. Heat waves are increasing in number, intensity, and duration in China, while starting earlier in the year and lasting later.
T
- Why does a rise in temperature lead to a spike in energy electricity consumption?
Heat wave lead to increase in demand in energy
Increase demand in air conditioning
- List three of the causes of the UHI effect. (urban heat island effect)
i. Absorbing more and trapping more heat
ii. More sources of heat, machines
iii. More air pollution, amplifies the effects of heat
- Explain how China’s red alert warnings for workers during heat waves demonstrates the socially unequal impact of climate change?
Unequal access to air-conditioning
- The effects of warming temperatures is already having considerable ‘buckling’ effects on what kind of infrastructure in China?
Road networks
- What under-appreciated problem is expected to plague China’s agricultural sector due to temperature increases and heat waves?
Decrease in labor productivity
- Briefly explain why the North China Plain is such a worrying region for many analysts of climate change’s effects on China.
Major breadbasket of the world
- China’s annual economic costs due to droughts is roughly ____ billion, but according to estimates may jump to ____ billion if the world proceeds to warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius.
7, 47
- Which of the following is true about China’s water scarcity problem? (mark all that apply)
China has 20% of the world’s population but only 7% of its freshwater
Regions of China more parched than parts of the Middle East
80-90% of China’s groundwater and 50% its river water is too dirty to drink
50% of its groundwater and 25% of its river water cannot be used for industry or farming
China has 20% of the world’s population but only 7% of its freshwater
Regions of China more parched than parts of the Middle East
80-90% of China’s groundwater and 50% its river water is too dirty to drink
50% of its groundwater and 25% of its river water cannot be used for industry or farming
- Sichuan Province, a major population and economic region of China, faced darkened cities, shut-down factories, and widespread livestock death due its 80% reliance on what energy source?
Hydroelectrical from dams
- List three causes of China’s water scarcity issues.
i. Inefficient agriculture
ii. Industrial pollution
iii. Losing ice glacier/ ice sheets melting
- What two green technology supply chains were hammered by the energy struggles in Sichuan?
i. Solar panels
ii. Lithium plants
- To make up for the energy deficits during recent droughts, China massively expanded its use of what energy source?
Coals
- What are two primary crops in China are already suffering from droughts and heat waves and expected to see significant declines in the decades ahead?
i. Rice
ii. Wheat
iii. Corn
- What are two regions where China’s water and dam policies are provoking geopolitical tension?
i. Mekong river delta
ii. Himalayas
iii. Central areas
- T/F. Nearly all Asian countries including China face an increase in the frequency of extreme river flows due to climate change.
T
- What other urban factor, besides the size of urban growth, is contributing to cities exacerbating China’s total risk exposure to the effects of flooding?
Deforestation
- What dramatic scene unfolded in Zhengzhou in 2021, gripping the nation and illustrating the problems and fears of China’s future of extreme floods?
Flooding of subway system, people trap in subway caused 400 people die
- T/F. Flooding drives the largest economic losses of all natural disasters in China in recent years.
T
- Briefly explain why the US faces risks associated with increased flooding in China.
Many supply chains in US and consumers are located in China, disrupting of supply chain
- T/F. Economic losses from flooding in China at 2C of global warming are estimated to be double those at 1.5C (estimated at $33 billion a year).
T
- (a) Roughly what percentage of China is desert? (b) And what percentage of it is dryland?
a. 25%
b. 50%
- What two economic sectors have most contributed to China’s desertification problem?
i. Agriculture
ii. Mining
- In the face of severe deforestation in some regions, what policy has China pursued that has provoked intense public backlash?
Ecological migration program
- Briefly, explain why desertification in China has become a source of geopolitical tension.
Rise of dust storm, increase in frequency and intensity, that spreads to other countries, affecting air quality and health of humans and animals
- Briefly, explain how The West is not immune from criticism for the problems of pollution in China.
There is a lack of environmental laws, they relocate their manufacturing into China
- For a long time, China’s leaders considered pollution what kind of a problem?
Western problem
___% of China’s population is daily exposed to unsafe levels of pollution (important)
50%
- Lack of adequate environmental regulations in what two sectors have caused most of China’s water pollution problems?
i. Manufacturing sector
ii. Agriculture
- Small rural Chinese towns suffering from high rates of severe illness from high levels of pollution exposure have been called what?
C________________ V_________________
Cancer villages
- How many people die a year in China, according to a study from UC Berkeley?
1.6 million
- Much of China’s air pollution problem can be tied directly to what industry?
Coal industry
- In an underappreciated impact of air pollution, it affects 70% of what in China?
Crop production
- T/F. The carbon emissions from the cement used to build a 30 story building is about equivalent to driving a car 12 million miles.
T
- Cement production accounts for ____% of all global carbon emissions.
8%
- T/F. Cement’s carbon emissions are more than the aviation and shipping industries combined.
T
- T/F. In just two years (2020 and 2021) China produced more cement than the United States did in the entire 20th century.
T
- “C__________ C____________D____________ can chip away at cement’s emissions.”
Climate Conscious Design
- T/F. Cutting down on unnecessary excess cement in many buildings can cut emissions by up to 26%.
T
- What is the current problem preventing the shifting of the heat source in cement making to electric heat?
Can’t get hot enough to decarbonize concrete
- Cement is about ____% of concrete (which also includes gravel, sand, and water).
10%
- Which of the following does the video list as key methods of reducing carbon emissions in the cement industry?
Reduce excess cement in building construction
Switch fuels in cement creation
Clinker ratio increases
Carbon capture and storage
Reduce excess cement in building construction
Switch fuels in cement creation
Carbon capture and storage
- The current goal is to develop net zero concrete by ___________.
2050
- T/F. One of the major current problems of so much concrete being produced in China is that there concrete-making plants are much less efficient than those in countries like the US.
F
- T/F. China is increasingly optimistic about its achievement of a shift towards more low carbon building methods, even recently moving up its peak building emission deadline from 2030 to 2025.
F
