midterm 2 for 3 Flashcards
1
Q
- In a favored phrasing, the IPCC report states that since the last report in 2014 heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and other extreme events have all increased in intensity and frequency “f____ b_______ n________ v_________.”
A
far beyond natural variability
2
Q
- Briefly, define ‘net-zero’.
A
carbon emission + carbon capture
the balance between carbon emission and carbon take out
3
Q
- According to the IPCC, what sector is the most important to decarbonize as fast as possible?
A
power sector
4
Q
- What are the three key policies for cities to pursue reductions in their transport sector emissions levels?
i.
ii.
iii.
A
i. high population density
ii. non-car travel
iii. electrify transportation
5
Q
- In the Vox video, the graph that breaks down the carbon emissions in the US by sector has what percentages for the following? (28, 28, 21, 14, 12)
Residential ____%
Electricity ____%
Industrial ____%
Transportation ____%
Commercial ____%
A
14
28
21
28
12
6
Q
- Provide a succinct definition of ‘tipping point’ as it relates to climate change.
A
threshold passed/crossed, irreversible changes, faster destructions
7
Q
- The effects of drought on ecosystems and people are sometimes referred to as H________________ S____________.
A
hydrological stress
8
Q
- List three of the negative impacts of fires discussed in lecture.
i.
ii.
iii.
A
1.public health, smoke inhalation
2. pushing animals in contact with humans
3. destructive to humans, animals and infrastructures
9
Q
- The biggest fear many analysts now concerns the predominance of a few basic crops in the global diet, their geographical concentration of production, and the growing possibility of simultaneous M_______________ B____________ F____________ .
A
multiple breadbasket failure
10
Q
- With estimates rising, how many people does air pollution kill each year, according to recent research?
A
10 million
11
Q
- What are two other non-GHG related benefits of reducing deforestation and forest degradation?
i.
ii.
A
- protects biodiversity
- helps with soil quality
12
Q
- What was the ‘simple strategy’ at the core of REDD+ ambitions?
A
rich countries pay poor countries to protect their forest
13
Q
- (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.
b.
c.
A
- small island countries
- U.S
- calls for fund but no legal liability
14
Q
- 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.
A
T
15
Q
- What are two of the key criticisms of the Paris Climate Agreement listed in lecture?
i.
ii.
A
- it is not legal binding
- poor accountability
16
Q
- What was the key factor to keep the Paris Agreement intact while the US left the Agreement during the Trump administration?
A
set up of China
17
Q
- What are two of the significant signs of progress post-Paris Agreement listed in lecture?
i.
ii.
A
- technologies break through of solar and air energy
- increase in EV
18
Q
- This year’s COP 29 has been called the “F____________ COP.”
A
Finance
19
Q
- Briefly summarize the dispute between developed and developing countries over who should bear the burden of climate financing.
A
developing countries thinks that developed countries should pay
developed countries thinks that China should pay too
20
Q
- What is the nickname of the Amazon, given for its role in the world’s oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle?
A
lungs of the planet
21
Q
- Explain why the poor in Pakistan have been suffering the most from the shake-up in its national energy sector.
A
they cant afford to shift to solar, also needs to have the high price of energy
22
Q
- 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______________.
A
mosaic, monoculture
23
Q
- 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.
A
F
24
Q
- What two countries now consumer the vast majority of the world’s coal? (circle two)
China Japan
Russia India
A
China, India
25
Q
- Microsoft is signing a 20 year lease with a nuclear energy company to provide power for what kind of facility?
A
data center
26
Q
- What are the two aspects of a “Climate Hawk”?
i.
ii.
A
- top priority on climate change
- supports aggressive policy actions
27
Q
- What are the three scenarios in the IEA reports?
i.
ii.
iii.
A
- net zero by 2050
- announced pledges
- stated polices
28
Q
- What are the Net Zero targets for the following countries/organizations.
China ______ EU _______ India _______ US _______ Paris Agreement ______
A
2060, 2050, 2070, 2050, 2050
29
Q
- 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.
A
F
30
Q
- The IEA insists that rich developed countries must commit to a fast P________-O_______ of fossil fuels.
A
phase out
31
Q
- 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.
ii.
iii.
A
- EPA, environmental protection agency
- clean air act, water pollution control act
- phase out lead use gasoline, endangered species act
32
Q
- The core insight of the Environmental Kuznets Curve can be summed up in the phrase “the S__________ to P___________ is economic growth.”
A
solution to pollution
33
Q
- What are two criticisms made of the Environmental Kuznets Curve?
i.
ii.
A
- rich countries export deforestation activities to poor countries (developed to developing)
- total consumption of energy level continues to rise in rich countries
34
Q
- Briefly explain what a ‘Green Bond’ is.
A
debt issued to fund environmental projects
35
Q
- What are two of the benefits of public climate spending projects?
i.
ii.
A
- spur private spending
- large scale and long term planning
- provide public goods
36
Q
- (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.
b.
A
- if goods get expensive it might angers the voters/consumers
- strong political influence of the industry
37
Q
- In the 1970s a really big push on research and development in alternative energy was made in response to what crisis?
A
oil crisis
38
Q
- Briefly explain Germany’s feed-in tariff program.
A
deploy solar at scale, guarantee producers a premium price
39
Q
- List three benefits of carbon tax programs as discussed in lecture.
i.
ii.
iii.
A
- reduce emission
- spur innovation
- increase revenue to redistribute
40
Q
- 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.
A
T
41
Q
- T/F. The US was an early innovator of successful cap and trade programs.
A
T
42
Q
- In a cap and trade program, polluters that expect to emit more than their permits allow must do one of what two actions?
i.
ii.
A
- buy from other countries
- innovate, do climate project, reforestation, tech transfer
43
Q
- What are two reasons China’s climate vulnerability is very high?
i.
ii.
A
- lots of poor people
- rapid urban development, cities are poorly built
44
Q
- What are three of the reasons listed in lecture that China has recently become serious about addressing climate change?
i.
ii.
iii.
A
- growing awareness of its vulnerability
- growing sense of global responsibility
- energy security, reduce anergy dependency
45
Q
- Briefly explain how China’s red alert warnings for workers during heat waves demonstrates the socially unequal impact of climate change.
A
unequal access to air condition
46
Q
- Briefly explain why the North China Plain is such a worrying region for many analysts of climate change’s effects on China.
A
it is the breadbasket of the world
47
Q
- To make up for the energy deficits during recent droughts, China massively expanded its use of what energy source?
A
coals
48
Q
- List three causes of China’s water scarcity issues.
i.
ii.
iii.
A
- inefficient agriculture
- ice sheet melting
- industrial pollution
49
Q
- What are two regions where China’s water and dam policies are provoking geopolitical tension?
i.
ii.
A
- Mekong river delta
- Himalayas
50
Q
- In the face of severe deforestation in some regions, what policy has China pursued that has provoked intense public backlash?
A
ecological migration program
51
Q
- Briefly, explain why desertification in China has become a source of geopolitical tension.
A
rise of dust storm, higher frequency and intensity, spreading to other countries affecting air quality, affecting health of humans and animals
52
Q
- Briefly, explain how the West is not immune from criticism for the problems of pollution in China.
A
lack of environmental law/regulation, U.S locates its manufacturing in China
53
Q
- Small rural Chinese towns suffering from high rates of severe illness from high levels of pollution exposure have been called what?
C________________ V_________________
A
cancer villages
54
Q
- The Vox Video on cement said that “C___________ C____________ D____________ can chip away at cement’s emissions.”
C___________________ C__________________ D__________________
A
climate conscious design
55
Q
- 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.
A
F
