Unit 2 - Energy, Water and the Environment

Question 1

Non-Renewable Energy?

Answer 1

Energy that can not be reproduced in the time that it takes to consume it e.g. coal.

Question 2

Renewable energy:

Answer 2

Energy that is naturally occurring and potentially infinite.

Question 3

Fossil Fuels?

Answer 3

Any combustible organic matter that is made from the remains of former flora and fauna.

Question 4

Raw Material?

Answer 4

Any unprocessed material.

Question 5

Climate Change - Human causes of Climate Change?

Answer 5

• Burning Fossil Fuels Power Stations - Coal is burned and CO2 and other gasses are released into the environment.
• Over farming animals, which release methane.
• 50 and 100 million tonnes of methane a year produced from Rice etc. Bacteria in the roots people plant the rice.
• Transport e.g cars and aircraft.

Question 6

Climate Change - Physical causes of Climate Change?

Answer 6

• Large amounts of Sulfa and other etc are released into the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions.
• Tectonic movement effects ocean circulation, currents speed up warm water can be moved, melting ice caps.
• Snow and ice reflect sunlight back into space, without this more heat is absorbed.
• Carbon dioxide needs to be produced otherwise earth temperature would be -18oC.

Question 7

Climate Change - Negative effects of Global Warming - Asia?

Answer 7

Social - Crop yields can decrease y 10%, with an increasing population there is going to be greater amount of hunger.
Economic - There is going to be a greater strain on sustainable development due to increasing pressure on natural resources due to rapid urbanization.
Environmental - Glaciers in the Himalayas are set to retreat causing increased flooding and rock avalanches as slopes become unstable.

Question 8

Climate Change - Negative effects of Global Warming - Antarctica and Arctic?

Answer 8

Social - Transport can be come compromised due to large amounts of ground water. No goods can be transported.
Environmental - Warmer temperatures has led to 80% decrease in the amount of Krill, with is what many seals and whales feed on, hence decreasing the population.
Snow reflects 90% of light from sun.
Water absorbs 94% of heat from sun
2500 square km of ice shelf’s have melted since 1950.

Question 9

Climate Change - What are local councils doing to stop climate change?

Answer 9

Targets - UK councils are trying to cut carbon emissions by 20% in 2020 from 1990 levels.
Funds - Government has given £4 million to local councils to invest money in energy saving light bulbs and combined heating systems.

Question 10

Climate change - What are Schools doing to stop Climate Change?

Answer 10

Livesimply - Campaign that started in 2007, run by catholic church which encourages people to make correct and considerate choices.
Energy efficiency - Introducing energy saving heating and water systems. Encouraging people to turn the lights out and install solar and wind turbines for renewable energy.

Question 11

Climate Change - What is the Kyoto Protocol doing to help stop climate change?

Answer 11

2005 Feb - Countries agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent compared with 1990 global levels.

Question 12

Climate Change - Kyoto Protocol Targets?

Answer 12

• 8 percent for EU
• 7 percent for USA
• 6 percent for Japan
• 0 percent for Russia
• 10 percent for Iceland
• 8 percent for Australia
  Countries could trade carbon credits. By 2008 181 countries had joined.

Question 13

Climate Change - What am i doing to help stop climate change?

Answer 13

• Turning down temperature on fridge and washing machines.
• Looking at where energy companies source there energy.
• Use renewable sources of energy
• Buy Hybrid car.

Question 14

Climate Change - What are National government organisations doing to help stop climate change?

Answer 14

Green Peace

• Trying to pursued the UK government to produce energy in more sustainable ways.
• Trying to not waste energy inefficiently in cooling towers in power stations, introducing combined heating systems for small areas.
• Taxing flights and airlines more for the fuel that they burn so that there will be less carbon emissions.
• Introducing carbon credits so companies are able to buy and sell them if needed.

Question 15

Sustainability - Define?

Answer 15

This means that things can keep going, continue into the future and go on forever. the planet can continue to do what it was designed to do (provide food water and resources.

Question 16

Sustainability - Key elements or sustainable development?

Answer 16

• This means that things are able to continue into the future and go on forever and also the ways of doing this does not have a negative effect on the environment, food supplies, water and resources.

Question 17

Why and how are we damaging the planet?

Answer 17

• We are destroying the system that we depend upon, the environment.
• We are polluting and wasting to many resources and energies.

Question 18

Whats the four ways ways we can increase sustainability?

Answer 18

• Reduce dependence on Fossil Fuels and heavy metals.
• Reduce dependence on chemicals that exist in nature e.g. CFCs
• Reduce destruction of nature.
• Ensure we are not stopping people from achieving development.

Question 19

Sustainable development, case study - Google?

Answer 19

• Free Shuttles fueled with bio diesel (reduced number of cars in LA).
• Employees get cash back if they buy a hybrid car.
• Earn points for riding bike to work - points translate into money which is donated to a charity of your choice.
• Electric company cars for employees to use free of charge. Cars are charged by solar power.
• 92,000 solar panels produce 30% of the HQ’s needed fuels.

Question 20

Sustainable development, case study - California Museum of Sciences?

Answer 20

• Large glass Roof - natural light is able to enter and heat the building.
• Artificially created Rain forest and Coral Reef.
• Roof - designed to provide natural ventilation - no need for Air Con or heating.
• Planted with grass roof - uses natural materials and blends into the environment from above.

Question 21

UNSECO 1997?

Answer 21

This act that declared that it is the responsibility of the current generation to pass on an Earth that had not been irreversibly damaged by human activity. Equally it should not hinder development.

Question 22

What was the Brundtland Report of 1980?

Answer 22

This was a report that was written that defined sustainable development which was written after growing concern of the Earths natural resources.

Question 23

How did the Brundtland Report define sustainable development?

Answer 23

“Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet there own needs.”

Question 24

What did the Brundtland Report focus on?

Answer 24

• Focused on the conservation of the environment by developing new technologies, achieving social equality and allowing developing developing countries to meet basic needs and allow economic growth.

Question 25

Sustainable Transport solutions in London - Boris Bikes?

Answer 25

Introduced in 2010: Bikes are rented out by people at docking stations, Accounts for 20,000 journeys a day. 400 docking stations in the capital. 6,000 bicycles. Fewer then 100 accidents. £79 million with a further 45 million for extensions to the Olympic park.

Question 26

Sustainable Transport solutions in London - Boris Bikes - successes?

Answer 26

• Aids people in losing weight.
• Less fossil fuels are burnt as less people use other forms of transport such as the tube and buses.
• Convenient as many bikes are available.
• Used for over 200,000 journeys a day, less car journeys.
• Visible and safe, 100 accidents so far and fines system works well.

Question 27

Sustainable Transport solutions in London - Boris Bikes - failures?

Answer 27

• Can easily be vandalized or damaged.
• Could be confusing for tourist to use.
• May not always be docks available, inconvenient, or hard to find.
• Systems are going to consume lots of power.
• Costs £79 million and another £45 million due to be spent for expansions.

Question 28

Congestion Charge?

Answer 28

Making motorist pay to travel into congested areas in cars during periods of heavy use. the aim will be to reduce the amount of vehicles entering the city.

Question 29

Successes of Congestion charge in London?

Answer 29

• Traffic in the city has been reduced by 21 percent, there are now 65,000 fewer car journeys a day.
• 29,000 more people entering the congestion zone by bus, this is better for the environment.
• Streets are not going to have as much traffic it is going to be easier to move around.

Question 30

Managing Traffic in Cambridge?

Answer 30

• Park are ride on New Market Road, Milton Road, Babraham Rd and Madingley Rd. Many of these are open on Sundays for shopping. Park and Ride encourages people to use buses because it is cheaper and faster.
• New market Rd, there are three lanes of traffic one of which is exclusively for people using the P&R buses, encouraging people to use the system.

Question 31

Negative effects of global warming: Europe

Answer 31

Spain, lower water availability . risk of drought. Greater amounts of soil erosion. Decrease in crop yield and growing season.
UK higher flood risk and sea levels rises. Hotter and dryer summers.
Central and eastern Europe precipitation is projected to decrease by 20% causing higher water stress.