4. Carbon cycle and greenhouse effect (more TOK stuff)

Question 1

Other points of view
Climate predictions depend on unertain factors and..(2)

Answer 1

-long term geological records of pst climates and earth conditions show profound changes over earths history (especially before humans were present)
-atmospheric chemists say that ignoring impacts of water vapour has led to an overestimation of human impact, greenhouse gases only contribute to 0.3% of the greenhouse effect

Question 2

TOK
The precautionary principle (3)

Answer 2

-Rio Declaration on envrionment and development
-if the effcts of human induced impact would be large, those responsible for the change must prove that it will not do harm before proceeding
-differs from a situation where those concerned about an acitivy/change would have to prove that it would do harm before stopping the activity

Question 3

Better safe than sorry (2)

Answer 3

-many countries limit greenhouse gas emissions by industries
-in past, those concerned about the gas would have to prove that there was envrionmental problems from the gas

Question 4

International Mindedness (3)

Answer 4

-release of greenhouse gases occurs locally but has a global impact, so international cooperation to reduce emissions is essential
-“think globally, act locally”
-make comitment to reduce consumption