midterm 2 for 3 Flashcards
(55 cards)
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
25. Microsoft is signing a 20 year lease with a nuclear energy company to provide power for what kind of facility?
data center
26
26. What are the two aspects of a “Climate Hawk”?
i.
ii.
1. top priority on climate change
2. supports aggressive policy actions
27
27. What are the three scenarios in the IEA reports?
i.
ii.
iii.
1. net zero by 2050
2. announced pledges
2. stated polices
28
28. What are the Net Zero targets for the following countries/organizations.
China ______ EU _______ India _______ US _______ Paris Agreement ______
2060, 2050, 2070, 2050, 2050
29
29. 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
30
30. The IEA insists that rich developed countries must commit to a fast P________-O_______ of fossil fuels.
phase out
31
31. 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.
1. EPA, environmental protection agency
2. clean air act, water pollution control act
3. phase out lead use gasoline, endangered species act
32
32. 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
33
33. What are two criticisms made of the Environmental Kuznets Curve?
i.
ii.
1. rich countries export deforestation activities to poor countries (developed to developing)
2. total consumption of energy level continues to rise in rich countries
34
34. Briefly explain what a ‘Green Bond’ is.
debt issued to fund environmental projects
35
35. What are two of the benefits of public climate spending projects?
i.
ii.
1. spur private spending
2. large scale and long term planning
3. provide public goods
36
36. (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.
1. if goods get expensive it might angers the voters/consumers
2. strong political influence of the industry
37
37. In the 1970s a really big push on research and development in alternative energy was made in response to what crisis?
oil crisis
38
38. Briefly explain Germany’s feed-in tariff program.
deploy solar at scale, guarantee producers a premium price
39
39. List three benefits of carbon tax programs as discussed in lecture.
i.
ii.
iii.
1. reduce emission
2. spur innovation
3. increase revenue to redistribute
40
40. 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
41
41. T/F. The US was an early innovator of successful cap and trade programs.
T
42
42. 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.
1. buy from other countries
2. innovate, do climate project, reforestation, tech transfer
43
43. What are two reasons China’s climate vulnerability is very high?
i.
ii.
1. lots of poor people
2. rapid urban development, cities are poorly built
44
44. What are three of the reasons listed in lecture that China has recently become serious about addressing climate change?
i.
ii.
iii.
1. growing awareness of its vulnerability
2. growing sense of global responsibility
3. energy security, reduce anergy dependency
45
45. Briefly explain how China’s red alert warnings for workers during heat waves demonstrates the socially unequal impact of climate change.
unequal access to air condition
46
46. Briefly explain why the North China Plain is such a worrying region for many analysts of climate change’s effects on China.
it is the breadbasket of the world
47
47. To make up for the energy deficits during recent droughts, China massively expanded its use of what energy source?
coals
48
48. List three causes of China’s water scarcity issues.
i.
ii.
iii.
1. inefficient agriculture
2. ice sheet melting
3. industrial pollution
49
49. What are two regions where China’s water and dam policies are provoking geopolitical tension?
i.
ii.
1. Mekong river delta
2. Himalayas
50
50. In the face of severe deforestation in some regions, what policy has China pursued that has provoked intense public backlash?
ecological migration program
51
51. Briefly, explain why desertification in China has become a source of geopolitical tension.
rise of dust storm, higher frequency and intensity, spreading to other countries affecting air quality, affecting health of humans and animals
52
52. Briefly, explain how the West is not immune from criticism for the problems of pollution in China.
lack of environmental law/regulation, U.S locates its manufacturing in China
53
53. 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
54
54. The Vox Video on cement said that “C___________ C____________ D____________ can chip away at cement’s emissions.”
C___________________ C__________________ D__________________
climate conscious design
55
55. 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
