SS 4 Flashcards
1
Q
Scientist facts do not develop in a ______________.
A
vacuum
2
Q
What happened in the late 1950s regarding CO2?
A
Scientists started paying close attention to the increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere
3
Q
Why are scientists understanding climate change like climbing a ladder they were building along the way?
A
Because as scientists would discover facts and information, then build off that information for future discoveries; as this happened, the scientists learned more about climate change
4
Q
What does the UN stand for?
A
United Nations
5
Q
When was the UN founded?
A
1946, in the immediate aftermath of WWII
6
Q
What is the UN charter?
A
an international treaty, where members are bound by its terms
7
Q
What is the main goal of the UN?
A
to prevent the use of force in international relations
8
Q
When was the Cold War?
A
1946 to 1991 CE
9
Q
During the Cold War, who were the main competing powers?
A
The USSR and US, as well as their respective allies
10
Q
How did the USSR and US compete on the science front during the Cold War?
A
through the space race
11
Q
What 2 countries were involved in the space race?
A
The US and USSR
12
Q
Who launched the first artificial Earth satellite?
A
the USSR
13
Q
What was the name of the first artificial satellite?
A
Sputnik
14
Q
When was Sputnik launched?
A
1957
15
Q
How did the US counter the launching of Sputnik by the USSR?
A
by launching their own space program and investing lots of money into it
16
Q
Who landed the first humans on the moon?
A
the US
17
Q
When did the first humans land on the moon?
A
1969
18
Q
What does NASA stand for?
A
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
19
Q
When was NASA founded?
A
1958
20
Q
What do those involved in a research program agree to do?
A
contribute their time and resources to pursue a research agenda together
21
Q
What does WCRP stand for?
A
World Climate Research Programme
22
Q
When was the WCRP established?
A
1979
23
Q
What does IGBP stand for?
A
Internation Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
24
Q
When was the IGBP established?
A
1987
25
What does ICSU stand for?
Internation Council for Science
26
What was the ICS formerly known as?
the ICSU
27
What does ICSU stand for?
International Council for Scientific Union
28
When was the ISCU established?
1931
29
Who was Lloyd Berkner?
an American physicist and engineer whose suggestion to the ISCU helped start the IGY
30
What did Lloyd Berkner suggest to the ISCU in 1952?
That they begin a systematic and comprehensive study of geophysical activities over a set period
31
What did Lloyd Berkner's suggestion in 1952 to the ISCU lead to?
the creation of the IGY
32
What does IGY stand for?
International GeoPhysical Year
33
When was the IGY?
July 1957 to December 1958
34
What was the IGY supposed to correspond with?
a high point in the 11-year cycle of sunspot activity
35
The IGY was foundational for the launch of which program?
NASA
36
As part of the IGY, what did Charles David Keeling start doing?
He started to regularly check the CO2 levels in the air from Hawaii
37
Where did Keeling track CO2 levels in the air from?
Mauna Loa, Hawaii
38
Why did Bert Bolin travel to Washington D.C. in 1959?
To alert the National Academy of Sciences that increasing CO2 levels could have serious consequences
39
When did Bert Bolin travel to Washington D.C. to alert the National Academy of Sciences?
1959
40
When did Keeling release his data on CO2 levels in the atmosphere?
1961
41
What did Keeling call his data on CO2 levels in the atmosphere?
the Keeling Curve
42
What does the Keeling Curve reveal?
It shows that CO2 levels have been rising
43
Who was the first chair of the ISCU's new committee on atmospheric sciences?
Bert Bolin
44
When did Bert Bolin become the first chair of the ISCU's new committee on atmospheric sciences?
1964
45
Data about rising CO2 levels and awareness of its ability to warm temperatures resulted in what?
interest in this topic, and new communities of scientists and formal organizations dedicated to climate change
46
What does WMO stand for?
World Meteorological Organization
47
When was WMO established?
1950
48
What other organization is WMO a part of?
the UN
49
In 1967, the ISCU and WMO came together to form what?
GARP
50
What does GARP stand for?
Global Atmospheric Research Program
51
When was GARP formed?
1967
52
What 2 groups formed GARP?
the ISCU and WMO
53
What was GARP at the center of?
helping people understand more about weather and climate during the 70s and 80s
54
When was GARP at the center of helping people?
the 1970s and 1980s
55
What does UNEP stand for?
United Nations Environmental Programme
56
What was hosted in 1978 in Austria by the ISCU, WMO, and UNEP?
an International Workshop on Climate Issues
57
Where was the International Workshop on Climate Issues hosted in 1978?
Austria
58
What organizations hosted the International Workshop on Climate Issues in 1978 located in Austria?
the ISCU, WMO, and UNEP
59
What did the International Workshop on Climate Issues in Austria in 1978 identify a need for?
an organization that could do more than GARP
60
What organization came as a result of the International Workshop on Climate Issues in 1978?
the WCRP
61
What organization succeeded GARP?
the WCRP
62
What did the WCRP do?
it led research that increased the knowledge of how the oceans and atmosphere interact to create weather, and it raised awareness for climate change among the general public
63
What led to the creation of the IGBP?
a push from scientists for a new program that would comprehensively study global change, to provide context for climate change and its causes
64
Who was the center of the push for the creation of the IGBP?
Bert Bolin and other scientists
65
Did the IGBP take over the WCRP?
No, the 2 worked as a team
66
What was the topic of the conference in 1985 in Villach, Austria, hosted by the ISCU, WMO, and UNEP?
"Assessment of the Role of Carbon Dioxide and of Other Greenhouse Gases in Climate Variations and Associated Impacts"
67
Who hosted the major conference in Villach, Austria in 1985?
the ISCU, WMO, and UNEP
68
When was the conference hosted by the ISCU, WMO, and UNEP?
1985
69
What did the participants in the 1985 conference in Villach, Austria agree on?
that GHG emissions can raise global temperatures and the consequences of this will be serious
70
What group was formed in the conference in 1985 hosted by the ISCU, WMO, and UNEP in Villach, Austria?
the AGGG
71
What does AGGG stand for?
Advisory Group on Greenhouse Gases
72
When was the conference hosted by the WMO in Toronto, Canada?
1988
73
Who hosted the 1988 conference in Toronto, Canada?
WMO
74
What was the name of the 1988 conference in Toronto hosted by the WMO?
"The Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security"
75
What organization was James E. Hansen part of?
NASA
76
What did James E. Hansen do in 1988?
He testified before the US Senate that human-induced greenhouse gases were the cause of climate change
77
When did James E. Hansen testify before the US Senate?
1988
78
What does IPCC stand for?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
79
When was the IPCC created?
the late 80s, specifically 1988
80
Why was the IPCC established?
To spread information and research on climate change among scientists and the general public
81
Who was the IPCC's first chair?
Bert Bolin
82
When did Bert Bolin serve as the IPCC's first chair?
1988 to 1998
83
Who made "Merchants of Doubt"?
Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway
84
When was "Merchants of Doubt" published?
2010
85
What does "Merchants of Doubt" explain?
How a small group of influential people influenced and prevented action for climate change, as well as why many people don't believe in climate change
86
What position did William Nierenberg retire from in 1984?
the Director of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography
87
When did Nierenberg retire from his position as the Director of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography?
1984
88
What was the Scripps Institute of Oceanography?
a well-respected scientific institution at the forefront of the study of climate
89
What did Nierenberg join after he retired?
the Board of Directors of the Marshall Institute
90
Where was the Marshall Institute located?
Washington D.C.
91
How was the Marshall Institute different from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography?
The Marshall Institute had a political agenda it had to achieve
92
What does SDI stand for?
Strategic Defense Initiative
93
The SDI was an agenda for which war?
the Cold War
94
What signalled the end of the Cold War?
the fall of the Berlin Wall
95
When did the Berlin Wall come down?
1989
96
Under which US President was the Marshall Institute founded?
President Ronald Reagen
97
Near the end of the Cold War, what did the Marshall Institute start attacking?
climate science
98
Who was the successor of Ronald Reagan as president?
President George H. W. Bush
99
Did Bush consider taking action on mitigating climate change?
Yes, though he didn't go through with it
100
What did the paper published by the Marshall Institute in 1989 say about climate change?
It said climate change was caused by variability in solar energy, not greenhouse gases
101
Did the paper published by the Marshall Institute in 1989 have the support of the scientific community?
No
102
Who published a report saying the paper made by the Marshall Institute was incorrect in 1990?
the IPCC
103
Rejecting the Kyoto Protocol was __________.
bipartisan
104
When did the US Senate first vote on whether to accept the Kyoto Protocol?
July 25, 1997
105
What was the outcome of the US Senate voting on whether to accept the Kyoto Protocol in 1997?
the vote was 95-0
106
What 2 ideas did the US Senate state after rejecting the Kyoto Protocol?
Other countries need to commit before the US and taking action will slow the US economy
107
Which US president agreed to sign the Kyoto Protocol in 1998?
President Bill Clinton
108
When did President Bill Clinton sign the Kyoto Protocol?
1998
109
In the 2000 election, who were the candidates?
George W. Bush vs Al Gore
110
Whose son is George W. Bush?
he is the son of George H. W. Bush
111
Who received the popular vote in the 2000 election?
Al Gore
112
What was the legal battle surrounding the 2000 election about?
it was regarding the vote counts in the state of Florida
113
Who did the Supreme Court declare the winner of the 2000 election?
George W. Bush
114
A New York Times Article from Nov. 3, 2000, said what about the candidates for the 2000 election?
That Gore supporting climate action and Bush being against it was a key distinguisher of the 2 candidates
115
How did ExxonMobil react to potential governmental regulations of fossil fuels?
They started funding organizations that opposed climate change and created skepticism about it, especially during the 70s and 80s
116
Did ExxonMobil research climate change?
Yes, during the 1970s and 1980s, they participated in the scientific study of climate change
117
What was the most profitable year for Western oil companies?
2022
118
The top 6 energy companies earned how much in 2022?
$219 billion
119
How much did the top 6 energy companies give/payout to investors?
$110 billion
120
What were the top 6 energy companies in 2022?
Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, Chevron, Exxon, and Equinor
121
What does BP stand for? (the energy company)
British Petroleum
122
What oil company produced the carbon footprint concept?
British Petroleum
123
What well-known concept regarding climate change did BP produce?
the carbon footprint concept
124
What is a carbon footprint?
The amount of carbon a person uses/produces
125
What is the flaw with the carbon footprint concept?
It is that only a few people trying to reduce their carbon footprint doesn't make much of a difference, and it leads focus away from collective action of companies and governments to only a handful of people
126
What part of the US government is the US Chamber of Commerce?
the US Chamber of Commerce is not part of the government
127
What is the US Chamber of Commerce?
a powerful lobbying group that advocates on behalf of businesses
128
When did the US Chamber of Commerce acknowledge that humans contribute to climate change?
2019
129
What did the US Chamber of Commerce do in 2019?
They acknowledged humans contribute to climate change, and they explored the relationship between business and climate change
130
In 2022, out of 39 climate policies, how many did the US Chamber of Commerce advocate against?
25
131
In 2022, out of 39 climate policies, how many did the US Chamber of Commerce advocate for?
9
132
What are the 2 main political parties in the US?
the Democratic Party and the Republican Party
133
What has the Republican Party branded itself as?
pro-business and anti-government regulation
134
What idea does the Republican Party generally have on climate change?
They have skepticism on climate change and tend to believe climate action will hurt the US economy
135
How is the Democratic Party different from the Republican Party on climate action and government regulation?
The Democratic Party is more supportive of climate action and environmental protection and also favors government regulation, while the Republican Party is typically not supportive of these things
136
In a 2023 poll on whether to promote economic growth or climate action, what responses were received from the Republican Party?
72% supported prioritizing economic growth, while the other 23% supported climate action and 5% were unsure
137
In a 2023 poll on whether to promote economic growth or climate action, what responses were received from the Democratic Party?
80% supported climate action, while 18% were for economic growth and 2% were neutral
138
According to a 2023 study, people of what party are significantly more likely to think that the area they live in has been affected by extreme climate events, like droughts?
the Democratic Party
139
What percent of Democrats believe human activity is causing climate change?
0.93
140
What percent of Republicans believe human activity is causing climate changes?
0.55
141
What is the primary reason for political opposition to climate action?
economic concerns
142
Who was the president from 2017 to 2021?
Donald Trump
143
What US president withdrew from the Paris Agreement?
President Donald Trump
144
When did President Donald Trump withdraw from the Paris Agreement?
2017
145
When was the Paris Agreement created?
2015
146
Why did President Donald Trump withdraw from the Paris Agreement?
because it put the US at a "very big economic disadvantage"
147
Jair Bolsonaro was the president of which country?
Brazil
148
Vladamir Putin is the president of which country?
Russia
149
What major act against climate change occurred under President Jair Bolsonaro's term?
massive deforestation of the Amazon rainforest
150
A 2022 study in the UK found what about British broadcasters and climate science?
Roughly a third of them cast doubt on climate science
151
The new channel Fox News reports from the perspective of what political party?
the Republican Party
152
What did Fox News host Laura Ingraham do when covering smoke from Canadian fires pouring into the US?
She gave airtime to supporters of the oil industry who denied the dangers of smoke
153
What does the UNFCCC stand for?
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
154
At what conference was the UNFCCC established?
the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro
155
Where was the UNFCCC established?
Rio de Janeiro
156
When was the UNFCCC established?
1992
157
The UNFCCC was a catalyst for which environmental policy?
the Kyoto Protocol
158
What organization established the UNFCCC?
the UN
159
When was the Kyoto Protocol drafted?
1997
160
How many nations drafted the Kyoto Protocol in 1997?
37
161
When did the Kyoto Protocol go into effect?
2005
162
What did the Kyoto Protocol do?
It set a target for how much countries should aim to reduce their emissions
163
Collectively, participators of the Kyoto Protocol need to reduce their emissions by how much?
5% from 2008 to 2012, compared to levels in the 1990
164
How many nations agreed upon the Paris Agreement in 2015?
196
165
What is the IPCC's main goal?
To reduce warming by more than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels, and no more than 1.5ºC by 2100
166
The IPCC wants to limit warming to no more than 1.5ºC by the year ________.
2100
167
According to the IPCC, what is needed to achieve their main goal?
cutting emissions by 43% by the year 2030
168
How much does the IPCC want to cut emissions by 2030?
0.43
169
When does the IPCC want to hit a peak in emissions?
2025 or before
170
How close is the world to being on track to meet the 1.5ºC target by 2100?
very far, as of a late 2022 report
171
What 2 lawmakers championed the Green New Deal in 2019?
Ocasio-Cortez from NY and Markey from Massachusetts
172
What was needed to adopt the Green New Deal?
the support of the president, who was at the time Donald Trump
173
What was the significance of the Green New Deal?
It cast a vision for investment in clean energy and green infrastructure while boosting the economy
174
What does the name Green New Deal reference?
the New Deal signed in the 1930s
175
What is the New Deal credited with doing?
Revitalizing the US. economy during the Great Depression
176
Why does the Green New Deal reference the New Deal?
To emphasize that it can boost industries and the economy as a whole
177
Did President Biden adopt the Green New Deal?
No, though he did create a similar plan called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
178
What does IRA stand for?
Inflation Reduction Act
179
What US president signed the IRA?
President Joe Biden
180
When was the IRA signed into law?
August 16, 2022
181
The IRA provided the largest source of government funding for what?
climate-related issues
182
How much money does the IRA put into climate funding?
$369 billion
183
What is geoengineering?
Manipulating the Earth's environment to counteract climate change
184
What is another term for carbon sequestration?
carbon capture
185
What type of engineering is carbon sequestration?
geoengineering
186
What type of engineering is solar radiation management?
geoengineering
187
What is carbon sequestration?
the capture of carbon from the atmosphere and storing it
188
What are the 2 main challenges in carbon sequestration?
capturing the carbon and finding safe storage locations to put it
189
What is solar radiation management?
creating sources that reflect solar energy away from the Earth's surface and oceans
190
What is the main precaution that should be taken with geoengineering?
Manipulating the Earth's environment too much on too large of a scale can be detrimental
191
When did solar and wind produce a record amount of energy?
2022
192
What needs to replace our fossil fuel energy sources to reduce GHG emissions?
renewable energy
193
What percent of global energy did wind and solar produce in 2022?
0.12
194
What state in particular used the IRA to build carbon capture facilities?
Louisiana
195
According to Philosopher Olufemi O. Taiwo, what would the Green New Deal support if enacted?
"climate colonialism"
196
What is climate colonialism?
the process of extracting resources or producing clean energy in less-powerful nations and using those benefits in wealthier nations
197
What does Taiwo say climate justice should involve?
the understanding of the historical legacies that have led to today's global wealth and power disparities
198
Through what policy does the Biden administration attempt to incorporate climate justice?
the Justice40 Initiative
199
The Justice40 Initiative was made under which administration?
the Biden administration
200
What is the Justice40 Initiative?
A policy that sets a goal of 40% of overall benefits from Federal investment in certain areas to be given to underserved communities
201
What categories of investment are covered in the Justice40 Initiative?
climate change, clean energy, energy efficiency, affordable/sustainable housing, clean transit, pollution reduction, and water/wastewater infrastructure
202
How does climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe make a difference in her community?
By communicating the science of climate change to her faith community, Evangelical Christians
203
What is the name of Katherine Hayhoe's faith community?
the Evangelical Christians
204
What does Katherine Hayhoe explain in her TED Talk?
That we can fight climate change by simply talking about it, rather than putting pressure on a few officials
205
When did the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota lead protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline?
2016-2017
206
What group led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016-17?
the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
207
The Dakota Access Pipeline is part of which large pipeline system?
the Keystone Pipeline System
208
The Keystone Pipeline System starts and ends where?
Alberta, Canada to Texas
209
Why did people support the Dakota Access Pipeline?
because of its economic benefits
210
What was the main area of the Dakota Access Pipeline that people protested over?
the area that went under the Missouri River
211
What river is crucial for the drinking water of the Standing Rock Sioux?
the Missouri River
212
Why were people worried about the area of the Dakota Access Pipeline that went under the Missouri River?
because it could contaminate the Standing Rock's drinking water, as well as nearby ecosystems, through spills
213
Were the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline successful?
Yes
214
Why did people protest against building a pipeline that transported fossil fuels from Canada to Texas?
Because it releases GHGs and causes environmental harm
215
Who had to get involved with protests against building a pipeline from Texas to Canada?
law enforcement and government representatives
216
Protesters who protested, vandalized, trespassed, and more committed acts of what?
civil disobedience
217
How did the government and law enforcement get people to stop protesting against building a pipeline from Texas to Canada?
by using force
218
Who ordered the construction of a pipeline from Texas to Canada, despite protests?
President Donald Trump
219
When did President Donald Trump order the construction of a pipeline from Texas to Canada?
early 2017
220
Who led Indigenous communities to protest against the expansion of mining operations in the Munduruku regions of the Amazon by British company Anglo American?
Alessandra Korap Munduruku
221
Where is the company Anglo American from?
Britain
222
What did Anglo American say when Alessandra Munduruku led protests?
They said they weren't going to mine in the area, though it was obvious that they were going to
223
When did Anglo American notify the Brazillian government of their plans to withdraw from the Amazon?
May 2021
224
Alessandra Munduruku's victory against Anglo American in 2021 helped protect what?
400,000 acres of rainforest in the Sawre Muybu Indigenous Territory
225
How many participants are in the Fridays for Future movement?
14 million
226
People from how many cities are in the Fridays for Future movement?
7,500 cities
227
When did the Fridays for Future begin?
2018
228
Who started the Fridays for Future movement?
Greta Thunberg
229
How old was Thunberg when she started Fridays for Future?
15
230
How did Fridays for Future start?
When Greta Thunberg sat outside the Swedish Parliament, and skipped school, for weeks, protesting how the government wasn't doing anything to combat climate change. She eventually gained international attention and started this movement.
231
Thunberg's protest outside the Swedish Parliament is known as what?
a school strike
232
Who is Luisa Neubauer?
a young German climate activist
233
How did Luisa Neubauer help spread awareness of climate change?
She preached a sermon in the Berlin Cathedral and drew on a teaching stating one should not store up Earth's treasures, and gave climate messages as well
234
Where did Luisa Neubauer preach her sermon?
Berlin, Germany, specifically the Berlin Cathedral
235
Where is Luisa Neubauer from?
Germany
236
Where is Vanessa Nakate from?
Uganda
237
How is Vanessa Nakate taking local action within her home country?
With a message that Africans are impacted by climate change and should be engaged in finding solutions
