Chapter 12 Chapter Quiz
The insulation from global greenhouse gasses is a necessary, good thing. True False
True
Currently the fastest way for developing nations to build up their economies and standard of living is through burning large amounts of fossil fuels. True False
True
Hydro energy is considered renewable energy because it is produced by large bodies of water, and will not be exhausted faster than it is produced. True False
True
Among younger consumers there is a(n) ______ willingness to pay more for green friendly products. ambivalent greater decreasing uneven
greater
What is true about an EMS? An EMS, which is set by local government organizations, informs area employees of relevant environmental regulations. An EMS, which is a conglomeration of organizations, are effective coordinates environmental efforts can be coordinated and therefore more effective. An EMS should put into place to protect a company from liability, so that it can prove that an employee acted against policy if they take actions that would harm the environment. An EMS should be able to provide an employee with sufficient information to give informed guidance regarding environmental performance.
An EMS should be able to provide an employee with sufficient information to give informed guidance regarding environmental performance.
Since it is now cheaper to build renewable energy sources, the majority of energy employees are now engaged in producing renewable energy. True False
False
Which of the following is an example of an eco-efficient business? A construction company that makes sure that all the structures it builds are compliant with local and national legislation. A natural gas supply company that is putting its profits into developing green energy alternatives to fossil fuels. A car manufacturing company that is working to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by reducing surplus energy consumption. A paper mill that is actively suing the local government over environmental regulations.
A car manufacturing company that is working to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by reducing surplus energy consumption.
Leadership around sustainability should come from low level company employees, because sustainability efforts won't be considered credible unless they start on a grassroots level. True False
False
Positive environmental news may raise a company's stock price, but negative environmental news does not harm a company's stock value. True False
False
In order to maintain the climate that we currently experience, CO2 levels need to be ______. maintained at 25 ppm above current levels reduced below current levels kept at their current levels kept from increasing more than 50 ppm above current levels
reduced below current levels
In addition to having environmental benefits, building or remodeling using LEED certification is likely to improve employee morale and the standing of the business responsible for the construction in the local community. True False
True
What is one significant difference between the Kyoto protocol and the Paris agreement? The Kyoto protocol proposed to limit the global temperature increase to below 2, but the Paris agreement set the more ambitious goal of limiting it to 1.5. The Kyoto protocol was interested in bringing CO2 levels back to the level they were at in 2000, but the Paris agreement proposed instead bringing them back to 2015 levels. The Kyoto protocol allowed countries to set their own goals, whereas the Paris agreement assigned goals to the countries in question. The Kyoto protocol trusted the expertise of the IPCC but the Paris agreement replaced the IPCC findings with the IPNC report.
The Kyoto protocol proposed to limit the global temperature increase to below 2, but the Paris agreement set the more ambitious goal of limiting it to 1.5.
Climate change refers to a change in local temperature, so in each individual part of the world climate change means that temperatures will rise year after year. True False
False
Project Drawdown develops new, innovative green technologies that can help combat climate change in the future. True False
False
If a science-based firm is replacing older vehicles so that all of their vehicles are either electric or hybrid within 5 years, which scope of the 2015 Paris Agreement would this fall under? Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3 Scope 4
Scope 1
Investing in green technology is actually investing in your company's future. True False
True
Republicans are opposed to measures to address climate change and Democrats are in favor of them. True False
False
If your branch manager came to you and said that they were planning on implementing new green practices, which of the following options would be your best suggestion(s) based on the information in this section? Look up the local and national environmental regulations to see if your branch is meeting those, and if not make changes so that your branch is in compliance. Your manager should begin gathering sustainability data to determine the best changes to make, and make a small change like installing efficient light bulbs. Change over any company cars to electric cars and offer employees a bonus if they purchase an electric car. Switch the branch over to using all renewable energy sources, install solar panels on the roof, offer perks to employees who bike to work, and hire a PR firm to make these changes public.
Your manager should begin gathering sustainability data to determine the best changes to make, and make a small change like installing efficient light bulbs.
A company truly committed to green practices will ______. make sure to adhere to compliance standards regarding climate change regulations commit to sustainable practices beyond what is required ensure that it has as much positive press around sustainability as possible install as many solar panels on buildings as they can
commit to sustainable practices beyond what is required
If a company is among the most rated highly in the SRI market, which of the following categories would it likely fit into? eco-efficient eco-advantage eco-resistant eco-compliant
eco-advantage
The primary ethical question surrounding discussions around climate change is ______. how self-actualization that can be achieved within the constraints imposed by climate change fulfilling the categorical imperative by determining how to make a universifiable rule regarding a response to climate change how to fairly allocate the expenses associated with addressing climate change whether it is worth combatting climate change, or if it would be better to just continue with business as usual
how to fairly allocate the expenses associated with addressing climate change
Recent studies show that companies that publicly participate in sustainable business practices have ______. fallen behind competitors who continued to benefit from business as usual practices wasted money that could have gone towards dividends or other practices that would please their stockholders been criticized by climate activists for not doing enough, which ultimately hurt their national and global brand increased their stock value because of investor enthusiasm
increased their stock value because of investor enthusiasm
Right now, as green technologies are being researched, companies who make use of them will ______. almost certainly save money and therefore be able to beat out competitors often save money, but there are instances when risks outweigh rewards often lose money, but will be behaving ethically in the global marketplace lose money in the short term, but will benefit from long term sustainability
often save money, but there are instances when risks outweigh rewards
You are put in charge of a committee at your business that is tasked with writing a report outlining to the board of directors why it would be in your businesses best interest to help to combat the effects of climate change. Which of the following options summarizes the best case that you could make that is substantiated by the data provided in this chapter? Climate change poses real risks to the ability to do business in the future, from destabilizing governments to worsening natural disasters, and will likely cost your company money. Climate change poses an existential threat to humanity, therefore all available resources should be used to combat it. Businesses who contribute to climate change can experience some negative publicity, therefore your business should take measures to combat it. Governmental regulations will likely be coming in the future that mandate certain business policies addressing climate change,
Climate change poses real risks to the ability to do business in the future, from destabilizing governments to worsening natural disasters, and will likely cost your company money.
What is an environmental refugee? People who are seeking nice places to live in relatively uninhabited areas. Someone who must leave their home because their government has toppled due to an inability to deal with climate change's effects. People who are seeking employment in another country after they were laid off from their previous job due to effects of climate change. A person or group of people seeking refuge in another country because of governmental persecution.
Someone who must leave their home because their government has toppled due to an inability to deal with climate change's effects.
Based on the fact that the Kyoto protocol was not binding on developing nations, but was binding on developed nations, what is a reasonable inference regarding the notion of fairness that governed the reasoning behind the Kyoto protocol? Developed nations, who caused the majority of CO2 pollution, should be the most responsible for bearing the economic burden of addressing climate change. Developed nations are richer, therefore they should have to pay the costs associated with climate change. Developed nations are older countries, who therefore have a greater stake in addressing climate change and maintaining their legacy. Developed nations have more infrastructure than non-developed nations, so developed nations need to be trusted with the leadership of addressing climate change.
Developed nations, who caused the majority of CO2 pollution, should be the most responsible for bearing the economic burden of addressing climate change.
What is the advantage of an energy use per revenue dollar measure rather than merely measuring the gross amount of energy usage within a company? Using the energy use per revenue dollar factors in whether a company is creating jobs and wealth, which should reduce their required environmental stewardship. Measuring only the gross amount of energy usage is unfair to large companies who are being compared to small companies. Energy use per revenue dollar takes into account whether a company is growing or shrinking. If a gross amount of energy measure is used, it is not clear which parts of an organization are wasting energy, but energy use per revenue dollar gives that level of specificity.
Energy use per revenue dollar takes into account whether a company is growing or shrinking.
If you were tasked with designing a circular economy, what steps would need to be in place to make that a reality? Ensure that products were designed so that they or their parts could be re-used or re-sold, and find organizations with different inputs that matched the waste of other organizations. Build a world-wide production line so that the different stages of production all occurred at the place in the globe where that production process is the most efficient. Study the local rain cycles and ecosystems to ensure business models don't disrupt natural cycles, and to rectify any existing disruptions. Fund extensive research to determine the global effects of business practices in order to ensure that no part of the business model or production processes causes harm.
Ensure that products were designed so that they or their parts could be re-used or re-sold, and find organizations with different inputs that matched the waste of other organizations.
What conclusion would be reasonable to draw about an organization if they did not have an EMS in place? It is likely that the organization's green efforts are not well coordinated, and that they are vulnerable to environmental risk. The organization has been managing environmental risk so long, and done such a good job educating employees, that keeping an EMS is no longer necessary. It is reasonable to conclude that this organization does not face environmental risks, and therefore an EMS is not required. The organization probably exists in an area where an EMS is not required by environmental legislation.
It is likely that the organization's green efforts are not well coordinated, and that they are vulnerable to environmental risk.
Why is it important that the "green team" is made up of primarily, if not exclusively, employees that are go-getters if a company wants to be an eco-friendly organization? Go-getters are the most motivated and go above and beyond what is required of them, and if a company wants to display genuine commitment to sustainability they need to go above and beyond what is required. Go-getters do not require much managerial oversight, which is good because managers should not spend too much of their time overseeing green efforts within the company. Go-getters work well individually, but putting them on the "green team" together will force them to learn to work well in a group setting. Go-getters are employees that are exceptionally good at following regulations and that is what is required in a "green team."
Go-getters are the most motivated and go above and beyond what is required of them, and if a company wants to display genuine commitment to sustainability they need to go above and beyond what is required.
Which is the best summary of why the correlation between global temperature rise and carbon dioxide emissions presents compelling evidence for human influence on climate change? Humans increased use of fossil fuels after the Industrial Revolution, this caused an increase in emissions of carbon dioxide. The increased emissions of CO2 related to use of fossil fuels has contributed to increased global temperatures year after year. Since humans have stopped emitting carbon dioxide pollution into the atmosphere, global temperature has ceased rising. After global temperatures had started rising humans began emitting more carbon dioxide, and the lines of increase look similar to each other. In small towns where there are fewer carbon dioxide emissions the local temperature has risen less than in large cities.
Humans increased use of fossil fuels after the Industrial Revolution, this caused an increase in emissions of carbon dioxide. The increased emissions of CO2 related to use of fossil fuels has contributed to increased global temperatures year after year.
If you were running a company in a country that had an emissions trading system or "cap and trade" system in place, based on this system how might you be able to justify the additional costs of installing green technology in your factories to your shareholders? Given the existence of the emissions trading system, one could better justify spending money on green technology because under such a system one could more easily convince top talent to come work for my company if green technology is in place. If you install green technologies in your factories, you would either be able to purchase fewer CO2 offsets from other companies or, even better, sell your unused CO2 allotment to other companies to make additional money. Under a cap and trade system, CO2 emissions are able to be commodified, captured, and then put to additional use. Installing green technology would allow your company to use more of its CO2 to functiona
If you install green technologies in your factories, you would either be able to purchase fewer CO2 offsets from other companies or, even better, sell your unused CO2 allotment to other companies to make additional money.
Which is true about the Dow Jones Sustainability Index? It tracks environmental regulations at the local, national, and international levels and evaluates how well companies are adhering to these regulations. It is the companion organization to the Fortune 500 Sustainability Index, which together promote recycling and other cost saving measures among top companies. It rates a body of companies known for sustainability using a triple bottom line approach. It measures the CO2 pollution and issues guidance to top polluters on the Dow Jones.
It rates a body of companies known for sustainability using a triple bottom line approach.
Which most closely encompasses what will likely result if nothing is done to curb climate change? Climate change will lead to a new ice age that will sweep across much of the northern hemisphere leading to widespread devastation. Given the information we have collected since 1880, it is likely that the earth's atmosphere will self-correct after a brief but tumultuous adjustment period. Business as usual will continue, but companies will need to purchase more liability insurance to account for a riskier business climate. Natural disasters will increase in intensity, and many additional people will be displaced from their homes in coastal areas.
Natural disasters will increase in intensity, and many additional people will be displaced from their homes in coastal areas.
How is a triple bottom line approach used to evaluate the SRI market? The SRI market focuses on sustainable success, and is evaluated by considering a company's economic, social, and environmental practices. The SRI market values efficient compliance with regulations, so any company that can meet but not exceed environmental regulations would likely do well on the SRI market. The SRI market promotes long term growth of companies, and evaluates companies based on the health of their investments, their employee morale, and cash on hand. The SRI market is concerned about green technology innovation, including evaluating how cheap it is to produce and how much CO2 emissions it can reasonably be expected to reduce.
The SRI market focuses on sustainable success, and is evaluated by considering a company's economic, social, and environmental practices.
What is the relationship between cradle-to-cradle products and sustainability? They energy star certifications, as well as not producing any toxic byproducts during manufacturing. They are designed to be safe to use for young children up through elderly people, and this inclusive design means that the product is also highly sustainable. They are intended to not produce waste, which means that the product contributes minimally to pollution and powers other products. They are designed to be passed down from generation to generation. Since they do not need to be replaced, they ultimately save much waste.
They are intended to not produce waste, which means that the product contributes minimally to pollution and powers other products.
What is the purpose of a historical benchmark in creating a sustainability plan for an organization? They tell an organization where their practices are most in need of improvement and provide a way of measuring if progress has been made in the future. They provide a way of understanding how climate change has impacted an organization in the past and how it likely will do so in the future. They create goals for an organization and inform them how to best form their "green team" on sustainability. They are an issue of transparency with employees and the public so that a company can be held accountable by critics if it fails to live up to its promises.
They tell an organization where their practices are most in need of improvement and provide a way of measuring if progress has been made in the future.
