Exam 3 (week 14 and 15)
How much plastic waste a year do we produce today?
About 300 million tons (close to the equivalent of the entire human population)
What is a carbon sink?
An area that absorbs carbon, such as oceans
By how much has the Earth's average surface temperature risen between 1880 and 2019?
By 1 degree Celsius
By when does China want to achieve carbon neutrality?
By 2060
How can we determine our carbon footprint (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
By measuring our indirect impact of using energy (e.g. energy used to create the things we use or consume) By calculating our direct impact of using energy (e.g. travel or powering our homes)
China ranks as the worst in the world on three of the 16 "Air Quality" variables in the 2022 RCII (both aggregate variables and raw data variables). Select all the variables below where the country ranks last (score of 1).
CO2 Emissions (KT) Methane Emissions (KT of CO2 Equivalent) Nitrous Oxide (KT of CO2 Equivalent)
What do we call the process when governments tax carbon dioxide to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption?
Carbon pricing
As noted in your reading, which of the following had the highest 2018 total carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy?
China
Which of the following countries has the biggest onshore wind farm?
China
Match the following to their current (2018) share in percentage of global total carbon emissions.
China (27%) US (14%) European Union (9.8%)
Which of the following are examples that should inspire hope in our efforts to curb climate change?
Costa Rica's ability to generate over 98% of its electricity from renewable energy sources Iceland's move from fossil fuel dependency to generating almost 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources
What can be done about species extinction (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Fly less Reduce deforestation in the tropics to zero Consume less meat
Which of the following were outcomes of COP26 at Glasgow in November 2021 (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
For first time in any of these meetings, fossil fuels are specifically mentioned in order to address climate change Subsidies for fossil fuels are supposed to be phased out to limit global warming Developed countries have committed themselves towards doubling aid for those states who are most affected by climate change
What is controversial about biomass energy (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Forests might be cut down to make biofuels Transporting biofuels can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions Burning biomass releases carbon dioxide Land that could be used for food production might be used to make biofuels
Who was responsible for crafting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
Governments negotiating in 13 meetings between 2013 and 2014
An inclusive ___________ is one that improves human well-being and builds social equity while reducing environmental risks and scarcities.
Green Economy
What Swedish teenager started striking outside the Swedish parliament in 2018, inspiring others to push for climate action?
Greta Thunberg
The Paris Agreement was successful in as much as it built on commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by, amongst others, both the United States and China. However, it has been criticized for (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Having cuts that don't go deep enough Lacking mandatory cuts in emissions
Which of the following are ways in which climate change is affecting the oceans and ocean life (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Heat and carbon absorption has led to changes in the chemistry of oceans Shells and skeletons of organisms as well as coral reefs are being dissolved by ocean acidification The acidity of oceans has increased by 30% since the industrial revolution Oceans are expanding in size due to the increased temperature of seawater
Which uninhabited island in the South Pacific has been described as having the highest density of plastic waste in the world?
Henderson Island
Match the variable below to its definition. The U.S.'s RCII Rank on these variables is also listed.
Household Air Pollution Attributable Deaths (U.S. is 16th) - Age standardized deaths caused from indoor air pollution, including indoor air pollution-derived cases of influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, H influenzae type B pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia, other lower respiratory infections, trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic and other non-ischemic stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cataracts per 100,000 people. (World Health Organization) Grassland Loss (U.S. is 125th) - Five-year moving average of percentage of gross losses in grassland areas compared to the 1992 reference year. (Yale and Columbia Environmental Performance Index) Wetland Loss (U.S. is 122nd) - Five-year moving average of percentage of gross losses in wetland areas compared to the 1992 reference year. (Yale and Columbia Environmental Performance Index Lead Exposure (U.S. is 29th) - Number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to lead contamination in the environment. (Yale and Columbia Environmental Performance Index)
What are key difficulties of delivering on the hopes attached to the idea of sustainable development?
How to reconcile the fact that tough political decisions over equitable resource allocation need to be made even though policymakers might be distracted by other issues (such as terrorism and war)
Which of the following is the largest source of renewable energy?
Hydroelectricity
As can be seen from the map above, a few countries score very poorly on "Species Conservation," making other countries look good in comparison. Which country ranks first on this variable, and which ranks last?
Iceland, Madagascar
What was the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change activism (select all that apply; there may be one to four possible correct answers)?
In cooperation with several organizations, climate activists created online toolkits for organizing around climate change Stay-at-home orders meant that protest marches had to be called off Climate activists managed to unite in different ways by shifting their organizing to online activism The upward trend of impacting public opinion through school strikes in support of climate action was disrupted
As seen in the bar chart above, when looking at regional averages on overall "Environmental Sustainability," South Asia scores the lowest. Which country in South Asia ranks as the region's worst performer on "Environmental Sustainability" in the 2022 RCII?
India
As can be seen in the table above of "CO2 Emissions (KT)" (one of the variables under "Greenhouse Gas Emissions"), China and the United States rank #126 and #125 (i.e., the worst). Which four countries also rank in the bottom six on "CO2 Emissions (KT)"?
India, Russia, Japan, Germany
By the early 2000, what had happened to our output of plastic waste?
It rose more in a single decade than it had in the previous 40 years
Even though it represented important progress, what was a potential problem of the Copenhagen Accord (2009)?
It was not legally binding
Which of the following were contributing factors to the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011 (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Large numbers of people had to move into already crowded cities The years preceding the civil war had seen a devastating drought The loss of up to 85% of livestock in some areas
Which of the following are examples of how climate change impacts agriculture (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Levels of essential vitamins in crops like wheat, rice, soybeans, and other staple grains are reduced by increased carbon in the atmosphere While some crops may see increases in crop yields, many geographic regions will see yield decreases Regions throughout the world may experience greater food scarcity due to decreased crop yields Increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreases the nutrient yield of important crops
What are megacities?
Metropolitan areas with more than 10 million people
What does "MDGs" stand for?
Millennium Development Goals
In 2015, the UN's ___________________ expired and were replaced by the ____________________.
Millennium Development Goals / Sustainable Development Goals
What percentage of the Earth's warming has been absorbed by oceans?
More than 90%
Africa has many of the countries where significant numbers of people face poor water quality. What are the two non-African countries in the chart above that shows the bottom 10 in "Water Quality"?
Nepal and Laos
Only ten rivers in the world carry more than 90% of the world's plastic waste. Which of the following are among them (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Nile Indus Yangtze Mekong
Match the continents to their 2018 share in percentage of global total carbon emissions, as discussed in the reading.
North America 18% Africa 3.7% Asia 53% Oceana 1.3% South America 3.2% Europe 17%
Which of the following are alternative energy sources (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Ocean or tidal power Wind power Solar Biomass Hydro electricity Geothermal
In the radar chart above, three of the most pivotal countries to global environmental concerns are shown across "Environmental Sustainability" and its three main subdimensions. Match the country to the color. How do you feel about how the U.S. stacks up in general?
Orange- India Green- United States Blue- China
What can we say about the success of the Millennium Development Goals?
Progress was uneven across regions and countries
Which of the following are examples of how the fast fashion industry, one of the world's biggest polluters, harms the planet (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Pushing species to extinction Polluting rivers Destroying habitats
Based on the BBC video, which gives slightly updated numbers than the reading, match the following carbon emissions per person per year to the country.
Qatar (38 tons) US (16 tons) China (7.1 tons_ Congo (0.03 tons) UK (5.5)
How could we counteract the impact of fast fashion (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Recycle our clothes Change our attitudes toward fast fashion Buy quality and consume less
Which of the following are listed as part of the MDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Reduce child mortality Achieve universal primary education Develop a global partnership for development Ensure environmental sustainability Combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases Halving extreme poverty and hunger Promote gender equality and women's empowerment Reduce maternal mortality
Which of the following are benefits of the African "Great Green Wall" (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Reverses desertification Protects against soil erosion Provides employment opportunities for local populations Helps fight the effects of climate change -tree roots hold water in soil Creates jobs-Decreases the temperature
What are the reasons why small island states are particularly concerned with reducing carbon dioxide emissions (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Rising sea levels could make small island states uninhabitable A rise of just a few feet in sea level could flood small island states
Which of the following are examples of regenerative agricultural practices (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Rotational grazing Use of cover crops Use of methods to encourage the soil to store carbon in the ground
Which of the following countries was one of the first to ban plastic bags country-wide?
Rwanda
Which of the following are key areas that need to be integrated to build a truly sustainable way of life (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Social development Economic growth Conservation of natural resources and the environment
Are corporations in the U.S. and around the world stepping up when it comes to "greening" their business practices?
Some are, but much more needs to be done
Sustainable development has been defined as (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Sound environmental planning without sacrificing economic and social improvements Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Protection and conservation of living and nonliving resources Targeting changes in technology to enhance economic growth and development A contradiction in terms since current development practices are inherently unsustainable
What are the main drivers of today's species extinction (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Species exploitation Climate Change Habitat transformation Pollution
What is the main critique that developing states (LDCs) levy against industrial states (MDCs) over global environmental issues (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
That the average person in an industrialized country accounts for significantly more resource consumption than someone in a poorer country That the long history of MDC industrialization processes has been the greatest contributor to global environmental problems
Which UN conference or report first popularized the term "sustainable development"?
The 1987 Brundtland Commission report 'Our Common Future'
The 1997 agreement that contains legally binding emission targets for industrialized countries with respect to key greenhouse gases is:
The Kyoto Protocol
What set the SDGs apart from the MDGs right from the start (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The SDGs are universal in as much as they contain agenda items for both developing and industrialized countries The SDGs represent a much larger agenda In addition to including poverty eradication and sustainable development, the SDGs also include human rights, gender equality, women's and girls' empowerment, and peaceful and inclusive societies
What messages emerge when we look at the COVID-19 pandemic and other crisis through the lens of the SDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The SDGs show we have a starting point for responding to COVID and similar crises It is imperative to provide maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries who are the hardest hit by COVID The Covid crisis demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world's leading economies By implementing the integrated agenda of the SDGs we can build a more inclusive society that addresses inequality, systemic racism, and leaves no one behind We need to learn from the crisis and build back better. We need to focus on the fact that the SDGs are interconnected and addressing a pandemic (SDG 3) requires that we also think about access to clean water (SDG 6) and international cooperation (SDG 17). This moment demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world's leading economies.
What happened to the MDGs in the drafting of the SDGs?
The SDGs updated and enhanced the MDGs in their first six goals and then built on them
According to the UN Environment Programme, what is the reason why an inclusive green economy is a necessary alternative to the current dominant economic model?
The dominant model generates widespread environmental and health risks, encourages wasteful consumption and production, drives ecological and resource scarcities, and results in inequality.
What were the concerns raised with the Kyoto Protocol (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The fact that key developing countries (i.e., China and India) did not participate meaningfully (i.e., didn't face binding emissions targets) The U.S. did not participate
Which of the following are examples of MDG successes (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The maternal mortality ratio declined by 45% worldwide The number of people living in extreme poverty declined substantially Primary school net enrollment increased in developing regions The share of the population in developing regions living on less than $1.25 declined from nearly 50% in 1990 to 14% in 2015
What makes tidal energy projects so attractive to the renewable energy sector?
The predictability of tidal waves allow for precise understanding of how much energy can be generated at any time
What do we know about species extinction (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
There have been five events leading to mass extinction in the history of the earth When a single event leads to a lot of species going extinct at the same time, this is called mass extinction We're now losing species at the fastest rate for millions of years Species extinction is part of the natural process Over the course of 3½ billion years of life on earth, 99% of all species have become extinct
What happens to 60% of all clothing items within one year?
They end up in landfills
What did U.S. President Biden pledge at the 2021 global climate summit?
To cut the US's greenhouse gas emissions in half from 2005 levels by 2030
What was agreed at Rio+20?
To develop action-oriented, global, universally applicable sustainable development goals
Which of the following countries has six of the ten biggest wind farms in the world?
U.S.
Which of the following are actions individuals can take to help achieve the SDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Unplug appliances Ask your local and national authorities to engage in activities that don't harm people or the planet Reduce, reuse, recycle Turn off the lights Don't waste food (buy only what you need, freeze left-overs) Compost any food remains to reduce landfills
Which of the following are reasons for why many environmentalists do not see nuclear energy as a clean alternative energy source (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Uranium mining and extraction, processes necessary for fueling nuclear energy reactors, leave behind contaminated groundwater Nuclear energy generation produces radioactive waste Indigenous communities have suffered disproportionately as uranium mining and extraction has historically been done on indigenous lands
What is "greenwashing"?
When companies use greening initiatives as marketing ploys
Which of the following are examples of how the Agenda 2030 was, in the 2019 words of UN Secretary General Guterres, "coming to life" (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- Extreme poverty and child mortality rates were falling - The private sector came to understand that green business is good business - Access to energy and decent work was increasing
What is the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the SDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- In rich and poor countries alike, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities. - Even where progress towards the SDGs had been recorded, the pandemic wiped these positive developments out in a matter of weeks.
Which of the following are direct drivers of species extinction (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- Land use change - Overexploitation (e.g. overfishing) - Humans' growing appetite for meat and fish
Which of the following are problems associated with megacities (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- Overcrowding - Pollution - Housing shortage - Aging infrastructure (e.g. mass transit and highways)
Which of the following are examples that illustrate the space/time connections behind the concept of sustainable development (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- Pesticide run-off into rivers affects fish stocks down-stream. - Pollution from Canadian factories affects air quality in the U.S. - Pesticides sprayed in Argentina can harm fish stocks off the coast of Australia. - Pollution from Asia affects air quality in North America. - Decisions made by our grandparents on how to farm the land can affect agricultural practices today. Economic policies supported today will have an impact on poverty in the future
How does plastic affect turtles and other marine life (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- Plastic gets into the marine environment and larger pieces get confused with food. - Plastic can break down into tiny little pieces and gets inadvertently ingested. - Plastic straws can become lodged inside turtles or other marine life.
What is required for Agenda 2030 to be fulfilled (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- That people, including youth, civil society, the media, the private sector, unions, academia, and other stakeholders, generate an unstoppable movement pushing for the required transformations. - That global action be taken to secure greater leadership, more resources, and smarter solutions. - That the needed transitions are embedded in the policies, budgets, institutions, and regulatory frameworks of governments, cities, and local authorities.
Which of the following are points of criticism made against the SDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- The goals are presented as if in isolation and this could contribute to missing important connections that undermine the goal of sustainability - The large number of goals makes them too unwieldy to implement or sell to the public - The SDGs are internally inconsistent because they don't acknowledge that global poverty and ecological decline are tied to extreme wealth, inequality, and overconsumption - There are too many goals and targets for them to be effective.
The President of the Republic of Ghana and the Prime Minister of Norway point out (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
- The pandemic has utterly exposed fundamental weaknesses in our global system. - The pandemic has shown beyond doubt how the prevalence of poverty, weak health systems, lack of education, and above all sub-optimal global cooperation, is exacerbating the crisis.
Why is plastic pollution such a big environmental problem (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- There are so many different types of plastic, and it can be hard, or in some cases impossible, to recycle - Forty percent of all plastics are used only once before being discarded - The material lasts much longer than a human lifetime and therefore its impact, too, lasts a lifetime - The fish humans eat has also often eaten plastic - Of the 9 billion tons of plastic produced since 1950, an estimated 60% still exists today -If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050
What benefits can be gained from having green roofs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
- They save millions of gallons of storm water runoff because the water is absorbed by the soil and the plants - They serve as habitats for insects and birds - They reduce the ambient temperature -The reduce buildings energy consumption
Order the following from most to least in terms of their cumulative emissions over the time period 1751-2017.
1 United States 2 European Union 3 China
How many species are at risk of extinction in the next decade?
1 million
How many items of clothing are produced globally each year?
100 billion
While the MDGs included 8 goals and 21 targets, the SDGs include:
17 goals and 169 targets
When did the world's nations come together for the first time in history to address global environmental challenges?
1972, in Stockholm
When was the Kyoto Protocol set to expire?
2012
By 2018, how much of the GLOBAL electricity supply was coming from renewable energy sources?
26%
How much of the world's food is generally wasted?
30%
What percentage of the world's population lives in cities?
50%
According to the UN Environment Programme, how many countries have embarked on a path to an inclusive green economy?
65
As can be seen in the Country Profile drill down above, the United States ranks 79th in "Air Quality," 28th in "Water Quality," and 89th in "Land Quality." Look inside these three subdimensions and select all of the below that are true.
98.26% of Americans have access to sanitation The U.S. ranks next to last in "CO2 Emissions (KT)" 81.84% of Americans have access to sanitation
Who was responsible for crafting the Sustainable Development Goals?
A Group of UN officials who used the Millennium Declaration for guidance
Who are the stakeholders that need to align to convince a company to go green?
A company's management, investors, and consumers
Which of the following are sustainability projects covered in the report on 'The Future of Cities' (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
A floating schoolhouse in Makoko, Nigeria, that allows kids to continue their schooling even during times of flooding A fog catcher to collect water from the air in Peru Water bottles turned into solar lightbulbs in Manila, Philippines Bricks made out of discarded plastic in Karachi, Pakistan An electric rickshaw that residents in Santiago de Chile can ride for free The first smart city, Songdo, South Korea, with highly efficient infrastructure and a waste management system that carries trash and recyclables through underground tunnels to their processing facilities
What are reasons why in 2000 the UN General Assembly adopted the MDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
A growing recognition that the world was failing to reach most of the goals for a more sustainable society Official development assistance from industrialized countries had declined between 1992 and 2000 HIV/AIDS had rolled back life expectancies in some countries Increasing concerns over globalization and emerging issues such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic