Quiz Questions
According to Hardin (1968), individuals are compelled to pursue their own narrow self-interest in a society that values the ________ of the commons. A) Freedom B) Tragedy C) Control
A) Freedom
Protection of the environment is ________________ for achieving the goal of improving inclusive well being A) Necessary B) Sufficient C) Superfluous D) Resistant E) Resilient
A) Necessary
According to Matson et al, which of the following assets is not part of the determinants of human well being: A)Financial capital B)Social capital C)Manufactured capital D)Human capital E)Knowledge capital
A)Financial capital
A system is defined as a bounded area with a set of components that are... A)...working together for the common good B)...connected and are interacting with each other C)...constituents of human well being D)...affecting the system's capital assets E)...always in perfect equilibrium
B)...connected and are interacting with each other
According to Hardin, there is no technical solution that can rescue us from the consequences of ____________. A)Global inequalities B)Overpopulation C)Economic recession
B)Overpopulation
According to the Matson et al, effective environmental policy is not likely without realistic goals, adequate resources, and ________. A)Strong government leaders B)governance structures C)educated public D)All of the above E)None of the above
B)governance structures
There is one factor in Diamond's framework that he believes is always a significant driver of a society's ecological collapse. Which one? A) Climate change B) Environmental damage C) A society's response to environmental problems D) Hostile neighbors E) None of the above
C) A society's response to environmental problems!
Diamond identified eight ways in which past societies undermined their environmental resources (which ultimately led to the collapse of those societies). Which of these was not part of the eight: A) Deforestation B) Overfishing C) Pollution D) Invasive species E) Soil problems
C) Pollution!
Which Nobel prize-winning economist proposed that humans are "agents of change who can—given the opportunity—think, assess, evaluate, resolve, inspire, agitate, and, through these means, reshape the world"? A)Elinor Ostrom B)Robert Nash C)Amartya Sen D)Kenneth Arrow E)Douglas North
C)Amartya Sen
The "behavioral wedge" is the GHG emission reduction that is made possible through changes in the way people A)Adopt and use household appliances B)Choose to travel C)Both of the above D)None of the above
C)Both of the above
To address global environmental problems, the combination of first ______ , then protocol, which was first proposed for the control of CFCs, has become the norm in international environmental treaties.: A)Ballot B)Treaty C)Convention D)Conference of the Parties E)Initiative
C)Convention The "Convention Protocol Format" where general principles are agreed to and then followed by more specific regulations. Which is why it is now the gold standard for international treaties!
For self-governance of irrigation systems to be effective, external organizations _____________. A)Regulate how much water each farmer can use B)Maintain the canals C)Facilitate the provision of scientific knowledge to inform farmer decisions D)All of the above
C)Facilitate the provision of scientific knowledge to inform farmer decisions
Why is a systems approach productive in analyzing environmental policy? A)It is more straightforward and cost effective B)It produces simpler and more actionable solutions C)It is more holistic and more realistic in its assessing policy outcomes D)All of the above
C)It is more holistic and more realistic in its assessing policy outcomes
Why is a systems approach productive in analyzing environmental policy? A)It is more straightforward and cost effective B)It produces simpler and more actionable solutions C)It is more holistic and more realistic in its assessing policy outcomes (just like the PES program) D)All of the above
C)It is more holistic and more realistic in its assessing policy outcomes (just like the PES program)
The methodological approach used by Diamond (2005) is: A. Historical narration analysis B. Backward induction method C. Comparative method D. Database analysis E. Statistical approach
C. Comparative method
One of the advantages of the behavioral interventions targeting household to reduce GHG interventions is that A)They don't necessarily require lengthy legislative processes B)They typically don't require and funding C)They eliminate the need for costly monitoring D)All of the above
D) All of the above
According to Diamond, a nation's likelihood to ecological collapse depends on several factors, including which one(s).... A) Friendly trade partners B) Hostile neighbors C) Climate change D) All of the above
D) All of the above! There are 5 factors that contribute to environmental collapse: -Environmental Damage -Climate Change -Society's response to environmental problems -Hostile Neighbors -Friendly Trade Partners
According to Ostrom, the main problem with Hardin (1968) is his discussion of: A) Decision traps B) Population data C) Individual self-interest D) Appropriate solutions E) None of the above
D) Appropriate solutions
According to OCF, what is primarily needed in order to achieve more sustainable development? A) More specialized knowledge about the environment B) More in-depth research on economic growth C) More money D) Better integration of environmental issues into the political decision-making process
D) Better integration of environmental issues into the political decision-making process
According to Matson et al, the capital assets are important to sustainability because they represent A)"fuel in the tank" that powers development B)determinants of human well being C)necessary ingredients for achieving sustainability D)All of above
D)All of above
An externality is A)A spillover effect B)When a third party is affected by a transaction C)Either positive or negative D)All of the above E)None of the above
D)All of the above
The SES framework in Matson et al: A)Is conceptual rather than quantitative B)Shows how wellbeing is a function of many factors C)Can help us understand how sustainable a system is D)All of the above E)None of the above
D)All of the above
Social capital is: A)The glue that holds societies together B)The collective capacity of the members in society to work together C)The institutions and trust that shape human interactions D)All of the above
D)All of the above (social capital = the glue that holds societies together, (government, policy and rules in society)
An ant colony is an example of a... A)Social-economic system B)Punctuated equilibrium system C)Perfect equilibrium system D)Complex adaptive system E)Hierarchical interactive system
D)Complex adaptive system
According to Hardin, to overcome the tragedy of the commons requires: A)Government regulation B)Privatization C)There is no solution D)Either a) or b) E)Both a) and b) at the same time
D)Either a) or b)
Dietz et al (2009) argue that by targeting behavior at the ____________ level, cost-effective GHG emission reductions can be achieved. A)Global B)Municipal C)Intergovernmental D)Household E)Individual
D)Household
A policy analysis that takes into account the plasticity of behavioral change assumes that A)Most people use way too much petroleum-based plastic B)Behavioral change is the best option to reduce GHG emissions C)GHG emissions will keep increasing as long as no alternatives to fossil fuels exist D)Not everyone will change their behavior as a result of the policy E)All of the above
D)Not everyone will change their behavior as a result of the policy Plasticity = the quality of being easily shaped or molded.
Which of the following environmental policy issues is a major focus in the Brundtland Report? A. Adaptation to climate change B. Urban slums C. How to promote green growth D. All of the Above
D. All of the above!
If we, as citizens of the global community, consumed natural resources at a rate that was sustainable, Earth Overshoot Day would occur on....
December 31st
What is environmental policy? A)Federal government rules about environmental protection B)International treaties that lay down rules and principles about natural resource use C)University rules and regulations about how we ought to interact with the natural environment D)Land-use ordinances issued by the City of Boulder to limit urban sprawl E)All of the above
E) All of the above! Environmental Policy is institutions with rules that set up relationships between humans and the environment.
Bjorn Lomborg argues that... A) Climate change ought to be #1 priority for the global community to address B) When comparing the net benefits of reducing GHG emissions to other possible interventions, GHG reductions are the most important C) Economists are not good at guiding policy making and setting priorities D) All of the above E) None of the above
E) None of the Above! Lomborg's argument: Says we should solve problems that are more cost effective and quantifiable first. His list included: ( Climate Change is a long term problem that needs to be fixed) 1. HIV/Aids 2. Malnutrition 3. Free Trade
The most effective interventions to reduce GHG emissions in the US A)Provide new information B)Use persuasive appeals C)Offer incentives D)Use social networks E)Combine all of the above
E)Combine all of the above Best way to reduce emission is a combo of: appeals, information, incentives, and social influence
Feedbacks, invisibilities, lag times, tipping points and regime shifts are key characteristics of A)Resilient systems B)Points of attraction C)Equilibrium models D)Institutional frameworks E)Complex adaptive systems
E)Complex adaptive systems
Social Capital is A)Different from other capitals in that you lose it if you don't use it B)How much people in a society owe to the social system C)Encompassing of governance arrangements D)All of the above E)Only a and c
E)Only a and c
________is a constituent of wellbeing that has implications for experiencing real freedom or the capacity to pursue an unrestricted range of choices in life given one's personal capabilities. A)Social capital B)Democracy C)Financial Capital D)Rules in use E)Opportunity
E)Opportunity
Our discussion of PES focuses on: A)Pro Evolution Soccer B)Powerful E-commerce Systems C)Pro Environmental Systems D)Power and Energy Society E)Payment for Environmental Services
E)Payment for Environmental Services
According to Hardin (1968), if a herdsman adds an additional animal to his herd, the impacts of additional overgrazing affect only the herdsman himself. True or False?
False!
Diamond argues that people in the past behaved in fundamentally different ways in their relationship to natural resources compared to modern man... True or False?
False!
Diamond believes that we should treat indigenous tribes with ancient legacies (like the Maya and the Norse people) with utmost respect because these ethnic groups lived in harmony with nature. True False
False!
In Matson et al., the authors' perspective on sustainability is primarily about the environmental conservation. True or False?
False!
Life expectancies have risen in the past hundred years overall and have become very even amongst different regions of the World. True False
False!
True or False: The only thing left we need to do to achieve rapid progress in sustainability is the creation of new knowledge and innovation.
False!
True or False: Certification of timber in Brazil is a big deal for sustainability because most of the deforestation there is caused by bad logging practices.
False!
True or False: Extending individual private ownership over a common pool resource is an assured method for long-term sustainability.
False!
Dietz et al (2009) argue that cap-and-trade programs represent a promising policy approach for reducing GHG emissions, especially in the short term. True False
False! -Cap and Trade takes a long time! Not short term!
According to OCF, economic development will always have a negative impact on the environment and that is why we need strict environmental policies to protect the environment:
False! Economic growth can lead to a reduction in poverty, equal opportunities for all, and generate economic foundations for overall well being.
True or False: According to Ostrom (2008), the advocacy by government officials and policy analysts for one-size-fits-all policies to regulate the commons has been key to developing effective solutions.
False! She doesn't believe in simple solutions!
The Brundtland Report (OCF) describes "sustainable development" as a fixed state of social and ecological interactions.
False! Sustainable development according to OCF is meeting the needs or current generation without compromising future generations.
True or False: An example of sustainability science and action is when conservation NGO acquire land that they close off for human use in order to conserve species and prevent ecosystem degradation.
False?
Diamond's visit to the two farms (Huls and Gardar) led him to conclude that even the poorest and least advanced societies face growing environmental and economic problems. True or False?
True!
In order to meet the sustainability challenge, we need to be clear about our goals as well as our measurements to determine whether we are meeting those goals. True False
True!
One of the key factors in the success of the Montreal Protocol was the role scientists played in helping policy makers. True False
True!
Sustainability is the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same True False
True!
The interconnectedness of modern society makes it less able to "collapse in isolation" and puts us at risk of a global decline. True or False?
True!
True or False: According to Kenney (2005), in the arid West there is increasing competition for water between agricultural interests on the one hand and urban water users on the other (for energy generation and household use).
True!
True or False: According to Ostrom (2008), Hardin (1968) correctly pointed out that valuable open-access common pool resources are susceptible to overharvesting, but his conclusion of an inevitable tragedy was too sweeping.
True!
True or False: One reason for farmers to try to get certified is that they may increase the efficiency of their farm operations
True!
True or False: The greatest opportunities for innovation and progress in transitioning to sustainability stem from interaction among diverse communities of people and professions.
True!
True or False: The prior appropriation system of water rights can be summarized by the phrase, "First in time, first in right."
True!
True or False: Without any sort of governance, uncoordinated human behavior will continue to degrade the environment it depends on.
True!
True or False: Public policies are an example of formal rules.
True! Formal rules are anything that constrains behavior and interactions between people
2) The best way(s) to overcome divergence and separation between knowledge users and producers is through ________. a. Collaborative knowledge production b. Closed discussion c. Basic research d. Applied research
a. Collaborative knowledge production
Prior appropriation is a rule system designed to achieve a. Economic use of water b. Fair and Equitable sharing of water c. Sustainable use d. Democratic participation e. All of the above
a. Economic use of water
The degree to which meat and soy certification achieve environmental sustainability depends on a. How many consumers choose certified products b. How much extra the consumers have to pay for the certified products c. Whether the firms also follow organic farming practices d. Whether the products respect the rules of fair trade e. All of the above
a. How many consumers choose certified products
Which of the following is one of the reasons the governance surrounding the "Great Stink" in London was such an important innovation? a. It brought local authorities together b. The sewers solved the problem of water and waste disposal c. both a and b d. none of the above
a. It brought local authorities together
One of the challenges for certification is that a. It is expensive for poor farmers to get certified b. Third party monitors are easily bribed c. Standards are rarely followed by companies d. Firms may be compliant but often break government regulation e. All of the above
a. It is expensive for poor farmers to get certified
3) Which of the following factors is related primarily to how knowledge users perceive the intentions of the researchers? a. Legitimacy b. Relevance c. Salience d. Credibility
a. Legitimacy
The farmers of San Luis Valley decided to work together to reduce their withdrawals from their shared aquifer because a. The threat of the State government shutting down wells b. Price of electricity had increased dramatically c. Price of potatoes had gone up d. Rains had returned to the valley e. All of the above
a. The threat of the State government shutting down wells
Current trends in _________ amplify the inequalities between the world's wealthiest and poorest populations. a. consumption b. social capital c. policies d. all of the above e. none of the above
a. consumption
Today's actions to limit GHG emissions will have an impact on the climate only several decades from now, because... a. greenhouse gases that are emitted today will remain in the atmosphere for decades; b. the atmosphere lag behind the oceans in warming, c. new energy infrastructure will not be enough to reduce emissions significantly d. All of the above e. None of the above
a. greenhouse gases that are emitted today will remain in the atmosphere for decades;
According to Ostrom and her discussion of open-ocean fisheries, what is one of the basic problems she identifies that leads to to massive overfishing? a. lack of effective property rights b. extensive privatization c. government regulation d. all of the above e. none of the above
a. lack of effective property rights
1) Which of the following 19th century scientists motivated the notion of use-inspired research, which defines the field of sustainability science? a. Charles Darwin b. Louis Pasteur c. Marie Curie d. Michel Foucault e. Karl Marx
b. Louis Pasteur
In the San Luis Valley (SLV), what was the main factor that caused a rapid decrease in groundwater availability after the 2002 drought? a. Another drought b. Uncoordinated pumping c. Climate change
b. Uncoordinated pumping
According to the SES framework, human well-being results from _______________ processes that are made possible by the goods and services produced from the capital assets. a. governance b. consumption c. ecological d. production e. productive base
b. consumption
In the irrigation systems of Nepal, the outside organizations help the systems evolve to meet the needs of the farmers, while the ________ have the knowledge of the past interventions that have failed and those that have worked. a. government b. farmers c. NGOs d. Military e. church
b. farmers
According to Matson et al, what is the process called that creates and enforces rules (policy), which can motivate individuals to address collective action problems and externalities. a. social-environmental design b. governance c. institutional arrangements d. none of the above
b. governance
According to a system analysis by FAO (2011) if the global population stopped eating beef, greenhouse gas emissions would decrease by ____________. a. > 6% b. 6% c. < 6%
c. < 6% Because... people would just shift to a different type of meat such a chicken which still has a significant amount of emissions and farmers will begin to farm something else then too. the net reduction of emissions is 3-4% at the most, that's the real number. (less than 6 percent)
The depletion of the ozone layer represents what kind of a problem? a. social b. environmental c. Both of the above d. none of the above
c. Both of the above
Farmers who pump water from an unregulated aquifer face incentives similar to actors involved in providing or protecting a. Public goods b. Club goods c. Common pool resources d. Private goods problem
c. Common pool resources
Certification falls into which category of environmental policy instruments? a. Command and control b. Incentive c. Voluntary program d. Market-based e. Consumer-based
c. Voluntary program
According to the authors, what type(s) of evaluation should scientists working on sustainable development carry out? a. evaluation of past performances b. evaluation of future options c. both a and b d. none of the above
c. both a and b
Which of the following is NOT an example of knowledge capital? a. access to education b. entrepreneurship c. corruption d. funding for education e. patents
c. corruption
An engineer constructing an irrigation scheme without taking local knowledge into account represents what type(s) of collective action problem: Need to know definition of each! a. information problem- They did not take into account local knowledge! b. power asymmetries c. motivational problems d. all of the above
c. motivational problems
4) Research that facilitates interaction between new knowledge and problem solving is: a. basic research b. applied research c. use-inspired research d. "soaking and poking"
c. use-inspired research
Agricultural systems in the Western US are different from systems in the Eastern US in that Western systems rely to a greater degree on a. Snowmelt b. Groundwater c. Irrigation canals d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Once a company is certified, compliance with the standards of the program are a. Mandatory b. Monitored by a third party c. Enforced by the certifying organization (e.g. FSC) d. All of the above
d. All of the above
The difference between human capital and knowledge capital is that: a. What people know is part of knowledge capital but not human capital b. How many people are literate is part of human capital but not knowledge capital c. Human capital is about the characteristics of the population while knowledge capital is about what the population knows d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Kenney (2005) attributes several environmental problems related to water management in Colorado, including fish species extinctions and elimination of wetlands, to: a. Federal environmental policy b. Unrestrained farming practices c. Urban sprawl on the Front Range d. Prior Appropriation Doctrine e. Non-point source of pollution
d. Prior Appropriation Doctrine
According to Matson et al, which of the following is NOT a stated characteristic of successful efforts to link knowledge with action? a. Political efforts b. Boundary efforts c. Adaptive efforts d. Social-science efforts e. Collaborative efforts
d. Social-science efforts
3) New knowledge is most likely to be trusted and acted upon by users when it and the processes that produced it are perceived as being a. salient b. credible c. legitimate d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Social-environmental systems are complex and characterized by ________________. a. feedback loops b. trade-offs c. nonlinearities d. all of the above e. a. and b. only
d. all of the above
The behavioral approach to climate policy analysis is different from approaches grounded in economics or engineering in that it addresses A)Plasticity of adoption B)Elasticity of demand C)Resilience of the system D)Environmental policy drivers E)All of the above
A)Plasticity of adoption
One of the central aspects of the institutional approach to public policy is... A) Tradable allowances B) Rules actually followed C) Command and control D) Voluntary agreements
B) Rules actually followed
According to the reading, what does SES mean? A)Socio-Ecological Synthesis B)Socio Economic Status C)Social-Environmental Systems D)Socio Economic Security
C)Social-Environmental Systems
The most effective interventions to alter behavior use A)Appeals and information B)Financial incentives C)Informal social influences D)Ways of reducing transaction costs E)All of the above
E)All of the above
According to Matson et al., if inclusive well-being does not decline over generations, development is considered sustainable. True False
True!
True or False: The greatest opportunities for innovation and progress in transitioning to sustainability stem from interaction among communities.
True!
True or False: According to Rosenbaum 2013, the public health impact of fracking remains unproven.
True!
True or False: Compared to coal, "fracked" shale gas produces less GHG emissions when burned.
True!
True or False: Non-point source pollution is the most important cause of surface water pollution in the United States today.
True!
True or False: According to the Brundtland report (Our Common Future), sustainable development means meeting the needs of current residents of planet earth without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
True!
The Clean Air and Clean Water Acts represent mainly which type of environmental policy instrument? a. Command and control b. Market-based c. Voluntary d. Involuntary initiative e. Hybrid
a. Command and control
Sustainability leaders that are system thinkers are more effective because a system approach is a. more holistic and realistic b. simpler and cheaper c. messy and complex d. full of unintended consequences e. all of the above
a. more holistic and realistic
In which decade were most of current federal environmental policies established? a. 1960s b. 1970s c. 1980s d.1990s e. 2000s
b. 1970s
The two institutional arrangements that determine how Colorado water is allocated are Prior Appropriation and a. Intergovernmental panel on climate change b. Interstate compacts c. State government water policy d. Intermunicipal water transfer e. Water trusts
b. Interstate compacts
Which of the following 19th century scientists motivated the notion of use-inspired research, which defines the field of sustainability science? a. Charles Darwin b. Louis Pasteur c. Marie Curie d. Michel Foucault e. Karl Marx
b. Louis Pasteur
The primary responsibility for monitoring and enforcing the Clean Air Act rests with a. The federal government b. The EPA c. State and local governments d. Department of the Interior e. Department of Justice
b. The EPA
Research that facilitates interaction between new knowledge and problem solving is: a. basic research b. applied research c. use-inspired research d. "soaking and poking"
c. use-inspired research
The National Academy of Sciences concluded that fracking is ______________ than conventional oil drilling. a. More expensive b. More damaging to the environment c.More energy consuming d. All of the above
c.More energy consuming
According to Rosenbaum (2013) one of the most serious issues when it comes to addressing environmental problems in the United States today is: a. Overconsumption b. Climate Change c. inequality d. Toxic Waste e. Lack of environmental data
e. Lack of environmental data
According to Rosenbaum (2013), in the last 30 years we have seen increased air pollution in the U.S., particularly when it comes to a. Particulates b. Carbon monoxide c. Nitrogen oxides d. All of the above e. None of the above
e. None of the above
The introduction of a pumping fee in sub-district 1 in San Luis Valley is an example of a. a tragedy of the commons b. prisoners' dilemma c. integrated pest management d. the Clean Water Act at work e. self-governance
e. self-governance