Exam 14: Global Climate Change

Read the following scenario and answer the question below. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human -produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earthʹs carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the ʺClear Skies Initiative,ʺ were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the ʺClear Lies Initiative,ʺ this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes precluded older power plants from modernizing, seemingly supporting polluting industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and provide subsidies for renewable energy. They favor ʺportfolio standards,ʺ requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and ʺgreen tags,ʺ ʺwind certificates,ʺ and ʺgreen pricingʺ to support the use of alternative fuels. -The United States should enact laws slowing global climate change because ______________.

Hydroelectric power generation ______________.

Use the figure above to answer the following question. -According to the map, the area that will experience the greatest increase in temperatures is ______________.

Carbon dioxide is ______________.

The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because ______________.

The greenhouse effect involves warming of Earthʹs surface and the ______________.

Soot particles (ʺblack carbon aerosolsʺ) generally cause ______________ of Earthʹs atmosphere by ______________ solar energy.

Carbon-based fuels from lithospheric reservoirs ______________.

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following: -By-product of feedlots, chemical manufacturing, and fertilizer use

In the wake of the U.S. failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol ______________.

Tuvalu and the Maldives are in the international spotlight because they ______________.

The Kyoto Protocol is to carbon dioxide as the Montreal Protocol is to ______________.

The Kyoto Protocol ______________.