Question 1

Describe and discuss some ambiguities in the evidence regarding climate change.What effect does this have on our ability to set policy?

Accepted Answer

There are several ambiguities in the evidence regarding climate change that make it difficult to set policy. One ambiguity is the uncertainty surrounding the exact extent and impact of climate change. While there is overwhelming evidence that the Earth's climate is warming, there is still debate about the specific consequences and timelines for these changes. This uncertainty makes it challenging to develop effective policies that address the potential impacts of climate change.

Another ambiguity is the role of human activity in driving climate change. While the majority of scientists agree that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are contributing to climate change, there are still skeptics who argue that natural climate variability is the primary driver. This ambiguity can lead to conflicting policy recommendations and hinder efforts to implement comprehensive strategies to mitigate climate change.

Additionally, there is ambiguity surrounding the effectiveness of different policy approaches to address climate change. There are debates about the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This ambiguity can lead to disagreements about the best course of action and make it challenging to develop consensus-based policies.

The presence of these ambiguities in the evidence regarding climate change can have a significant impact on our ability to set policy. It can lead to political gridlock, as policymakers struggle to agree on the best course of action. It can also result in delayed or inadequate policy responses, as decision-makers may be hesitant to take action in the face of uncertainty. Furthermore, it can lead to inconsistent and fragmented policies at the national and international levels, which can undermine the effectiveness of efforts to address climate change.

In order to address these ambiguities and improve our ability to set policy, it is important to continue investing in scientific research to better understand the complexities of climate change. It is also crucial to promote open and transparent discussions about the uncertainties and trade-offs involved in climate policy, and to work towards building consensus among diverse stakeholders. By acknowledging and addressing these ambiguities, we can develop more robust and effective policies to address the challenges of climate change.

Question 2

The strong positive correlation between atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and fluctuations in the earth's mean temperature is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

One drawback to carbon taxes is that they are regressive taxes and thus burden the poor much more than the rich.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Scientific uncertainty plays a significant role in understanding climate change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates mitigation as a strategy to reduce global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  attempt to assess the economic value of the biosphere for future investors
B)  double the fuel economy of two billion cars
C)  implement sunlight screening to reflect income sunlight
D)  a and c
E)  b and c

Question 6

Which of the following arguments is MOST consistent with a natural scientist/environmental scientist "frame" (perspective) on climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  The supply of minerals is essentially infinite.
B)  There is a finite supply of minerals,and therefore,there are limits on the grades of ore that can be processed without spending more than they are worth.
C)  Human adaptability will develop improved technologies to find and process minerals.
D)  All of the above are true.
E)  None of the above are true.

Question 7

The IPCC's 2007 Fourth Assessment Report concluded that contemporary global warming is caused by human activities that increase greenhouse gases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Freon is a good example of an invention that produced unforeseen but disruptive consequences for society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following is the most useful physical sign of long-ago climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  coral reefs
B)  fossilized grains
C)  ice cores extracted from ancient glaciers in Greenland
D)  annual growth rings in trees

Question 10

Which of the following countries have cut their greenhouse emissions the most?

Accepted Answer

A)  the United Kingdom and the U.S.
B)  the U.S.and China
C)  China and Germany
D)  the United Kingdom,China,and Germany

Question 11

Some countries produce more carbon dioxide than others.Which of the following countries produces more than all the others?

Accepted Answer

A)  China
B)  the U.S.
C)  Russia
D)  India

Question 12

Herbert Simon dubbed modern societies "risk societies."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Explain why we should care about ozone depletion in the upper atmosphere,and what actions we might take to reduce it.Be sure to give specific examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why we should care about ozone...

Question 14

Nicholas Stern's assessment of climate change concluded that it is:

Accepted Answer

A)  better to adapt to climate change than to mitigate it.
B)  better to mitigate climate change than to wait to adapt to it.
C)  not really clear that climate change is actually taking place
D)  none of the above

Question 15

Stratospheric ozone can be destroyed by:

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen.
B)  arsenic.
C)  saline.
D)  chlorine.

Question 16

One of the known advantages of geoengineering is that it would most certainly have fewer side effects than mitigation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Freon is an environmental hazard because it:

Accepted Answer

A)  releases chlorine atoms that destroy the stratospheric ozone layer.
B)  is so unstable that it presents risks to the average consumer.
C)  is very expensive.
D)  is highly toxic to those who come into contact with it.

Question 18

Adaptation as a strategy for coping with climate change will be most effective if climate change occurs very rapidly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Global warming could threaten human health by increasing the transmission of tropical diseases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

_________ and _________ account for 90% of the heat-trapping capacity of greenhouse gases.

Accepted Answer

A)  tropospheric ozone,methane
B)  methane,water vapor
C)  water vapor,carbon dioxide
D)  carbon dioxide,methane

Exam 3: Climate Change, science, and Risk

Describe and discuss some ambiguities in the evidence regarding climate change.What effect does this have on our ability to set policy?

The strong positive correlation between atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and fluctuations in the earth's mean temperature is a relatively recent phenomenon.

One drawback to carbon taxes is that they are regressive taxes and thus burden the poor much more than the rich.

Scientific uncertainty plays a significant role in understanding climate change.

Which of the following best illustrates mitigation as a strategy to reduce global warming?

Which of the following arguments is MOST consistent with a natural scientist/environmental scientist "frame" (perspective) on climate change?

The IPCC's 2007 Fourth Assessment Report concluded that contemporary global warming is caused by human activities that increase greenhouse gases.

Freon is a good example of an invention that produced unforeseen but disruptive consequences for society.

Which of the following is the most useful physical sign of long-ago climate change?

Which of the following countries have cut their greenhouse emissions the most?

Some countries produce more carbon dioxide than others.Which of the following countries produces more than all the others?

Herbert Simon dubbed modern societies "risk societies."

Explain why we should care about ozone depletion in the upper atmosphere,and what actions we might take to reduce it.Be sure to give specific examples.

Nicholas Stern's assessment of climate change concluded that it is:

Stratospheric ozone can be destroyed by:

One of the known advantages of geoengineering is that it would most certainly have fewer side effects than mitigation.

Freon is an environmental hazard because it:

Adaptation as a strategy for coping with climate change will be most effective if climate change occurs very rapidly.

Global warming could threaten human health by increasing the transmission of tropical diseases.

_ and _ account for 90% of the heat-trapping capacity of greenhouse gases.