Climate Change 101
This country emits the most carbon dioxide per person.
United States of America
This species is known for its ability to build dams that significantly alter aquatic ecosystems, creating wetlands and influencing water flow.
Beaver
This type of building roof is covered with vegetation to help insulate the building and manage stormwater.
Green Roof
This process, essential in water-scarce regions, removes salt from seawater to make it drinkable.
Desalination
This 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine released massive amounts of radiation, leading to widespread environmental contamination and health issues for thousands of people.
Chernobyl
Environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly is called ____ (climate change is an example of this)
Anthropogenic
This burrowing animal is a well-known ecosystem engineer, creating tunnels that improve soil aeration, drainage, and nutrient cycling.
Earthworm
The “LEED” certification system for buildings stands for Leadership in _____ and Environmental Design
Energy
Almost all of fresh water (2/3) is unreachable for use because it is locked away here
Glaciers
This 2010 environmental disaster occurred when an oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, releasing millions of barrels of oil into the ocean and devastating marine life.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
This is the temperature increase expected in Earth's global temperature expected by 2050 due to climate change
2.7 degrees fahrenheit, 1.5 degrees celsius
This nitrogen-fixing plant, often found in forests, improves soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use.
Legumes
What type of building material is known for being renewable and can even absorb carbon dioxide as it grows?
Bamboo
This is the name of the underground layer of water-bearing rock that supplies drinking water to wells and springs
Aquifer
In the 1950s, this pesticide, which caused widespread harm to wildlife and human health, was banned after being linked to declines in bird populations, particularly raptors like the bald eagle. (Bonus points for the full name)
DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
The Industrial Revolution
This coastal species is known for its ability to protect shorelines from erosion, provide habitat for marine species, and sequester carbon, making it a crucial ecosystem engineer in tropical regions.
Mangroves
This design approach involves creating buildings and infrastructure that can withstand and quickly recover from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, or heatwaves, and adapt to future climate changes
Resilient Design
This federal law, enacted in 1972, regulates discharges of pollutants into U.S. waters and sets quality standards for surface waters.
Clean Water Act
These synthetic chemicals, commonly used in products like non-stick cookware and waterproof fabrics, have been linked to serious health issues and are known as "Forever Chemicals"
PFAS
This international event brings countries together every year to discuss climate action and solutions. What is the name of this event and what is the name this year? (Bonus points for where it's held).
United Nations Climate Change Conference (Conference of Parties) - COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
This keystone species of birds went extinct in the wild due to habitat destruction, hunting, and lead poisoning, but has been successfully making a comeback. (Bonus if you can name their current conservation status)
California Condors (critically endangered)
This is the design plan the City of Philadelphia has implemented for stormwater infrastructure to combat Combined Sewer Overflow. (Bonus points for the department overseeing this plan)
Green City, Clean Waters (Philadelphia Water Department)
This phenomenon occurs when water from an aquifer is pumped too quickly, leading to the lowering of the water table and possible intrusion of saltwater or contaminants into freshwater sources. (Bonus if you can name an example)
Groundwater Overextraction (Central Valley of California or Ogallala Aquifer)
This international treaty, adopted in 1987, aimed to phase out the production of chemicals known to deplete the ozone layer, most notably chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).