🌍 Climate Change
What gas is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere?
Water vapour
What term describes the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat?
Biodiversity
What colour bin is typically used for recycling paper in Singapore?
Blue bin
Name one renewable source of energy.
Solar energy (others: wind, hydro, geothermal)
What does the “3 Rs” stand for in sustainability?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Which human activity is the largest source of CO₂ emissions globally?
Burning fossil fuels for energy (especially coal)
Name one critically endangered animal found in Southeast Asia.
Malayan tiger or Sunda pangolin
What type of plastic is marked with the recycling code “1”?
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
What is the main disadvantage of solar power?
Intermittency—it doesn’t work well at night or during cloudy weather
What is an example of sustainable transport?
Cycling, walking, or taking public transport
Name the international agreement signed in 2015 to combat climate change.
The Paris Agreement
What does the acronym IUCN stand for?
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Why is contamination a problem in recycling?
Non-recyclables can spoil entire batches, making them unrecyclable
What is Singapore’s main energy source today?
Natural gas
Name one way schools can be more sustainable.
Installing solar panels, using energy-efficient lights, or conducting waste audits
Explain the enhanced greenhouse effect.
The trapping of additional heat in Earth’s atmosphere due to increased levels of greenhouse gases from human activities
Define "keystone species" and give an example.
A species with a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem, e.g., sea otters in kelp forests
What is “e-waste,” and name one proper disposal method in Singapore.
Electronic waste; drop it off at an e-waste collection point or recycling bin
Explain what energy efficiency means.
Using less energy to perform the same task—e.g., LED bulbs use less electricity than incandescent ones
What are the three pillars of sustainable development?
Environmental, Economic, Social
Describe two feedback loops that can accelerate global warming.
Melting permafrost releasing methane; loss of ice reducing albedo effect
Explain how habitat fragmentation can lead to biodiversity loss.
It isolates populations, reduces genetic diversity, and disrupts ecological processes
Describe a circular economy and how it differs from a linear economy.
A circular economy focuses on reuse and regeneration, unlike the take-make-dispose model of a linear economy.
Compare the environmental impact of nuclear vs. coal power.
Nuclear emits less CO₂ but creates radioactive waste; coal emits high CO₂ and air pollutants
Describe how a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) helps improve sustainability.
It evaluates environmental impacts across a product’s entire life—from raw material extraction to disposal