Current Events
Environmental Policy
Environmental Justice
Earth Science/Engineering
Wild Card
100
On Earth day of 2016, world leaders from 197 countries gathered to sign a monumental agreement to keep global temperatures below two degrees celsius above pre industrial levels.
True or false: Countries that did not meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement would be fined money by the UN.
False, agreement allows ‘nationally determined’ reductions and non-binding targets for countries. Nevertheless, Trump has since withdrawn the US from this agreement
100
The Environmental Protection Agency was established under this President.
Richard Nixon
100
Define: Fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies
Environmental Justice
100
Which of these is not a water pollutant?
Nutrients
Ozone
Heat
Organics
Ozone
100
How long does it take for an orange peel to decompose?
1 month
2 months
4 months
6 months
6 months
200
The Save the Boundary Waters campaign has been working to protect the Boundary Waters from a number of proposed mine sites on the edge of the Boundary Waters. What makes these mines more dangerous than traditional MN taconite mines?
They would be mining for Sulfide Copper Ore, which have high potential to leach sulfuric acid and sulfates when exposed to air and water.
200
This Act of 1969 requires environmental impact reports before construction projects begin.
National Environmental Policy Act
200
Define: an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food
Food Desert (According to the University of Michigan, 11.8% of U.S. households experience food insecurity at some point during the year. This reduces their access to adequate food for an active, healthy lifestyle.)
200
What is another name for the water cycle?
The hydraulic cycle
200
What year did the human population reach 1 billion? (Closest to the year takes the points)
1820
300
Enbridge oil company is currently seeking approval for permits to construct a rerouted Line three pipeline to transport tar sands crude oil from Alberta Canada to Superior WI. In addition to concerns over Climate Change and groundwater contamination, there is another major resource that this pipeline could potentially damage. What is it?
Native American Wild Rice beds, or “manoomin” in Ojibwe
300
This state has the 4th largest carbon emission cap-and-trade program in the world.
California
300
The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color is called?
Environmental Racism
300
Map out the levels of atmosphere from low to high elevation (hint: there's 4)
Troposphere -> Stratosphere -> Mesosphere -> Thermosphere
300
What was the Earth's hottest year on record?
2016
400
What used to be the fourth largest lake in the world and part of a booming fishing industry now holds only 10% of its original water. It has been steadily decreasing since the 1960s, when the soviet union rerouted feeding rivers for irrigation. What is the name of this saline waterbody, and where is it located?
Aral Sea in Kazakhstan. They have recently been remediating this waterbody
400
Since the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1973, this number of species have gone extinct (correct if within 5)
9
400
Defined by J. Des Jardins, environmental justice investigates the social distribution of both environmental ______ and ______
benefits, burdens
400
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to monitor and regulate 6 different air pollutants. What are they? (Must list all 6)
CO, Lead, N2, Ozone, Particulate Matter, SO2
400
What geological phenomenon on Earth is also a Johnny Cash song?
Ring of Fire
500
This international treaty, signed in September of 1987, sought to phase out the international use of Chlorofluorocarbons and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons. What is the name of this event and what was the result?
Montreal Protocol, As a result of the international agreement, the ozone hole in Antarctica is slowly recovering. Climate projections indicate that the ozone layer will return to 1980 levels between 2050 and 2070.
500
What prevents the discharge of wastewater into lakes and streams without a federal permit?
Clean Water Act
500
An American right, written by the Env. Protection Agency, says, "there shall be fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of ______ or ______, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
national origin, income
500
What does a sling psychrometer measure?
Humidity
500
How much did Americans spend on organic food since 2016?
$529 million
$125,600
$10.3 million
$43.3 billion
$43.3 billion