Complex Environmental Impacts
Which sector is responsible for the largest share of global greenhouse gas emissions?
A) Transportation
B) Energy production
C) Building sector
B) Energy production
Which energy source has the lowest CO₂ emissions per kWh?
A) Wind
B) Natural gas
C) Biomass
A) Wind
What’s the main difference between recycling and reusing?
A) Recycling breaks down materials
B) Reusing causes more pollution
C) Recycling only applies to plastic
A) Recycling breaks down materials
Who introduced the term "sustainable development" in the Brundtland Report?
A) UN
B) Greta Thunberg
C) Greenpeace
A) UN
The term "embedded emissions" refers to:
A) Emissions during transport
B) Emissions during product use
C) Emissions from production and distribution
C) Emissions from production and distribution
What does the term “grid parity” mean?
A) Equal energy supply and demand
B) Renewables cost the same as fossil fuels
C) Electricity prices are fixed
B) Renewables cost the same as fossil fuels
Why is fast fashion harmful to the environment?
A) Clothes are too expensive
B) It increases waste and resource use
C) It only uses cotton
B) It increases waste and resource use
What is the goal of the European Green Deal?
A) Pollution taxes only
B) Net-zero emissions by 2050
C) Shut down nuclear plants
B) Net-zero emissions by 2050
Which natural resource is at greatest risk of scarcity by 2050?
A) Oil
B) Freshwater
C) Sand
C) Sand
Why is nuclear energy controversial in the green transition?
A) It increases CO₂
B) It generates radioactive waste and high risk
C) It's more expensive than coal
B) It generates radioactive waste and high risk
What is the concept of “cradle to cradle”?
A) Products last forever
B) Materials can be endlessly recycled
C) Only organic materials are used
B) Materials can be endlessly recycled
What does the “polluter pays” principle mean?
A) Only polluting companies can operate
B) Everyone pays equally
C) Polluters must cover the environmental damage
C) Polluters must cover the environmental damage
What makes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) different from other environmental analysis tools?
A) Only looks at energy use
B) Ignores disposal phase
C) Assesses all life stages of a product
C) Assesses all life stages of a product
What is the average energy efficiency of a coal power plant?
A) 30–35%
B) 50%
C) Over 60%
A) 30–35%
Why are many “recyclable” items never actually recycled?
A) Lack of proper facilities
B) People burn them
C) Recycling is illegal in many countries
A) Lack of proper facilities
What tool allows companies to trade pollution rights?
A) Carbon credits
B) Plastic tax
C) Green fund
A) Carbon credits
Why is lithium mining for batteries considered environmentally problematic?
A) It's non-recyclable
B) It uses large amounts of water and disrupts ecosystems
C) It emits more CO₂ than coal
B) It uses large amounts of water and disrupts ecosystems
Why is the “duck curve” a challenge for solar energy?
A) It raises evening energy prices
B) It causes large production drops after sunset
C) It damages solar panels
B) It causes large production drops after sunset
What is the core idea of industrial symbiosis?
A) All waste goes to landfill
B) Only renewable energy is shared
C) Waste from one company is used by another
C) Waste from one company is used by another
Why are current international climate agreements often criticized for failing to address environmental justice?
A) They impose the same targets for all countries regardless of historical emissions
B) They ban fossil fuels in developing countries
C) They ignore ocean pollution
A) They impose the same targets for all countries regardless of historical emissions