D199 WGU CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 established - Answer-emissions targets, many of which
were aimed at the Global South, where deforestation is a big problem.
Why is deforestation a larger problem in the Global South than it is in the Global North?
- Answer-Developed countries, mostly in the Global North, deforested much of their land
long ago.
Cap-and-trade programs - Answer--a program designed to manage carbon dioxide
emissions by either limiting a company's total emissions to a level allowed by its permit,
paying a tax for any overage, or purchasing other companies' permits to cover its own
overage of emissions
-rely on the issuance of a limited number of permits allowing a company to emit a stated
amount of carbon dioxide for a given year
-The total amount of all emissions allowed by the program is then the "cap" on
emissions
-Companies are taxed if they produce more emissions than their permits allow
-However, if a company does not expect to use all of its allowance of emissions, it can
sell ("trade") its unused permits to other companies.
The carbon cycle - Answer-the movement of carbon atoms from the atmosphere to the
earth (plants, animals, soil, rocks, etc.) and back again.
Which statement describes the significance of carbon sequestration? - Answer-
Sequestration keeps carbon from recycling into the atmosphere.
-Carbon trapped in the soil is kept from being released into the atmosphere and
contributing to global warming.
two-level bargaining - Answer-approach of looking at national governments and
international cooperation
Kyoto Protocol of 1997 - Answer--included a schedule of targets and timetables for the
38 advanced industrialized countries while imposing no emission control obligations on
the rest of the world
-it did not require that they do much beyond what they would have done anyway
2015 Paris Agreement - Answer--allows and encourages countries to work out solutions
in smaller groups
-has a much more flexible framework than past agreements, one that allows countries
to set their own obligations according to what they are willing and able to implement
, Paris vs Kyoto - Answer-Before the Paris Agreement, essentially all climate diplomacy
focused on getting just the advanced industrialized countries to cut their emissions
through binding accords, notably the Kyoto Protocol. The Paris Agreement, by contrast,
has the participation of almost every nation on the planet.
Early international agreements—the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the
Copenhagen Conference—failed because the underlying political realities were not well
recognized. - Answer-they either were not detailed enough to create action (UNFCCC),
did not really ask much of individual signatory nations (Kyoto), or did not allow a strong
leader to emerge (Copenhagen).
What is needed by climate change international projects to be successful? - Answer-
Deep cooperation and required participation{To be most successful, international
projects require a high level of cooperation and required participation from all nations.
This is known as a non-self-enforcing, high cooperation framework.}}
Which two reasons contributed to failure to agree on climate change protocols at the
Copenhagen Conference of 2009? - Answer--Fragmented power and authority with no
true leadership
-Uncertainty on which commitments would be most effective
The steam engine kicked off the - Answer-Industrial Revolution, which led to a massive
expansion in the demand for fossil fuels.
Two factors complicate an economic view of greenhouse gas emissions. - Answer-—
time and space—
How do environmental economists contribute to environmental policy decisions? -
Answer-By quantifying potential impacts from climate change
-Environmental economists calculate damage functions and impacts from climate
change, as well as potential costs for making changes.
How do economists and policy makers rely on the concept of the social cost of carbon
(SCC)? - Answer-By estimating the future cost of damage from greenhouse gas
emissions and using that information to inform decisions
-The SCC is how much society will need to pay in the future for releasing one ton of
CO2 today, which is used to inform government policy decisions.
Which characteristic of the Holocene Era enabled the Agricultural Revolution? - Answer-
Climate stability
When did global temperatures begin the sharp increase that continues today? - Answer-
1950s
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 established - Answer-emissions targets, many of which
were aimed at the Global South, where deforestation is a big problem.
Why is deforestation a larger problem in the Global South than it is in the Global North?
- Answer-Developed countries, mostly in the Global North, deforested much of their land
long ago.
Cap-and-trade programs - Answer--a program designed to manage carbon dioxide
emissions by either limiting a company's total emissions to a level allowed by its permit,
paying a tax for any overage, or purchasing other companies' permits to cover its own
overage of emissions
-rely on the issuance of a limited number of permits allowing a company to emit a stated
amount of carbon dioxide for a given year
-The total amount of all emissions allowed by the program is then the "cap" on
emissions
-Companies are taxed if they produce more emissions than their permits allow
-However, if a company does not expect to use all of its allowance of emissions, it can
sell ("trade") its unused permits to other companies.
The carbon cycle - Answer-the movement of carbon atoms from the atmosphere to the
earth (plants, animals, soil, rocks, etc.) and back again.
Which statement describes the significance of carbon sequestration? - Answer-
Sequestration keeps carbon from recycling into the atmosphere.
-Carbon trapped in the soil is kept from being released into the atmosphere and
contributing to global warming.
two-level bargaining - Answer-approach of looking at national governments and
international cooperation
Kyoto Protocol of 1997 - Answer--included a schedule of targets and timetables for the
38 advanced industrialized countries while imposing no emission control obligations on
the rest of the world
-it did not require that they do much beyond what they would have done anyway
2015 Paris Agreement - Answer--allows and encourages countries to work out solutions
in smaller groups
-has a much more flexible framework than past agreements, one that allows countries
to set their own obligations according to what they are willing and able to implement
, Paris vs Kyoto - Answer-Before the Paris Agreement, essentially all climate diplomacy
focused on getting just the advanced industrialized countries to cut their emissions
through binding accords, notably the Kyoto Protocol. The Paris Agreement, by contrast,
has the participation of almost every nation on the planet.
Early international agreements—the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the
Copenhagen Conference—failed because the underlying political realities were not well
recognized. - Answer-they either were not detailed enough to create action (UNFCCC),
did not really ask much of individual signatory nations (Kyoto), or did not allow a strong
leader to emerge (Copenhagen).
What is needed by climate change international projects to be successful? - Answer-
Deep cooperation and required participation{To be most successful, international
projects require a high level of cooperation and required participation from all nations.
This is known as a non-self-enforcing, high cooperation framework.}}
Which two reasons contributed to failure to agree on climate change protocols at the
Copenhagen Conference of 2009? - Answer--Fragmented power and authority with no
true leadership
-Uncertainty on which commitments would be most effective
The steam engine kicked off the - Answer-Industrial Revolution, which led to a massive
expansion in the demand for fossil fuels.
Two factors complicate an economic view of greenhouse gas emissions. - Answer-—
time and space—
How do environmental economists contribute to environmental policy decisions? -
Answer-By quantifying potential impacts from climate change
-Environmental economists calculate damage functions and impacts from climate
change, as well as potential costs for making changes.
How do economists and policy makers rely on the concept of the social cost of carbon
(SCC)? - Answer-By estimating the future cost of damage from greenhouse gas
emissions and using that information to inform decisions
-The SCC is how much society will need to pay in the future for releasing one ton of
CO2 today, which is used to inform government policy decisions.
Which characteristic of the Holocene Era enabled the Agricultural Revolution? - Answer-
Climate stability
When did global temperatures begin the sharp increase that continues today? - Answer-
1950s
