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ECS2606 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) 146722 –
Due 12 March 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
QUESTION 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Impact of Introducing New Plant/Equipment on the Materials Balance Principle (10
Marks)...................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 4
1.2 The Materials Balance Model ................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Impact of Introducing New Plant/Equipment ..................................................................... 5
1.4 Diagrammatic Illustration ........................................................................................................ 7
1.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 8
QUESTION 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 8
(i) How Cars Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Marks) ........................................ 8
2.1 Combustion of Fossil Fuels.................................................................................................... 8
2.2 Other Greenhouse Gases ........................................................................................................ 8
2.3 Production and Lifecycle Emissions ................................................................................... 9
2.4 Traffic Congestion..................................................................................................................... 9
(ii) Argument For/Against the Introduction of Electric Vehicles (EVs) (5 Marks) ............... 9
Argument in Favour of EVs ........................................................................................................... 9
Argument Against EVs ................................................................................................................. 10
Economic Conclusion................................................................................................................... 10
(iii) Reducing Private Transportation Externalities Through Environmental Policy (5
Marks).................................................................................................................................................... 10
1. Carbon Tax .................................................................................................................................. 11
2. Investment in Public Transport.............................................................................................. 11
3. Congestion Pricing.................................................................................................................... 11
4. Subsidies for Green Vehicles ................................................................................................. 11
5. Urban Planning Reform............................................................................................................ 11
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Overall Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 12
QUESTION 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Distinguishing Between Opportunity Costs and External Costs (10 Marks) ..................... 12
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Opportunity Cost ......................................................................................................................... 12
3.2.1 Definition ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.2.2 Key Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 12
3.2.3 Environmental Example of Opportunity Cost............................................................... 13
3.3 External Cost ................................................................................................................................ 13
3.3.1 Definition ................................................................................................................................ 13
3.3.2 Key Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 14
3.3.3 Environmental Example of External Cost ...................................................................... 14
3.4 Analytical Distinction Between Opportunity Cost and External Cost ........................... 14
3.5 Graphical Illustration of External Costs ................................................................................ 15
3.6 Practical Application in Environmental Policy .................................................................... 15
3.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 16
QUESTION 4 ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Analysis of the Climate Change and Flooding Excerpt ........................................................... 16
(i) Does the excerpt present enough evidence that climate change has worsened the
flood? Substantiate your answer. (4 Marks) ............................................................................... 16
Evidence Supporting the Claim: ................................................................................................ 16
Critical Evaluation: ........................................................................................................................ 17
Conclusion: ..................................................................................................................................... 17
(ii) How Do Extreme Weather Events Affect Economic Development? (4 Marks) ............ 17
1. Destruction of Physical Infrastructure ................................................................................. 18
2. Loss of Human Capital ............................................................................................................. 18
3. Reduced Agricultural Output.................................................................................................. 18
4. Increased Public Expenditure ................................................................................................ 18
5. Poverty Trap Effect ................................................................................................................... 19
(iii) What Are the Economic Costs Associated with This Flooding Event? (2 Marks) ..... 19
1. Direct Costs................................................................................................................................. 19
2. Indirect Costs ............................................................................................................................. 19
(iv) Advice to Government on Planning for Future Flood Risk (5 Marks) ........................... 20
, 3|Page
1. Investment in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure .................................................................. 20
2. Risk-Based Urban Planning .................................................................................................... 20
3. Early Warning Systems ............................................................................................................ 20
4. Climate Adaptation Funds ....................................................................................................... 20
5. Mitigation Policies ..................................................................................................................... 21
6. Cost-Benefit Analysis for Adaptation................................................................................... 21
Overall Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 21
ECS2606 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) 146722 –
Due 12 March 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
QUESTION 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Impact of Introducing New Plant/Equipment on the Materials Balance Principle (10
Marks)...................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 4
1.2 The Materials Balance Model ................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Impact of Introducing New Plant/Equipment ..................................................................... 5
1.4 Diagrammatic Illustration ........................................................................................................ 7
1.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 8
QUESTION 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 8
(i) How Cars Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Marks) ........................................ 8
2.1 Combustion of Fossil Fuels.................................................................................................... 8
2.2 Other Greenhouse Gases ........................................................................................................ 8
2.3 Production and Lifecycle Emissions ................................................................................... 9
2.4 Traffic Congestion..................................................................................................................... 9
(ii) Argument For/Against the Introduction of Electric Vehicles (EVs) (5 Marks) ............... 9
Argument in Favour of EVs ........................................................................................................... 9
Argument Against EVs ................................................................................................................. 10
Economic Conclusion................................................................................................................... 10
(iii) Reducing Private Transportation Externalities Through Environmental Policy (5
Marks).................................................................................................................................................... 10
1. Carbon Tax .................................................................................................................................. 11
2. Investment in Public Transport.............................................................................................. 11
3. Congestion Pricing.................................................................................................................... 11
4. Subsidies for Green Vehicles ................................................................................................. 11
5. Urban Planning Reform............................................................................................................ 11
,2|Page
Overall Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 12
QUESTION 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Distinguishing Between Opportunity Costs and External Costs (10 Marks) ..................... 12
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Opportunity Cost ......................................................................................................................... 12
3.2.1 Definition ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.2.2 Key Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 12
3.2.3 Environmental Example of Opportunity Cost............................................................... 13
3.3 External Cost ................................................................................................................................ 13
3.3.1 Definition ................................................................................................................................ 13
3.3.2 Key Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 14
3.3.3 Environmental Example of External Cost ...................................................................... 14
3.4 Analytical Distinction Between Opportunity Cost and External Cost ........................... 14
3.5 Graphical Illustration of External Costs ................................................................................ 15
3.6 Practical Application in Environmental Policy .................................................................... 15
3.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 16
QUESTION 4 ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Analysis of the Climate Change and Flooding Excerpt ........................................................... 16
(i) Does the excerpt present enough evidence that climate change has worsened the
flood? Substantiate your answer. (4 Marks) ............................................................................... 16
Evidence Supporting the Claim: ................................................................................................ 16
Critical Evaluation: ........................................................................................................................ 17
Conclusion: ..................................................................................................................................... 17
(ii) How Do Extreme Weather Events Affect Economic Development? (4 Marks) ............ 17
1. Destruction of Physical Infrastructure ................................................................................. 18
2. Loss of Human Capital ............................................................................................................. 18
3. Reduced Agricultural Output.................................................................................................. 18
4. Increased Public Expenditure ................................................................................................ 18
5. Poverty Trap Effect ................................................................................................................... 19
(iii) What Are the Economic Costs Associated with This Flooding Event? (2 Marks) ..... 19
1. Direct Costs................................................................................................................................. 19
2. Indirect Costs ............................................................................................................................. 19
(iv) Advice to Government on Planning for Future Flood Risk (5 Marks) ........................... 20
, 3|Page
1. Investment in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure .................................................................. 20
2. Risk-Based Urban Planning .................................................................................................... 20
3. Early Warning Systems ............................................................................................................ 20
4. Climate Adaptation Funds ....................................................................................................... 20
5. Mitigation Policies ..................................................................................................................... 21
6. Cost-Benefit Analysis for Adaptation................................................................................... 21
Overall Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 21
