Environmental Science Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is afforestation primarily aimed at achieving?

Increasing biodiversity

Producing food and fiber

Maximizing carbon sequestration (correct)

Integrating livestock and crops

Which term describes the human impact on the Earth's climate?

Anthropogenic (correct)

Aquaculture

Agroforestry

Animal Integration

What does biochar primarily help with in soil management?

Increasing soil acidity

Enhancing water retention (correct)

Reducing organic matter decomposition

Decreasing soil erosion

What is the main purpose of aquaculture?

To breed and harvest aquatic organisms (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about agroforestry is correct?

It combines animals and trees for better carbon sequestration. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'baseline' refer to in environmental measurements?

A reference point used to measure change (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these gases makes up the majority of Earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does biodiversity measure in an ecosystem?

The variety of life and interactions (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is forest dieback primarily caused by?

Climate change and deforestation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What stage follows the initial dominance of forests as societies develop?

Agricultural expansion (D) Signup and view all the answers

What do fossil fuels primarily consist of?

Decomposed plants and organisms (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which nations are included in the G7?

EU, Canada, UK, Italy (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does geo-engineering refer to?

Technology to reverse climate change (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which agreement was reached at COP26 in Glasgow?

Glasgow Climate Pact (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes nations with high levels of economic development typically located in the northern hemisphere?

Global North (A) Signup and view all the answers

Global warming is primarily caused by which of the following activities?

The burning of fossil fuels (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does carbon neutrality refer to?

Balancing emitted carbon with absorbed carbon (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbon sink?

An area that absorbs more carbon than it emits (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term carbon intensity refer to?

The weight of carbon emitted per energy unit consumed (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of carbon offsetting?

To compensate for emissions released elsewhere (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes a carbon market?

A system where countries trade carbon emission reductions (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a carbon tax entail?

Payment for each tonne of greenhouse gas emitted (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of circular economy?

A model for reusing and recycling materials as long as possible (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is clean meat?

Meat cultivated from animal cells in a lab (A) Signup and view all the answers

What significant period began 11,700 years ago, marked by the rise of agriculture?

Holocene (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the method of growing plants without soil?

Hydroponics (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)?

To restrict human activity in marine environments (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a keystone species?

A species essential for the stability of an ecosystem (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

To provide scientific assessments on climate change (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a mass extinction event?

A widespread and rapid decline in biodiversity (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which advantage is primarily associated with hydroponics?

Uses less water than traditional methods (A) Signup and view all the answers

What do Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) measure?

Quantitative benchmarks for business performance (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of regenerative agriculture?

To promote life and biodiversity (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes renewable energy?

Energy sourced from natural processes that can replenish themselves (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of seaforestation?

It contributes to carbon sequestration and marine ecosystem health. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How are Scope 1 emissions categorized?

Direct emissions from controlled resources (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to sea-level rise?

Increased precipitation in tropical regions (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of SECR?

To measure and report energy and carbon emissions in the UK (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does rewilding primarily aim to achieve?

To restore natural processes and wilderness areas (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which option accurately describes a regenerative business?

A business aware of its ecosystem role and operates sustainably (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of energy and carbon reporting in businesses?

To encourage the implementation of energy efficiency measures (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Social Value' encompass?

The net socio-economic and environmental benefits generated by a business (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does the TCFD contribute to climate-related financial disclosures?

By promoting better-informed investment decisions through effective disclosures (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'tipping point' refer to in the context of climate change?

The point at which climate change triggers a significant irreversible environmental event (A) Signup and view all the answers

What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals designed to achieve?

To integrate poverty alleviation with improvements in health, education, and equality (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key element of sustainable practices?

Operating within planetary boundaries (A) Signup and view all the answers

Who are considered stakeholders in a business?

Anyone directly impacted by the business operations, including local communities and suppliers (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main aim of solar power in terms of energy consumption?

To reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Jargon Guide

Alternative Proteins: A general term for plant-based and food technology alternatives to animal protein.
Animal Integration: Combining crops and livestock to coexist and create regeneration.
Afforestation: Deliberate introduction of trees to previously unforested land, maximizing carbon sequestration.
Agroforestry: Combining trees, woody perennials, annuals, and lisetsotk to enhance carbon sequestration and sustainably produce food, fiber, and forage.
Anthropocene: The unofficial term for the period when humanity significantly affected Earth's climate.
Anthropogenic: Caused or produced by humans.
Aquaculture (fish farming): Breeding, rearing, and harvesting fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in water environments. Two main categories are marine and freshwater.
Atmosphere: The gases surrounding Earth (or any object in space). Earth's atmosphere is approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and a small amount of other gases including carbon dioxide.
Baseline: A reference point/values used to measure change. For most organizations, the baseline is the first year carbon footprint is measured.
Biochar: A charcoal-like material made from waste organic matter in a low or zero-oxygen environment. It's being researched for carbon capture and storage, building materials, and soil enrichment.
Biodiversity: A broad term describing the variety of life within an ecosystem or habitat, considering genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
Biomass: Any organic matter from plants and animals, such as cow dung, corn crops, or wood chips, used for renewable energy.
Biofuels: Fuel derived from biomass. While the UK considers biofuel renewable, some scientists disagree due to CO2 emissions.
Black carbon: A component of fine particles that cause air pollution and contributes to climate change.
Blockchain: A digital ledger that records transactions between parties in a reliable way on a peer-to-peer network. Used initially for cryptocurrencies; also used to trace supply chains to verify sustainable sources.
Carbon budget: The agreed-upon amount of CO2 a country, company, or organization can produce to meet emission reduction targets within a specific time period.
Carbon capture: Collecting and transporting concentrated CO2 gas from large emission sources like power plants.
Carbon dioxide: A chemical compound (CO2) that traps heat in the atmosphere causing global warming, although natural processes balance this. However, over the prior century, CO2 has been added to the atmosphere faster than it has been removed.
Carbon emissions: Relate to the release of CO2 into the atmosphere, both naturally and through human activities like cement production and deforestation; driving increases in atmospheric concentration beyond natural levels.
Carbon footprint: The amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, organization, group, or community.
Carbon intensity: The amount of carbon (by weight) emitted per unit of energy consumed.
Carbon markets: One country pays another to reduce carbon emissions, which can then be counted toward the first country's national targets. This may occur region or company level, with trading of allowances/offsetting.
Carbon neutral: The balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.
Carbon offsetting/credits: Paying for carbon reduction/removal elsewhere to compensate for emissions. Often involves funding a project elsewhere to restore forests or develop renewable energy.
Carbon sequestration: A natural or artificial process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Carbon sink: Any system that absorbs more carbon than it emits, including soil, forests, and oceans.
Carbon tax: The amount those producing carbon must pay for each tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.
Carrying capacity: The maximum population size of a biological species that can be sustained in a specific environment.
Circular economy: A model of production and consumption involving sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling to maintain existing materials/products as long as possible.
Clean meat (cultured meat): Meat produced through cell cultures of animal cells rather than traditional animal slaughter.
Climate anxiety (eco anxiety): A type of anxiety stemming from the climate crisis.
Climate change: The large-scale and long-term shift in weather patterns and average temperatures, largely due to human contributions.
Climate crisis: A term emphasizing the urgency and emergency aspects of climate change.
Climate finance: Local, national, and transnational financing to support mitigation and adaptation actions to address climate change.
Climate justice: Viewing the climate crisis through a human rights lens, focusing on the disproportionate impact on vulnerable people and communities.
Conservancy: An area intended to protect natural habitats, potentially managed by local communities in a sustainable and economically viable manner.
Conversion factors: Values for converting greenhouse gas emissions from various activities into consistent units.
COP 26: The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Glasgow in 2021.
COP 27: The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, scheduled for Egypt in 2022.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The concept that companies should consider social and environmental concerns in their operations and stakeholder interactions.
Deforestation: Human-driven and natural loss of trees.
Demographic transition: A shift in nations over time from high birth and infant death rates, and minimal technology/development, to low rates, and advanced technology and economic development.
Domestication: The process of human beings significantly influencing the reproduction and care of other species.
Doughnut Model: A reinterpretation of the planetary boundaries model that considers basic human needs alongside ecological limits to provide a safe and fair space for humanity.
Earth system: The integrated geological, chemical, physical, and biological system of Earth that has maintained a benign environment for life.
Ecological Footprint: Measures the amount of nature needed to support human populations/economies, considering pollutants and resource usage, often expressed in global hectares.
Ecology: A branch of biology studying the interactions and relationships between organisms and their environment.
Embodied carbon: The total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated during the production of a good/service. This includes material aspects but not operational emissions.
Energy mix: Different energy sources used in a region, often categorized as renewable (wind, solar) or non-renewable (gas, coal).
Energy transition: The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources regarding global energy production and consumption.
Environmental personhood: Giving non-human entities legal status and protections in nature preservation efforts.
ESG: Stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Used to assess company sustainability concerning environmental and social factors, and governance. Investors use ESG metrics in investment decisions.
EV: Electric Vehicles, any vehicle using electric motors for propulsion.
Fast Fashion: Inexpensive, often low-quality clothing produced quickly by mass-market retailers, often only worn a few times before being discarded.
Feedback Loop: Processes where rising temperatures on Earth change the environment, positively amplifying or negatively moderating warming.
Fire Ecology: Employing carefully timed low-intensity fires to remove underbrush and regenerate important vegetation; historically used by Indigenous peoples for maintaining productive forests and grasslands.
Food security: The availability of sufficient nutrients for all people in a given area at all times, impacted negatively by worsening weather conditions, such as drought, or rising sea levels.
Forest dieback: The loss of tree health and mortality due to deforestation and climate change, with predicted occurrences in rainforest and boreal evergreen forests.
Forest transition: A pattern of land use change where forest dominance shifts to agricultural dominance as societies develop, followed by a potential shift back toward reforestation as agriculture industrialization progresses and population density shifts urbanward.
Fossil fuels: Fuels derived from decomposed organisms buried under layers of sediment and rock. These non-renewable fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are the primary contribution to climate change due to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas release.
G7: An informal forum of leaders from major industrial nations, aiming to shape global responses to challenges.
Glasgow Climate Pact: An agreement reached at COP26, aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, building climate resilience, and reducing unabated coal use.
Global North: Nations characterized by high economic and industrial development, generally located in the northern hemisphere relative to less industrialized nations.
Global South: Nations characterized by relatively low levels of economic and industrial development, largely located in the southern hemisphere.
Global warming: The rapid rise in Earth's average surface temperatures since record-keeping began in 1880, largely caused by human activities such as burning of fossil fuels.
Grasslands: Ecosystems with insufficient rainfall for forests but sufficient for maintaining life, often located between forests and deserts.
Grazing ecology: Allowing animals to feed on grasses that promotes regrowth by removing old tissue, thereby increasing exposure to and absorption of sunlight.
Great Acceleration: The dramatic surge in growth rates of human activities documented since the mid-20th century, related to resource demand and pollutant creation.
Great Decline: The simultaneous decline in environmental factors, like biodiversity and climate stability, from the latter part of the 20th century continuing to present day. It is expected to worsen further.
Greenhouse gases: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere causing global warming including CO2, methane, oxide, and water vapor.
Green growth: Promoting economic growth that uses resources sustainably and is in contrast to conventional economic growth that often disregards environmental damage.
Greenwashing: Manipulating communications to create an impression that an organization is environmentally responsible. This is disinformation.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): A measure of a nation's productivity. Criticized for often not measuring quality of life, well-being, or environmental impact.
Habitat: The natural environment of a community of species, including forests, deserts, and seashores.
Holocene: A relatively stable geological time period beginning 11,700 years ago, associated with increased human impact and agriculture.
Hunter-gatherer: A way of life where human societies depend on collecting food from the wild, representing 90% of human history prior to agriculture.
Hydropower: Obtaining power by harnessing energy from moving water, used instead of fossil fuels.
Hydroponics: A method of growing plants in water with nutrient solutions instead of soil.
Inclusivity: Providing equal access to opportunities and resources for all people, regardless of group identity.
IPCC: The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, assessing climate change and implications.
Keystone species: A species within an ecosystem upon which many other species rely; its removal drastically alters the ecosystem.
KPI: Key Performance Indicators are numerical measures of a business' performance.
LCA: Life Cycle Assessment, the analysis of carbon emissions associated with products and services throughout their entire life cycles.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Areas of oceans or seas where human activity is restricted to protect ecosystems such as limiting fishing.
Mass extinction: Widespread and rapid decline in biodiversity where extinction events eliminate species like in the case of the dinosaurs.
Microplastics: Small fragments of plastic from various sources that harm the environment due to persistence.
Mitigation: Actions to limit global warming by reducing human emissions of greenhouse gases.
Nature-based solutions: Actions protecting, managing, and restoring natural ecosystems to address societal challenges such as climate change.
NDCs: Nationally determined contributions from countries to meet commitments from Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gases.
Net zero: The balance between total greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere and total emissions removed annually.
Ocean acidification: A decrease in ocean's pH caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere impacting life within the ocean.
Ocean forestry: A proposed nature-based solution to climate change involving growing/farming seaweed forests to sequester carbon.
Organic: Relating to food or farming methods that avoid chemicals.
Overfishing: Removing fish from water at a rate quicker than they can replenish, leading to underpopulations of species.
Paris Agreement: A legally binding international treaty adopted in 2015 to limit global warming.
Peak catch: The point in time when weight of fish caught globally stops increasing.
Peak child: The point in time when the global number of children (under 15) stops increasing.
Peak farm: The point in time where the amount of land devoted to farming stops increasing.
Peak oil: The point in time when global oil production is at its maximum before declining.
Peatlands: Wetland ecosystems accumulating thick, black carbon. Often called swamp forests, fens, heaths, bogs, or mires.
Perfect storm: Combining of factors that lead to price fluctuations and security in goods (e.g., food).
Planetary boundaries: Safe operating space framework, defined factors that should be kept within limits for stable Earth system.
Plant-based diet: A diet consisting predominantly or entirely of products from plants, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to a diet with high animal products.
Proforestation: Protecting and allowing degraded forests to recover which can impact climate emissions more than other land-based solutions.
Recycle: Breaking down and reusing materials to reduce landfill waste and pollution.
Regenerative Agriculture: Farming practices that promote life, biodiversity, and soil health, leading to enhanced carbon dioxide sequestration by the soil.
Regenerative business: Businesses operating in a way that reflects their wider ecosystem and seeks to renew their business' impact or existence into a positive future.
Renewable energy: Energy from natural, replenishable sources (solar, wind, biomass).
Rewilding: Restoring and protecting natural processes and wilderness areas to improve ecosystems.
Rewilding pollinators: An approach to sustaining plant growth and pollination by conserving plants that have suffered from previous environmental damage.
Seaforestation: Restoring the lost kelp forest or building large-scale artificial kelp forests to sequester carbon and preserve biodiversity.
Sea-level rise: A rise in global sea levels due to increased water release from glaciers and land ice melting. and thermal expansion of ocean water.
Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions: Different categories of emissions: 1) direct emissions from an organization's operations, 2) indirect emissions from energy purchased from a utility, and 3) all other indirect emissions within their value chain.
SECR: Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting, a UK government policy aimed at bringing energy and carbon reporting benefits for businesses to cut costs and improve environmental impact.
Social Value: Broad descriptor including economic, social, and environmental impacts of businesses' activities to society; used as a reporting metric alongside financial measures.
Solar power: Harnessing energy from the sun as a renewable energy source.
Stakeholder: Anyone directly involved in or impacted by a company (or similar business's) operations and impacts, including owners, staff, shareholders, and surrounding communities.
Sustainable: The ability for something to endure indefinitely, requiring alignment with planetary boundaries.
TCFD: Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, aiming to improve disclosures and promote better-informed investment decisions.
Tipping point: The point at which climate change becomes significantly severe and shifts to a significant irreversible environmental event.
UN SDGs: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that support economic growth alongside protecting oceans, forests, and other environmental needs.
UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, establishing an international agreement to address climate change and prevent dangerous interference from human contribution.
Wetlands: Distinctive ecosystems flooded by water, providing diverse functions such as preventing flooding and erosion, carbon storage, and ecological importance.
Wildlife corridors: Pathways for wildlife to migrate, feed, drink, and move to avoid habitat loss, destruction from human activity and agriculture.
Wind power: Harnessing energy from the wind as an alternative source of energy to fossil fuels.
Zero carbon emissions: No carbon emissions released.

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Test your knowledge on key concepts in environmental science, including afforestation, climate impact, and biodiversity. This quiz covers various aspects of human interaction with nature, climate agreements, and ecological measurements. Perfect for students and enthusiasts alike!