The Greenhouse Effect Quiz

Study Notes

The Greenhouse Effect is the process by which the Earth's atmosphere traps heat radiating from the planet's surface.
Without the Greenhouse Effect, Earth would be a frozen ball of ice.
Too much Greenhouse Effect will lead to melting ice caps and rising sea levels.
The average global temperature is 15°C.
Emissions are upsetting the balance of the Greenhouse Effect, trapping more heat and causing the average temperature to rise.

Emissions refer to how greenhouse gases are released into the Earth's atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common greenhouse gas produced by industrial processes, transportation, and energy production.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) trap heat in the atmosphere.
Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CDEs) or CO2Es are a shorthand way to refer to other greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) measures the heat trapping ability of different greenhouse gases.
Methane (CH4) has a GWP of 29.8, meaning 1kg of methane is as potent as 29.8 kg of carbon dioxide.

Carbon Neutral means offsetting all carbon emissions.
Carbon negative (climate positive) means offsetting more emissions than produced.
Net Zero Carbon is a more difficult goal to achieve, aiming to nullify carbon output across all scopes of carbon production.

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) incentivizes businesses to reduce emissions or pay a financial penalty.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CABM) aims to tax imported goods based on the amount of emissions produced during their production process.

A company’s Carbon Footprint is the total GHG emissions generated from producing a product or performing an activity.
Key business operations like energy use, transportation, and production significantly contribute to a company's carbon footprint.

Assess your organization's current carbon footprint before you can reduce it.
Encourage every department to participate in measuring GHG emissions.
Use frameworks such as GHG Protocol's Corporate Standard and ISO 14064 for measuring and reporting emissions.
Utilize software like Carbon Analytics to streamline data collection and facilitate an IoT network.

Use environmentally friendly raw materials like biodegradable packaging, recycled materials, and toxic-free fabrics.
Consider the end-user experience and potential for product refurbishment or repurposing.
Focus on preventing pollution during production rather than solely on end-of-pipe solutions.
Engage suppliers in reducing energy and material usage.
Implement Product Stewardship to minimize environmental impact throughout the product's lifecycle.
Prioritize raw materials with lower emission potential.

Levi's Jeans uses Water>Less technology to reduce water usage in jeans production by 96%.

BMW uses upcycled materials and innovations such as the Hydrogen Fuel Cell for a CO2-free drivetrain.
Coca-Cola aims to create a circular economy for packaging and invests in bio-based plastic packaging.
Unilever intends to replace all fossil-fuel-derived cleaning detergents with plant-based and clean sources by 2030.

Carbon Offsetting mitigates GHG emissions through the preservation and cultivation of natural places.
The Greater Golden Horseshoe in Canada, a greenbelt of trees and wetlands, has a potential carbon output valued at around $4.5 billion.