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Date May 2017 Marks available 2 Reference code 17M.2.SL.TZ0.3
Level Standard Level Paper Paper 2 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Outline Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

There are concerns that increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are leading to changes in the global climate.

Figure 3: CO2 emissions for select countries in 2007 and 2030 (Projected)

[Source: World Resources Institute,
http://www.wri.org/resources/charts-graphs/capita-co2-emissions-select-major-emitters-2007-and-2030-projected.
Used with permission.]

 

Calculate the projected percentage increase from 2007 to 2030 in CO2 emissions for Russia.

[1]
a.

Outline how CO2 emissions may cause a change in the global climate.

[2]
b.

Identify two possible reasons for the projected change in CO2 emissions for China.

[2]
c.

Identify one reduction strategy that the United States might use to achieve its projected change in CO2 emissions.

[1]
d.

Identify one adaptation strategy that could be used to reduce the impacts of climate change.

[1]
e.

Explain how the ability to implement mitigation and adaptation strategies may vary from one country to another.

[4]
f.

Markscheme

4 × 100 11.7 = 34% increase (allow 32−36%).

 

 

a.

emissions (lead to higher concentration) of CO2 which is a greenhouse gas;
…causing greater absorption of infra-red/heat radiation and rise in global temperature;
…leading to increased evaporation/changing winds/shifting patterns of precipitation/droughts/extreme weather events/storms/hurricanes/El Niño.

 

b.

growing number of fossil-fuelled vehicles/transport;
rapidly advancing economy/standard of living;
increase in fossil-fuelled power plants / increased industrialization;
increase in intensive/mechanized farming systems (in place of traditional);
burning of forests to clear land for agriculture.

Accept any other reasonable suggestions.
Award [1] for each correct reason identified, up to [2 max].

 

c.

reduction of energy consumption/CO2 production through laws/taxes/education;
use of alternatives to fossil fuels;
CO2 removal though CCS;
afforestation / reducing rates of deforestation.

Accept any other reasonable suggestions, but they must be explicitly linked to reduction in C emissions ie not simply “improve public transport” or “recycling”.

 

d.

flood defences (ie levees/dikes);
desalinization plants to replace freshwater losses;
planting of crops in previously unsuitable areas;
water conservation (eg restrictions on use of irrigation/sprinklers);
exploiting areas that have become more productive for crops through climate change;
developing (eg drought-resistant) crops better adapted to areas impacted by climate change;
green roof system that cools the building through evapotranspiration/reflection.

Accept any other reasonable suggestions.
Some strategies can be acknowledged as both adaptive and mitigating eg a “green roof” both reduces impact of climate change by cooling the building (adaptation) and reduces cause of climate change by reducing C emission (mitigation). Such suggestions should not be credited unless the link to reducing impact is made clear.

 

e.

political will/pressure for change may differ due to some countries being more/less committed to their industrial lifestyles/economic growth / inhibited through political corruption;
finance/economics may/may not allow some countries to fund new technologies/infrastructures;
some countries may depend upon others for knowledge transfer/technological assistance to implement resolutions;
religious/political/cultural norms/education in some countries may promote/limit their perception of environmental threats/approach to management;
geographical location of some countries may place them at greater/more immediate risk from impacts of climate change (eg low-lying islands/tropical storm-prone nations) / or offer them greater opportunities for mitigation (eg available sources of alternative energy);
some countries may perceive greater immediate priorities eg war in Syria/poverty in Somalia.

Award [1] for each correct explanation, up to [4 max].
Accept other valid explanations of equivalent validity.
Do not accept eg “Economics” alone without an explanatory note.

 

f.

Examiners report

The majority of candidates were unable to calculate a % increase.

a.

Most could identify CO2 as a greenhouse gas …but a surprisingly large proportion associated its impact incorrectly with the ozone layer/depletion and UV radiation.

b.

A considerable majority correctly identified changes shown in the data and offered valid explanations.

c.

A considerable majority correctly identified changes shown in the data and offered valid explanations.

d.

Only a minority of candidates could offer an example of adaptation strategies.

e.

Most candidates identified one valid reason for differences between countries …incorrect answers were again too vague, e.g. ‘economics’; ‘politics’ …there needed to be at least a degree more explanation. Responses tended to focus on economic/technological differences rather than the geographical and cultural.

f.

Syllabus sections

Topic 7: Climate change and energy production » 7.2 Climate change—causes and impacts
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Topic 7: Climate change and energy production

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