DP Environmental Systems and Societies Questionbank

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

With reference to Figure 9(a) outline how Iceland’s primary energy consumption has changed over time.

With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 9(c) outline two possible reasons why energy demand declined in Iceland after 2008.

To what extent might Iceland be viewed as a role model for sustainability by other countries?

The use of renewable resources is not always sustainable due to the activities involved in their production.

Justify this statement for a named source of renewable energy.

Increasing concern for energy security is likely to lead to more sustainable energy choices.

Discuss the validity of this statement, with reference to named countries.

Outline two reasons why the value of resources like Uranium can change over time.

Using evidence from the resource booklet, justify from an ecocentric viewpoint why the Husab Uranium Project should not be approved.

Environmental value systems may be seen as having both inputs and outputs as shown in the diagram below:

As a society develops over time from an original pioneer population, various influences may have caused changes in their common value systems and decisions.

With reference to energy sources in a developed country (MEDC), discuss how historical changes in internal and external factors have influenced their environmental value systems and decisions on energy supply.

Apart from global warming and ozone-depletion, state one pollution problem that may affect a number of countries.

Explain the factors which influence the choice of energy sources in two different societies.

Discuss how a Deep Ecologist and a Cornucopian may differ in their approach to this project.

Using Figure 8, estimate the percentage of world oil equivalent consumption that came from renewable sources in 2011.

Using Figure 7, suggest one reason why per capita oil equivalent consumption is greater in some regions than in others.

Environmental value systems such as ecocentrism and technocentrism may determine the approaches taken to resource management.

Discuss which of these value systems you consider most appropriate in its approach to the management of fossil fuel resources. Support your conclusion with valid reasons or evidence.

Explain how the inequitable distribution of natural resources can lead to conflict.

Discuss the role of humans in the destabilization of ecological systems.

Even though there is growing global support for ecocentric values, the global consumption of fossil fuels continues to rise each year.

With reference to energy choices in named countries, discuss possible reasons for this situation occurring.

With reference to information in the resource booklet, evaluate the sustainability of Canada’s management of the Large Ocean Management Area of the St Lawrence River estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence.

To what extent does sustainability play a role in making decisions about energy and climate change policies at national and international levels? 

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

With reference to Figures 6(c), 7(a) and 7(b) explain the problems associated with land restoration in Iceland.

Evaluate the possible impacts of climate change on Iceland.

Identify two reasons why the future size of the Atlantic puffin population is difficult to predict.

Outline the evidence that CO₂ acts as a greenhouse gas.

State a greenhouse gas other than CO₂.

Disturbance of the composition and processes of the atmospheric system through human activity always disturbs the equilibria of marine systems.

Discuss the validity of this statement with reference to named examples.

With reference to named examples, distinguish between a primary and secondary pollutant.

Explain two factors which lead to a loss of marine (ocean) biodiversity.

Distinguish between the causes of recent global warming and those of ozone depletion.

Explain the impact of global warming and ozone depletion on coastal ecosystems.

Calculate the percentage increase of global CO₂ emissions from 1992 to 2012.

CO₂ is considered a greenhouse gas. Identify two other greenhouse gases.

Natural systems achieve equilibrium through feedback systems. Explain how feedback mechanisms would be associated with an increase in mean global temperature.

The impacts of acid rain on terrestrial ecosystems may include acidified soils, leaching of nutrients, release of toxins and damage to vegetation. The impacts of global warming on these systems may include desertification, flooding, loss of species and shifting of biomes.

For terrestrial ecosystems, discuss the difficulty of managing the impacts of acid rain compared to that of managing the impacts of global warming.

Identify one factor that may be causing long-term changes in sea ice cover.

Calculate the percentage change in sea ice cover from March 1979 to March 2012 and from September 1979 to September 2012 in Figure 4(c).

Describe the trend seen in the sea ice cover data in Figure 4(b).

Discuss how global warming may affect the distribution and diversity of ecosystems.

Evaluate contrasting human perceptions of the issue of global warming.

The long term effects of global warming may influence the carrying capacity for human populations.

Discuss whether global warming is likely to increase or decrease carrying capacity for human populations around the world. Support your conclusion with valid reasons or evidence.

Distinguish between negative and positive feedback using examples from environmental systems.

Evaluate the use of models for predicting climate change.

Tundra ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Discuss the response of two contrasting environmental value systems to the effects of global warming on the tundra.

Explain the potential impact of ocean acidification on environmental systems and societies.

Discuss the role of humans in the destabilization of ecological systems.

Outline how climate change may affect the availability of freshwater resources.

In 2016, the Earth’s atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide reached 400 ppm. Suggest the potential impacts of high levels of greenhouse gases on human societies in different locations.

Outline two possible effects of climate change on marine coastal ecosystems within the Coral Triangle.

Climate can both influence, and be influenced by, terrestrial food production systems.

To what extent can terrestrial food production strategies contribute to a sustainable equilibrium in this relationship?

Suggest why the St Lawrence River beluga whale population has not recovered despite being given protected status in 1983.

With reference to Figure 9(a), explain why the realized niche of the mottled sculpin has changed in recent years.

With reference to information in the resource booklet, evaluate the sustainability of Canada’s management of the Large Ocean Management Area of the St Lawrence River estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence.

To what extent is pollution impacting human food production systems?

Explain, with the use of a system diagram, how human activities affect flows in the global water cycle.

To what extent do the approaches and strategies of different environmental value systems improve access to fresh water?

Figures 9(a) and 9(b) in the resource booklet provide information about the production of ethanol from sugar as a biofuel.

Explain how biofuel production can be used as a strategy to control greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil.

Figures 9(a) and 9(b) in the resource booklet provide information about the production of ethanol from sugar as a biofuel.

Outline one limitation for using biofuels as a strategy to control greenhouse gas emissions.

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

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

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

Outline how the mitigation strategy shown in Figure 1 is different to an adaptation strategy for managing climate change.

Identify two mitigation strategies to manage climate change, other than carbon capture and storage.

Outline how Flows 1 and 2 shown in Figure 1 may contribute to the capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Environmental value systems may lead to different approaches to addressing the issue of global warming. Discuss which environmental value system(s) you consider to be most appropriate in the management of global warming.

The impacts of acid rain on terrestrial ecosystems may include acidified soils, leaching of nutrients, release of toxins and damage to vegetation. The impacts of global warming on these systems may include desertification, flooding, loss of species and shifting of biomes.

For terrestrial ecosystems, discuss the difficulty of managing the impacts of acid rain compared to that of managing the impacts of global warming.

Discuss how different environmental philosophies can affect the choice of pollution management strategies in response to global warming.

The long term effects of global warming may influence the carrying capacity for human populations.

Discuss whether global warming is likely to increase or decrease carrying capacity for human populations around the world. Support your conclusion with valid reasons or evidence.

To what extent do anthropocentric value systems dominate the international efforts to address climate change?

With reference to Figure 6, outline the effectiveness of mangroves and tropical rainforests in the mitigation of climate change.

Identify four strategies for limiting the impact of burning fossil fuels without reducing their use.

To what extent does sustainability play a role in making decisions about energy and climate change policies at national and international levels?