Question 1: Define 'carbon footprint' and explain its significance in the context of climate change.

Answer: A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, emitted directly or indirectly by human activities. It is significant because it contributes to global warming and climate change.

Question 2: Describe one common method used to measure an individual's or organisation's carbon footprint.

Answer: One common method is to calculate emissions from energy consumption, travel, and waste by using emission factors and activity data.

Question 1: Explain how burning fossil fuels leads to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Answer: Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and contribute to global warming.

Question 2: Which greenhouse gas is most commonly associated with vehicle emissions?

Answer:

Question 1: Calculate the amount of CO2 emitted when a car travels 150 km, given that the car emits 0.2 kg of CO2 per km. Use the formula: Total CO2 emission = distance (km) × emission factor (kg/km).

Answer: 30 kg

Question 2: A factory releases 500 tonnes of methane (CH4) annually. Convert this to its equivalent CO2 emissions using the global warming potential (GWP) of 25 for methane.

Answer: 12500 tonnes of CO2e

Question 1: Design a simple experiment to measure the carbon dioxide emissions from burning different types of biomass (e.g., wood, paper). Include the variables you would control and safety precautions to consider.

Answer: Students would set up a combustion chamber for each biomass sample, measure the volume of CO2 produced using a gas syringe or sensor, control variables such as amount of material and oxygen supply, and wear safety goggles and gloves due to heat and potential fumes.

Question 1: A report states that a city’s annual carbon emissions are 2 million tonnes of CO2. If the city implements measures to reduce emissions by 20%, how much CO2 will be saved annually?

Answer: 400,000 tonnes of CO2

Question 2: Discuss two potential impacts on the environment if a significant reduction in urban carbon emissions is achieved.

Answer: Possible impacts include a decrease in the greenhouse effect leading to lower global temperatures and improved air quality, which benefits public health and reduces respiratory diseases.

Question 1: Explain the relationship between human activities, carbon footprint, and climate change. Include examples to support your answer.

Answer: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes increase greenhouse gas emissions, thereby enlarging the carbon footprint. This enhances the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat in the atmosphere and leading to climate change, exemplified by rising global temperatures and melting ice caps.

Question 1: Describe how renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, help reduce an individual or organisation's carbon footprint.

Answer: Renewable energy technologies generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering overall carbon emissions.

Question 2: Identify one industry that has significantly reduced its carbon footprint in recent years and briefly explain how.

Answer: The transportation industry has adopted electric vehicles, which produce no tailpipe emissions, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.