1. Describe the toxic effects of mercury and its compounds and explain how we are exposed to these toxins. (3 points)
Climate Disruption/Atmospheric Warming â Please answer each question separately in this series of short essays, using your own words. (6 points total) Iâve assigned the number of points required to minimally answer each one, but extra credit may be earned for demonstrating a thorough understanding.
2. Describe a) the Earthâs natural greenhouse effect and the atmospheric gases involved and b) the enhanced greenhouse effect and its consequences. (1 point)
3. In what ways do oceans help moderate climate change? Describe the harmful positive feedback mechanisms involved. (1 point)
4. Thoroughly describe the effects of melting land ice and snow - such as glaciers in Greenland and the Himalayas - on the environment and on people. Describe the positive feedback mechanisms involved. (1.5 points)
5. Describe why melting sea ice does not contribute significantly to sea level rise. (A knowledge of basic physics or chemistry will help.) (0.5 point)
6. So, what ARE the major harmful effects caused by melting sea ice? (1 point)
7. Describe the role of melting permafrost in climate disruption, and the positive feedback mechanisms involved. (1 point)
Risk
8. What are the three major risks you face from each of the following a) your lifestyle, b) where you live, and c) what you do for a living? Which of these is voluntary and which are involuntary? What steps can you take to reduce these risks? (3 points)
Green taxes, tax shifting
9. Summarize how we can discourage pollution and resource waste by taxing it. Why is the United States Congress slow to enact green taxes? (3 points)
Individuals (in Business) Matter
10. Briefly describe Mike Biddleâs contribution to plastics recycling (1 point)
11. Briefly describe three principles of sustainability specifically adopted by Ray Andersonâs carpet company, Interface. (1 point)
Environmental Law
12. Summarize the political controversy over managing the four major types of US public lands. (3 points) For a little extra credit, you may also cite recent news about legislation to open more public land to drilling, mining, logging, etc.
Comprehensive Final Essay: Perverse Subsidies
The negative effects of perverse government subsidies and how they directly compound other problems have been mentioned throughout the textbook and in Myersâ guest essay âPerverse Subsidiesâ. In order to answer the questions below, youâll be gathering your information from various chapters. If you remember sufficient detail without having to look things up, you must say so (âfrom memoryâ). Otherwise, please cite all pages consulted.
NOTE: I am NOT asking for a recap of all the environmental and social problems associated with agriculture, fisheries, mining, etc. (That would be a very long discussion!) Each chapter section describes information specific to subsidies for each industry. Please summarize in your own words. (Total 5 points) Once again, Iâve assigned the number of points required to minimally answer each topic, but extra credit may be earned. This is your chance to pull ahead with your insight into subsidies!
13. Agricultural subsidies
Describe how U.S. government perverse subsidies for industrial agriculture (in general) have negatively affected the environment and society in the U.S. and in other countries. (2 points)
14. Continue to describe the perverse subsidies for each of the following industries, and some of the harmful consequences due to current subsidies: (3 points)
*Fisheries
*Mining
*Oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear power (nonrenewable energy resources)
