CCA Climate Science & GHG Fundamentals

Question 1

Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential (GWP) over a 100-year timeframe among those covered by the Kyoto Protocol?

Accepted Answer

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)

Answer

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Answer

Methane (CH4)

Answer

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Question 2

What does the term 'CO2 equivalent (CO2e)' allow carbon auditors to do?

Accepted Answer

Express emissions from different GHGs on a common scale based on their warming potential

Answer

Convert metric tons to short tons for US reporting

Answer

Calculate the financial value of carbon credits

Answer

Standardize energy consumption across fuel types

Question 3

According to the IPCC, what is the primary driver of observed climate change since the mid-20th century?

Accepted Answer

Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions

Answer

Natural solar variability

Answer

Volcanic activity

Answer

Changes in Earth's orbital cycles

Question 4

The '1.5°C target' referenced in the Paris Agreement refers to limiting global average temperature rise above:

Accepted Answer

Pre-industrial levels

Answer

1990 baseline temperatures

Answer

Year 2000 temperatures

Answer

The current global average temperature

Question 5

Which of the following is a short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) with a 100-year GWP approximately 28 times that of CO2?

Accepted Answer

Methane (CH4)

Answer

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Answer

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Answer

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Question 6

What is the significance of the atmospheric concentration of CO2 reaching 420 ppm (parts per million)?

Accepted Answer

It represents the highest CO2 levels in at least 800,000 years of ice core records

Answer

It is the safe upper limit established by the Paris Agreement

Answer

It marks the threshold for mandatory carbon reporting in the US

Answer

It is the target concentration for net-zero emissions