Climate Change Mitigation Plans 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which international framework established nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as the primary mechanism for country-level climate mitigation commitments?
- Kyoto Protocol
- Paris Agreement (Correct answer)
- Copenhagen Accord
- Montreal Protocol
Correct answer: Paris Agreement
The 2015 Paris Agreement introduced NDCs, requiring each signatory nation to set and update its own emission reduction targets.
Question 2: A city wants to cut transportation emissions fastest. Which mitigation strategy typically delivers the largest near-term reduction?
- Mandating electric buses on all routes (Correct answer)
- Expanding highways to reduce idling
- Planting urban street trees
- Installing smart traffic lights
Correct answer: Mandating electric buses on all routes
Electrifying bus fleets removes direct tailpipe emissions from high-frequency, high-ridership routes, providing the largest fleet-wide impact quickly.
Question 3: What does 'carbon neutrality' require that simple 'emissions reduction' does not?
- Reducing energy use by 50%
- Offsetting or removing remaining emissions to reach net zero (Correct answer)
- Switching entirely to nuclear power
- Eliminating all fossil fuel imports
Correct answer: Offsetting or removing remaining emissions to reach net zero
Carbon neutrality means balancing residual emissions with equivalent removals or offsets, whereas reduction alone still allows a net positive output.
Question 4: Which sector is the largest source of US greenhouse gas emissions as of recent EPA inventories?
- Agriculture
- Industry
- Transportation (Correct answer)
- Buildings
Correct answer: Transportation
Transportation overtook electricity generation as the top US GHG sector, driven by cars, trucks, and aviation burning petroleum fuels.
Question 5: Afforestation differs from reforestation in that afforestation involves:
- Replanting trees in recently deforested areas
- Planting trees on land that was not previously forested (Correct answer)
- Genetically engineering faster-growing trees
- Harvesting mature forests for bioenergy
Correct answer: Planting trees on land that was not previously forested
Afforestation creates new forests on land historically used for other purposes, while reforestation restores previously forested areas.
Question 6: Which policy mechanism puts a direct price on each ton of CO₂ emitted by covered industries?
- Renewable portfolio standard
- Carbon tax (Correct answer)
- Production tax credit
- Fuel economy standard
Correct answer: Carbon tax
A carbon tax levies a fee per unit of CO₂ emitted, making high-carbon activities more expensive and incentivizing cleaner alternatives.
Question 7: The concept of 'co-benefits' in climate mitigation refers to:
- Shared funding between two countries
- Non-climate benefits like improved air quality that result from mitigation actions (Correct answer)
- Joint carbon credits issued to two firms
- Dual reduction of CO₂ and methane simultaneously
Correct answer: Non-climate benefits like improved air quality that result from mitigation actions
Co-benefits are positive side effects of mitigation policies — such as reduced asthma rates from cleaner air — that strengthen the case for action.
Climate Change Mitigation Plans 2
Which international framework established nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as the primary mechanism for country-level climate mitigation commitments?