Final Essay Questions

docx

School

University of Victoria *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

314

Subject

Geography

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by DrThunderJaguar8

Final Essay Questions GEOG 314 A01 Essay Question 1: Referring to concepts we examined in the course -- discuss the positive and negative implications of plant-based tuna. Plant-based tuna is a type of food that is made from plants, rather than fish. This type of food can have both positive and negative environmental implications, depending on how it is produced and consumed. One positive environmental implication of plant-based tuna is that it can help to reduce overfishing and the negative impact that fishing can have on the marine ecosystems. Currently, tuna is considered an endangered specie due to exploitation and the high demand for tuna all over the world. Population is estimated to have decreased by over 51% in the last 40 years (IUCN Redlist, 2015). For example, plant-based tuna does not require the harvesting of fish, which can help to preserve fish populations and maintain the balance of species in the ocean (Rolfe, 2018). Fully mature tuna appears to have a trophic level of about 4, which means they are highly situated in the food web of the pelagic ecosystem (Sarà and Sarà, 2007). This shows the importance tuna fish play in the ecosystem and how they can deeply disrupt the food chain if their population keeps decreasing. Another positive environmental implication of plant-based tuna is that it can help to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals and pollutants that enter the ocean through fishing. Traditional tuna fishing often involves the use of chemicals and other pollutants, which can harm marine life and compromise the health of the ocean (Fay, 2017). This goes beyond harming marine life, tuna which is a fish that lives for many years have been found with high levels mercury due to the highly polluted oceans. The consequences of it are that humans end up consuming the fish with high levels of mercury. This are some of the pollutants that plant-based tuna is not exposed to nor those it contains. Plant-based tuna does not require the use of these harmful chemicals, which can help to protect the ocean and its inhabitants (Shi, Li, & Chen, 2018). On the negative side, however, the production of plant-based tuna can still have some negative environmental impacts. For example, growing crops to use in plant-based tuna requires land, water, and other resources, which can lead to habitat destruction and other environmental problems (Shi, Li, & Chen, 2018). In addition, the processing and transportation of plant-based tuna can also generate greenhouse gas

emissions and other forms of pollution (Fay, 2017). One of the biggest negative aspects of plant-based tuna is its high price. This can discourage a lot of people from even trying it or consuming it on a regular basis. If consumers do not buy it, then it does not matter how good the alternative is, it won’t work. Overall, plant-based tuna has the potential to be a good substitute for tuna and help relief the high demand and exploitation there currently is for this fish. But is also as important to analyze the potential environmental implications plant-based tuna may have in the long run and find ways to keep it as environmentally friendly as possible. References: Fay, J. (2017). The environmental impact of tuna fishing. Oceana. https://oceana.org/blog/environmental-impact-tuna-fishing IUCN Redlist,(2015). Thunnus thynnus. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21860/0 Rolfe, J. (2018). The sustainability of plant-based tuna. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(10), 5686-5687. Sarà, G. and Sarà, R. (2007). Feeding habits and trophic levels of bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus of different size classes in the Mediterranean Sea. J. Appl. Ichthyol 23: 122-127. Shi, L., Li, X., & Chen, H. (2018). A life cycle assessment of plant-based tuna substitutes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 3686-3695. Essay Question 2:

Describe examples where pollution is being managed using the “ban it, tax it, or trade it” approach. Provide details like where, when, and who made the policy.(The following examples are off-limits because we looked at them in class already: heavy metals like mercury and lead, greenhouse gases like CO2; ozone depleting chemicals like CFCs; and sulphur dioxide.) The "ban it, tax it, or trade it" approach is a common way to manage pollution, and it has been used in a variety of contexts. For example, many cities have banned the use of plastic bags to reduce plastic pollution, while others have implemented a tax on plastic bags to encourage people to use fewer of them. This approach has been used in many ways all over the world and has showed encouraging results. The best aspect of it is how easy it can be to implement and how fast results can be seen. An example of the “ban it, tax it, or trade it” approach is in Mexico City where single use plastics are being banned. This started in 2022, when the law to ban single use plastics was approved and started to be enforced on January of 2021. The law was initially proposed but the Ecological Party of Mexico a few years earlier but was not approved until 2020. This law was inspired in what other countries were doing at the time to reduce the use of plastic and force business to use alternatives options. The first country to enforce a similar law was Bangladesh in 2002 when they banned the use of plastic bags. The law of single use plastics in Mexico City mainly focuses on single use items made up fully of plastic or even partially for example: plastic bags, plastic straws, packages, cutlery, etc. This law has had its positive aspect but also its negative sides. Right away when it was enforced the public was quick to applaud the initiative and support it. The biggest change was the plastic bags being taken off all supermarket and being replaced with reusable bags. The downside of the law is that not all the alternatives are environmentally friendly which defeats the purpose of it. An example is the use of wood or paper to replace plastic. Another example of this approach is California banning the sale of all cars that are not zero emission by 2035. This is called the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule, which was approved in 2022, by the California Air Resources Board. California is the first state in the U.S to have such an aggressive approach towards a reduction of cars that emit pollution. The results of this approach and other initiatives have proven successful as California is the sate with the most electric vehicles registered per 100,000 in all the U.S. Overall, the “ban, tax, or trade it” approach is one of the most effective ways to enforce changes and help the environment based on how today’s society works. Not everyone is willing to change their

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

lifestyle in order to help the environment, but when there are incentives or higher costs, companies and citizens tend to do what is best for their own interests and economic situation. References: Gómez, A. (2022). Impuestos ambientales: Explicación, ejemplos y utilidad – CIEP. https://ciep.mx/impuestos-ambientales-explicacion-ejemplos-y-utilidad/ Gilligan C. (2022). States With The Most Electric Vehicles . U.S and World Report News. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2022-08-19/states-with-the-most-electric-vehicles Reglamento de la Ley General para la Prevencion y Gestion Integral de los Residuos. (2022). http://www.ordenjuridico.gob.mx/Documentos/Federal/html/wo88549.html Sullivan T. (2022). Charging Ahead: California to Require All New Cars Sold to Be Zero Emissions in 2035. https://www.bdlaw.com/publications/charging-ahead-california-to-require-all-new- cars-sold-to-be-zero-emissions-in-2035/#:~:text=2022News%20Alert-,Charging%20Ahead%3A %20California%20to%20Require%20All%20New%20Cars%20Sold,Be%20Zero%20Emissions%20in %202035&text=On%20August%2025%2C%202022%2C%20the,vehicles%20(ZEVs)%20by%202035 . Essay Question 3: The Suzuki Foundation developed a rating system for carbon offsets.

Which criteria did they select, and why? Discuss the individual criteria and explain why they’re important, using examples. The Suzuki foundation used six criteria to come up with the rating system of carbon offsets. The six criteria they used are: additionality, auditing, unique ownership, permanence, public education, and vendor transparency. The first four (additionality, auditing, unique ownership, and permanence) are basic offset quality criteria and very commonly used. The last two (public education and vendor transparency) are mainly focused on the vendor itself. Is also important to add big part of why these criteria were chosen over others is how measurable they are. This is important since there are some criteria like leakage that may be hard to measure. The first criteria used is additionality, it refers to actions being taken in addition to the law and the minimum requirements for a project to function. Additionality is important because projects can sell their offsets as if they are reducing greenhouse emissions when they are just complying with the law and standards. Therefore, there is not additional benefit, just a company complying with the minimum standards. The reason they chose additionality was mainly to see what companies had their offsets certified and which certificates they got. The more rigorous the certification the higher the score. Auditing is a way to check and verify that everything being said about the offsets being sold is true. In most cases, auditing is done by a third party to avoid conflict of interests. Auditing is one of the most important parts of the whole process. For purposes of this survey, auditing was used to check what companies had their offsets reviewed by a third party. Unique ownership is the next criteria used for the rating. It is defined as the established clear ownership rights of the offsets. This is crucial since it avoids the same offset from being sold more than once to different owners. Unique ownership points were granted in the survey based on the percentage of offsets that are publicly sold and retired. The fourth criteria, permanence is defined as how long the offsets environmental benefits can last. Some projects do not have any issue with this regulation; but projects like tree planting can suffer damages and therefore reverse the offsets benefits and even cause damages to environment. For permanence, points were granted based on the risks of pollution caused by a project in the long run. Public education stands for what the vendors due to educate others about greenhouse emissions and how everyone can contribute to reduce their greenhouse emissions. This information is usually posted in places like the vendor’s website. Informing the public and clients is an extra effort to help fight the environment since it is not a requirement in the eyes of the law. To get points for public education, vendors had to not only show information about climate change in their website, but also to promote action towards reducing greenhouse emissions. Lastly, the sixth criteria are transparency. The best way for vendors to successfully satisfy their clients and help the environment is to be 100% transparent with their operations and how

things work. This helps buyers feel more confident and it shows what the company stands for and how they are creating these offsets. Points were granted for the information the vendors had available on their website about their projects. Overall, these criteria can be useful guide to create a clearer picture of what each vendor stands for and how reliable they are. Is important to keep pressuring authorities to keep vendors in check and make sure the market works in the best interests of reducing greenhouse emissions. References: Purchasing Carbon Offsets A Guide for Canadian Consumers, Businesses, and Organizations . (2009). David Suzuki Foundation & Pembina Institute file:///Users/josegutierrez/Downloads/suzuki_climate_offset_guide.pdf Essay Question 4:

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Referring to the Climate Leadership Plan Progress Report (2020) for the City of Victoria —what % below 2007 emissions is Victoria promising to reduce emissions to, by 2030? By 2050? For the buildings, mobility (transportation), and waste sectors —explain which actions are already underway, and which are just starting (early stages). The Climate Leadership Plan Progress Report (2020) for the City of Victoria details what the environmental goals and what is needed achieve it. Is very detailed and a great example for other small cities that want to reduce their ecological footprint. The percentage below 2007 emissions Victoria is promising to reduce to by 2030 is 50% and by 2050 is 80%. This is a very hard and ambitious goal because GHG have been down since 2007 by only 11%. The population in Victoria keeps growing, but GHG emissions percentages have dropped in recent years. To accomplish their goal, Victoria would have to more than double their current progress by 2030. To achieve these goals, the city of Victoria has structured out an action plan divided in the following sectors: Low Carbon High-Performance Buildings, Low Carbon Mobility, Low Carbon Waste Management, Municipal Operations, and Adapting Early. For purposes of this essay, I will just focus on the first three sectors. For each there are different action plans and thresholds expected to be met. In the buildings sector there are multiple actions already underway, and some are at early stages. The three most important plans that are already underway for buildings are: Implement a transition plan to phase out heating oil systems in residential, commercial, and institutional properties by 2030, Design and deliver an innovative program for bundled and easy-to-achieve home energy retrofits, and adopt the BC Energy Step Code, creating a roadmap towards net-zero energy ready buildings by 2030. The two early stages plan for budlings that I find the most interesting are: Design and deliver customized deep energy retrofit programs for commercial buildings and assess opportunities to accelerate renewable natural gas. Mobility makes up for about 40% of GHG produced by the community. That is why mobility is such a vital part of the plan. The three main targets for mobility by 20230 are: 25% of all trips by Victoria residents taken by public transportation, 100% of BC transit busses in Victoria are 100% renewably powered, and residents choose to walk or bike for 55% of all their trips. The two main actions that are already underway are: invest annually in design and construction of new walking and cycling

infrastructure and expand electric vehicle charging stations. The other priority action that is in the early stages is to promote and incentivize comprehensive transportation demand management (TDM) strategies for new development projects. The third main category is waste, which makes up for around 10% of the overall community GHG. The three main actions already underway for waste are: Continually improve the residential kitchen and yard waste collection and diversion programs, Partner with CRD to deliver a regional, industrial treatment facility for organic waste by 2025, and Work with stakeholders to reduce and divert other materials that produce methane when landfilled. There are no early stages actions for waste but there are two future actions plans which are: Work with local stakeholders to reduce food waste from restaurants and to divert it from the landfill, and Partner with CRD and neighbouring municipalities to get more value from organic waste through pilot programs that stimulate new demand and keep nutrients in the region. Overall, all this action plans are doable in their timelines and can have huge impacts in the environment. If successful, it can also serve as an example for other smaller cities on how to reduce GHG and have a more environmentally friendly city. References: City of Victoria (2020). City of Victoria Climate Progress Report. victoria.ca/climateaction

Essay Question 5: Abbott and Chapman give a series of recommendations (108 in total). Considering wildfires in BC, select 5 that have concrete actions. (These could be about planning/preparedness, prevention/mitigation, response, or recovery.) For each of the ones you’ve picked, explain how this would benefit BOTH Indigenous people and the province as a whole. For purposes of the essay, I put the recommendation as it is on the report and then explained why it would benefit both indigenous people and the province as a whole. “BC establish annual, intergovernmental preparedness workshops with First Nations and local governments to support consistent understanding of emergency operations, roles and responsibilities. • Ensure workshops are held in local communities • Consider and plan for the impact of multijurisdictional emergency events • Provide consistent training • Ensure egress (evacuation) routes are established and that the status of alternate roads is known and communicated Rationale — Partnerships among multiple levels of government must be well-defined, articulated and exercised regularly, outside disaster events, to be most effective in an emergency.” (Abbot & Chapman, 2018) The establishment of an annual intergovernmental preparedness workshop with First Nations and local governments can hugely benefit the whole province. Firstly, everyone will be informed on what actions to take, who is responsible for what, and they can all share knowledge on how to act in case of an emergency. First Nations can benefit from an annual workshop because they would be better prepared and would feel integrated and part of the decision-making process from the government side. The province would be the biggest beneficiary of this because there would not be anyone ill prepared for the fires and the whole community would know what to do. The biggest key is having the government and First Nations working together. “Canada and/or BC equip First Nations communities and rural and remote communities so they can respond to wildfires through training and development of equipment caches. Rationale — These small communities would be much stronger and better.” (Abbot & Chapman, 2018)

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

To equip First Nations and rural remote communities should be a priority for the BC government and the Canadian government. The main beneficiaries of this are the rural communities and First Nations because emergency services are not always available to quickly reach every part of the affected areas. Having the rural communities equipped and trained to act in case of an emergency can be the difference of saving many lives. The province would benefit of this because having some communities equipped and prepared for emergencies can relief some of the load of first responders and give them more time to focus on the more severely affected areas. “Increase the number of basic firefighters by providing open access to S-100 training for all natural resource sector staff, industry, First Nations, communities, ranchers and other tenure holders. Rationale — With a focus on mentorship and preparedness planning, this recommendation could be facilitated through emergency management education and training programs at trade institutions.” (Abbot & Chapman, 2018) Having more people trained in basic firefighting techniques would increase the number of available firefighters. This would be especially beneficial in rural and remote areas where access to professional firefighters may be limited. By providing this training to Indigenous people and other tenure holders, it would help to empower these communities and give them the skills and knowledge they need to protect their lands and resources from wildfires. This could be especially important in the context of climate change, as warmer and drier conditions are expected to increase the frequency and severity of wildfires in the province. Making S-100 training more accessible and affordable for everyone, can encourage more people to take the course and become certified firefighters. This could ultimately lead to a more diverse and well-trained firefighting workforce, which would benefit the entire province. “Develop a basic disaster response financing fund for communities to immediately access once an Emergency Operations Centre has been activated. Rationale — We believe this recommendation will ensure resources are in place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and people who need to evacuate, if required.” (Abbot & Chapman, 2018) There are several potential benefits to establishing this type of fund. For Indigenous communities, having access to immediate financial support during a disaster can help to reduce the financial burden and stress that often accompanies these types of events. It can also help to ensure that these communities have

the resources they need to evacuate safely and effectively, if necessary. Additionally, a disaster response financing fund can benefit the province by helping to ensure that all communities are able to respond to disasters effectively and efficiently. This can help to reduce the overall impact of disasters on the province, which can save lives, protect infrastructure, and minimize economic disruption. “BC provide a clear point of contact for evacuees and those facing relocation during recovery, restoration or rebuilding of homes or other infrastructure within Indigenous and nonIndigenous communities. Rationale — Safety of people is the top priority and families need to stay together, whenever possible. Knowing your loved ones are safe and taken care of brings peace of mind” (Abbot & Chapman, 2018) For Indigenous people, having a clear point of contact would provide them with a reliable source of information and support during a difficult time. It would ensure that they have access to the resources and assistance they need to evacuate safely, find temporary housing, and begin the process of rebuilding their homes and communities. For the province, having a clear point of contact would help to coordinate and streamline the recovery and rebuilding efforts. It would ensure that evacuees and those facing relocation are able to access the services and support they need in a timely and efficient manner, which would help to minimize the disruption. Overall, these recommendations can help the province deal with wildfires, but also help build a sense of community by having everyone work together. Reference: Abbott G & Chapman M. Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia. (2018). https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/ emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/bc-flood-and-wildfire-review-addressing-the-new- normal-21st-century-disaster-management-in-bc-web.pdf

Essay Question 6: From Glenys Verhulst’s presentation on the Saanich Climate Plan — select three of the “Impacts to our Community” discussed. Describe adaptations (for individuals or larger entities like governments) for coping with these impacts, that can reduce damage and risk to life. (For the purposes of this question, you can count heat and smoke as separate impacts. Please note that this question focuses on adaptation, not mitigation measures like emissions reduction.) Also — which (2) technologies have the “greatest GHG reduction potential” for Saanich? In Glenys Verhulst’s presentation, she discussed a couple of impacts to our community that we can suffer and out of all of those I want to focus on: compromised food production, health impacts from severe heat, and temporary and permanent flooding of buildings and infrastructure from sea-level rise. There are many factors that have affected the food chain and will keep happening, but I will focus on the side effects of compromised food production due to climate change. As more extreme weather keeps happening all over the world and the climate keeps changing, one of the biggest areas affected by it is the food chain supply. Some ways to adapt to all these changes is by diversifying food sources. This could involve growing a variety of crops and raising different types of animals, as well as exploring alternative sources of protein, such as insects or plant-based protein. To protect against potential disruptions to the food supply, individuals and governments can invest in food storage and preservation techniques. This could include building grain silos, developing advanced food packaging technologies, and implementing food safety regulations. Another way to adapt is by supporting small-scale agriculture such as backyard gardens or small community farms/gardens. Governments can help support these efforts by providing resources. The best way to adapt to the changes in food supply and production is to be prepared and have other options available rather than being dependent on others. As sea levels continue to rise, another reality society will face is dealing with temporary and permanent flooding of buildings and infrastructure. There are multiple ways to adapt to the situation to make it work. Some actions that can be taken is to avoid constructing on high flooding areas. Implement building regulations to make sure new budlings are better prepared for flooding. Put up flood defenses like sea walls to avoid further damage. Create a coastal forests or wetlands to help deal with all excess water. All this are ways in which individuals and the government can adapt to the sea level rising and avoid bigger damages and injuries.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

One of the biggest issues in Saanich and in the rest of the world are the extreme weathers. Mainly in Saanich, the hot summer that in recent years are starting to become the new normal. This represents a big risk since the district is not well prepared to keep having such long summer with record breaking temperatures each year. To cope with the health impacts, there are some steps that can be taken. First and foremost is important that everyone stays hydrated, avoid outdoors physical activities during the hottest parts of the day, and stay in air-conditioned places as much as possible. The government can provide heat relief places throughout the city so individuals can have a place to hydrate and cool down. Use an effective heat alert to warn everyone about the heat conditions and what recommendations to follow. Finally, provide extra aid to those who are more vulnerable to avoid a collapse of the health system. Overall, is equally as important to have plans for mitigation as it is to have plans of adaptive response to be prepared for any scenario. One of the biggest takes aways from the presentation is that the two technologies with the greatest GHG reduction potential are electric vehicles and renewable energy for home heating. References: Arbuthnott, Katherine G., and Shakoor Hajat. "The health effects of hotter summers and heat waves in the population of the United Kingdom: a review of the evidence." Environmental health 16.1 (2017): 1-13. Fresco, Louise O. "Challenges for food system adaptation today and tomorrow." Environmental science & policy 12.4 (2009): 378-385. Hill, Kristina. "Coastal infrastructure: a typology for the next century of adaptation to sea‐level rise." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 13.9 (2015): 468-476. Heyder, M., L. Theuvsen, and Z. von Davier. "Strategies for coping with uncertainty: the adaptation of food chains to volatile markets." Journal on Chain and Network Science 10.1 (2010): 17-25. Paloviita, Ari, and Marja Järvelä. Climate change adaptation and food supply chain management: an overview . Routledge, 2015.

Final Essay Questions

Related Documents