Cities and Climate Change Final Study

Which of the following are distinct areas for greenhouse gas emission accounting? Select all that apply.

a) Emission factor
b) Forecast
c) Reduction strategy quantification 
d) Inventory

b, c, d

What is the emission reduction target set by the Paris Agreement?

a) 2-3°C
b) 1.5-2°C
c) 1-2°C
d) 2.5-3°C

b

Which of the following are the most common greenhouse gas assessment protocols for communities? (Select all that apply.)

a) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Protocol

b) Local Government Operations Protocol

c) International Organization for Standardization 14064 Series

d) Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories

e) U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

b, d, e

Greenhouse gas inventories are typically based on direct measurements of emissions.

a) True

b) False

b

The intended goal of a greenhouse gas inventory is to provide a baseline from which to measure progress towards a greenhouse gas reduction target.

a) False

b) True

b

Match each scope to its description:

Direct greenhouse gas emissions, primarily those from moto vehicles and stationary sources such as power plants or factories located at the site of activity

1) scope 1

2) scope 2

3) scope 3

1

Match each scope to its description:

Indirect greenhouse gas associated with the consumption of purchased or acquired electricity, steam, heating, or cooling from an off-site generation source

1) scope 1

2) scope 2

3) scope 3

2

Match each scope to its description:

All other indirect emissions, such as those resulting from purchased goods

1) scope 1

2) scope 2

3) scope 3

3

Greenhouse gas emissions accounting is a set of methods and approaches for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions.

a) True

b) False

a

When choosing a baseline year, communities should select...

a) A year in which GHG emissions are known to have been particularly high

b) The most recent calendar year for which consistent, comprehensive, and reliable data are available

c) A year in which GHG emissions are known to have been particularly low

d) A year in which the community experienced unusual conditions, such as extreme weather or an economic recession

b

Best practice standards for greenhouse gas emissions accounting are changing and improving regularly.

a) True

b) False

a

Local governments commonly use which two types of greenhouse gas inventories? 

a) Community wide inventory

b) Work-in-progress inventory

c) Local government operations inventory

d) Impact assessment inventory

a, c

What was NOT a central cause of suburbanization?

a) The Great Depression

b) Decaying quality of industrialized cities

c) Cheap new transportation technologies that made commuting longer distances affordable

d) Racial prejudice that resulted in "white flight"

a

Since WWII, most urban design and development has:

a) Assumed people will depend on cars for all travel

b) Assumed people will rely more on walking and public transit

c) Assumed people want to live close to where they work

d) Assumed most people live in tenements

a

According to the comprehensive sprawl index developed by Ewing et al., which statement best describes driving habits in sprawling versus compact urban regions?

a) Residents in more sprawling regions tend to drive less compared to those in compact regions.

b) There is no significant difference in driving habits between residents of sprawling and compact regions.

c) Residents in more compact regions tend to drive more than those in sprawling regions.

d) Residents in more sprawling regions tend to drive more compared to those in compact regions.

d

How does compact development reduce the need to drive?

a) Helps people live near locations they need to access regularly

b) Results in more parks

c) Builds homes in rural areas where land is affordable

d) Constructs detached single-family homes

a

Carbon dioxide can be reduced in automobile exhaust with sophisticated emission control systems like catalytic converters, on-board computers, and oxygen sensors.

a) True

b) False

b

In developing reduction strategies, one of the first tasks is to:

a) Identify community partners and establish a participation process

b) Acquire as much funds as possible to implement reduction strategies

c) Buy land to promptly begin redevelopment

d) Start a program to incentivize purchase of electric vehicles

a

Emissions from the industrial sector are especially challenging to address because so much of industrial operations are regulated at the regional, state, and federal levels.

a) True

b) False

a

Co-benefits of waste reduction strategies include which of the following? Choose all that apply

a) Reduced consumption of land for disposal 

b) Improved air quality

c) Immediate reduction of landfill emissions

a, b

A low-carbon community is one that has eliminated all or nearly all human-generated carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions.

a) True

b) False

a

During implementation, it is important to use only one type of reduction strategy at a time.

a) True 

b) False

b

When renters pay more than 50% of their income on rent, they are less likely to make improvements to their homes and are therefore more vulnerable to climate hazards.

a) True

b) False

a

Match each term to its description.

The ways in which climate change may impact a community

a) exposure

b) sensitivity

c) potential impact

d) adaptive capacity

a

Match each term to its description.

The degree to which a climate change impact will affect a community

a) exposure

b) sensitivity

c) potential impact

d) adaptive capacity

c

Match each term to its description.

Aspects of a community potentially affected by climate change impacts

a) exposure

b) sensitivity

c) potential impact

d) adaptive capacity

b

Match each term to its description.

The extent a community is prepared for climate change impacts

a) exposure

b) sensitivity

c) potential impact

d) adaptive capacity

d

Which of the following would be considered a vulnerable subpopulation? Choose all that apply.

a) Individuals that are homeless

b) Communities that are linguistically isolated

c) Low-income individuals

a, b, c

Community cohesion can increase a locality’s adaptive capacity.

a) True

b) False

a

What does a climate vulnerability assessment provide? Choose all that apply.

a) An evaluation of a community’s preparedness to address climate change impacts

b) An evaluation of how impacts may affect the community

c) A plan for how to raise funds to implement climate change strategies

d) An assessment of projected impacts for a community

a, b, d

Why should ozone be of particular concern in urban areas?

a) Higher concentrations of ozone precursors

b) Increased heat due to climate change

c) The “urban heat island” effect

d) All of the above

d

A vulnerability assessment should only consider existing buildings. Including future development projects that have yet to be built will complicate the assessment process.

a) True

b) False

b

It is safe to assume that two populations with the same exposure to a climate impact will be affected to a similar degree.

a) True

b) False

b

Place the steps of a vulnerability assessment in order

a) Potential impact

b) Exposure

c) Adaptive capacity

d) Sensitivity

b, d, a, c

Which of the following factors should be considered when assessing the vulnerability of residents in coastal areas to sea-level rise and its associated impacts?

a) Capacity to make changes to their homes

b) All of the above

c) Proximity to projected flood impacts

d) Ability to evacuate during emergencies

b

Equity and equality are the same.

a) True

b) False

b

How does diesel exhaust affect human health? Select all that apply.

a) Increases cancer risk

b) Contributes to respiratory illnesses

c) Improves cardiovascular health

d) Impacts reproductive health

a, b, d

Many communities prefer the term "environmental justice community" over "disadvantaged community."

a) True

b) False

a

How is park space access typically measured?

a) In total acres of park space

b) In acres of park space per 1,000 residents

c) In acres of park space per city

d) In acres of park space per city council district

b

The CalEnviroScreen is a tool used by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to rank communities on their cumulative exposure and vulnerability to environmental hazards and pollution.

a) True

b) False

a

The climate affects everyone equally, i.e., different racial/ethnic groups experience approximately the same mortality from heat waves and other climate impacts.

a) True

b) False

b

Mike Davis argues that “the single most important cause of global warming” is “the urbanization of humanity.” Which of the following is NOT a reason why?

a) Consumption of land as development spreads outwards

b) Increased energy usage for buildings, transportation, and goods consumption

c) Degradation of natural resources

d) Increased public transit usage increases VMT

d

How is climate change expected to impact California’s agricultural workforce?

a) Climate change will have minimal impact on agriculture or the agricultural workforce.

b) Climate change will disproportionately benefit high-income agricultural workers.

c) Climate impacts to agriculture will disproportionately harm Latinos, who comprise 77% of the agricultural workforce.

d) Climate change will increase employment opportunities in agriculture.

c

Capping the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions and issuing permits to make sure limits are not surpassed may fail to reduce the harm to low-income communities of color.

a) True

b) False

a

Why are low-income urban neighborhoods and communities of color particularly vulnerable to heat waves and higher temperatures? Select all that apply.

a) They tend to have more green spaces nearby.

b) They tend to be surrounded by more buildings and roads.

c) They tend to be surrounded by fewer buildings and roads.

d) They have lower rates of car ownership, making it difficult to relocate to cooler areas or access cooling stations.

b, d

Which measure addresses the risks of drought?

a) Decreasing the amount of parks in urban areas to reduce irrigation costs

b) Focusing on maintaining a single water source

c) Water supply diversification

d) Increasing the amount of impervious surfaces to generate more runoff

c

Which of the following is an example of a potential co-benefit of climate adaptation? Choose all that apply.

a) Improved public health

b) Economic improvement

c) Greenhouse gas emissions reduction

d) Better public safety

a, b, c, d

When prioritizing adaptation measures for implementation, which of the following is NOT a key criteria?

Choose ONE.

a) The effect on the political careers of city officials 

b) Length of implementation period

c) Co-benefits for the communities involved

d) Costs of implementation

a

What role does strong political leadership play in the success of climate change adaptation strategies? Select all that apply.

a) It ensures ongoing evaluation and updates of adaptation measures.

b) It provides the necessary consistency and support for long-term strategies that may not yield quick wins.

c) It guarantees immediate economic benefits from adaptation measures, ensuring public support.

d) It coordinates diverse efforts across departments.

a, b, d

When developing adaptation strategies, how can planners engage vulnerable populations? Select all that apply.

a) By connecting with representatives from all levels of government

b) By developing a network of representatives from local advocacy organizations

c) By educating both residents and city staff, allowing each to better understand the other’s needs

d) By using diverse forms of communication

b, c, d

For local planning, the community is a system because of which of the following?

There is more than one correct answer below.

a) socio-political conditions

b) biophysical setting

c) built environment

a, b, c

Focusing on overall resilience is a strategy for managing the uncertainties of future climate change. 

a) True

b) False

a

Which of the following is NOT an attribute of a resilient community?

Choose ONE.

a) Diversification of financial resources

b) Adapted infrastructure

c) Maintenance of basic ecosystem services

d) Minimal public participation

d

Different ecosystems are vulnerable to different climate impacts, requiring adaptive strategies that are tailored to the unique context of each ecosystem.

a) True

b) False

a

WUI stands for…

a) Wildlife-urbanization interaction

b) Wildland-urban interface

c) Wildfire-urban interface

d) Wilderness-urbanization interaction

b

Bengtsen highlights several reasons for creating environmental street art. What are they? Select all that apply.

a) To highlight nature as an integral part of the city

b) To highlight non-human members of the biotic community

c) To address environmental issues

d) To challenge unsustainable practices by conventional art galleries and museums

a, b, c, d

How does Bengtsen define the difference between street art and graffiti?

a) Graffiti is stigmatized as “mindless vandalism.”

b) Graffiti typically consists of writing that is often stylized to the point that it is illegible to most viewers.

c) Graffiti often addresses a small subculture, while street art seeks to communicate with a wide audience.

d) All of the above.

d

Bengtsen argues against using confrontational or crude language in environmental street art because it reduces the artwork’s ability to communicate a message to a wide audience in a persuasive manner.

a) True

b) False

a

How does being installed in a public space provide additional poignancy and context to an environmental artwork?

a) The artwork can incorporate real elements of the urban environment (e g., grass, buildings) instead of synthetic reproductions.

b) The artwork becomes part of the viewer’s everyday environment.

c) The artwork can become a vehicle for social interaction.

d) All of the above.

d

Bengtsen argues that humor can make environmental street art’s message easier for the average viewer to embrace. Why? Select all reasons provided by Bengtsen.

a) Humor “takes the edge off” harsh commentary.

b) Humor makes the viewer feel clever for having understood the joke.

c) Humor is universal; most people find the same things funny.

d) Humor tends to reinforce the established status quo.

a, b

The meaning and interpretation of a work of environmental street may change dramatically when it is translated from a physical artwork to a digital image to be shared online.

a) True 

b) False

a

What are some of the limitations of viewing a photograph of street art, rather than the art itself in person? Chose all that apply.

a) The artwork cannot serve as an invitation to explore a specific urban environment when the viewer is not physically present in that environment.

b) A photograph can only offer a single vantage point, limiting the viewer to the particular framing and perspective selected by the photographer.

c) A single photograph leaves out most of the urban context that the artwork is embedded within.

d) Digital photography is expensive and therefore inaccessible to most artists.

a, b, c

Many of the environmental street artists discussed by Bengtsen are resisting social media, refusing to share their artwork digitally, on the grounds that it fundamentally alters the nature of the work.

a) True

b) False

b

Bengtsen discusses artists’ increasing use of social media to share environmental street art. What explanations does the author give? Select all that apply.

a) Because the materials used in the original artwork tend to be ephemeral, the artwork will have a longer second life as a digital image.

b) Because the original artwork is situated in an urban public space, it is vulnerable to removal.

c) Social media posts are more easily monetized than street art produced in a public space.

d) The original artwork will be seen by people who use the public space in which it was situated, while the digital version can be seen by a much wider audience.

a, b, d

What are some of the advantages of sharing street art via a photograph discussed by Bengtsen?

a) The artist can provide accompanying text (captions, hashtags, etc.) to explain the work and guide the viewer’s interpretation of it.

b) Photographic images are easier to generate quickly via AI, as opposed to physical objects like sculptures and murals.

c) In taking the photograph, the artist can control how the artwork is framed and viewed.

d) In taking the photograph, the artist can emphasize particular details.

a, c, d

Which of the following is important for implementing a climate action plan?

There is MORE than one answer.

a) Communicating co-benefits regularly and clearly to the public

b) Cultivating partnerships with local partners

c) Forming an implementation team

d) Empowering staff to participate in emission reduction efforts

a, b, c, d

Which strategy would be most helpful in creating grassroots capability for community-based climate action planning?

a) Increasing industrial activity to provide jobs

b) Building businesses’ financial capital

c) Focusing solely on government-led initiatives

d) Building residents’ social capital

d

A Climate Action Plan Tax model allows utilities to assess a tax based on usage and is intended to discourage use and raise funds.

a) True

b) False

a

When figuring out how to ensure a climate action plan will be implemented, it is important to consider all of the following EXCEPT:

a) Who will be responsible for oversight

b) How implementation will be monitored and evaluated

c) How monitoring can be crowdsourced

d) How implementation will be funded

c

What are some of the benefits of integrating climate action into a city’s comprehensive plan? Choose all that apply.

a) The comprehensive plan is an existing, recognized legal document.

b) It allows co-benefits to be publicized easily.

c) Comprehensive plan implementation is usually connected to specific departments.

a, c

Finding funds is the easiest part of implementation because climate action is typically a community's top priority.

a) True

b) False

b

A benefit of broadening action is that it spreads responsibility for climate action across departments rather than in a single department or agency.

a) True

b) False

a

Which of the following is NOT a reason for integrating climate action policies into comprehensive land use plans?

a) The comprehensive plan is an existing, recognized legal instrument for implementing policies.

b) Comprehensive plans are linked to specific departments, which facilitates accountability.

c) It significantly minimizes political conflict.

d) There are often overlaps in issue areas.

c

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a potential funding source for implementing climate action strategies?

a) Residents' personal savings

b) Carbon-offset programs

c) Bonds

d) Government grants

a

Which of the following are ways to broaden action to facilitate implementation? Check all that apply.

a) Ensure all departments are tracking greenhouse gas emissions

b) Include the process of broadening action in the climate action plan

c) Ensure climate goals are a part of the municipal budget

d) Review projects to evaluate how climate change will present risks

a, b, c, d