CHM 212- CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES II
ISSUE #1
SHOULD THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD COMMIT TO SPECIFIC GOALS FOR THE
REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES?
C. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry, Elmhurst College;
Elmhurst, IL. Copyright 2000
Issue 1 Introduction
Debate Question
Internet Resource Sites
Issue 1 On-line Discussion
GLOBAL CLIMATE WARMING DEBATE
The final part of this exercise is the "Global Warming
Debate ", where you will use the information and
concepts from all the sources to engage other students in a general
debate. The instructor will divide the class into groups for the
debate. The groups should eventually reach a consensus on one
of the the options listed below.
The "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"
was adopted by a large number of nations at the 1992 "Earth
Summit" in Rio de Janeiro.
General reference:
Click on Climate Change or go directly to
Beginners
Guide to The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change
For more information to be used in the debate check out
some of the Internet Resources lower on this
page.
At this time firm targets and timetables were established in 1997,
in a new effort in Koyto, Japan. A
summary of the Koyto Agreement.
2. ...endorse the Second Assessment Report of the IPCC as currently
the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the science
of climate change, its impacts and response options now available.
....should provide a scientific basis for urgently strengthening
action at the global, regional and national levels, ... to limit
and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and for all Parties
to support the development of a Protocol; and note the findings
of the IPCC, in particular the following:
- The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence
on global climate. Without specific policies to mitigate climate
change, the global average surface temperature relative to 1990
is projected to increase by about 2 C (between 1 C and 3.5 C)
by 2100; average sea level is projected to rise by about 50 centimeters
(between 15 and 95 centimeters) above present levels by 2100.
Stabilization of atmospheric concentrations at twice preindustrial
levels will eventually require global emissions to be less than
50 per cent of current levels;
- The projected changes in climate will result in significant,
often adverse, impacts on many ecological systems and socioeconomic
sectors, including food supply and water resources, and on human
health. In some cases, the impacts are potentially irreversible;
developing countries and small island countries are typically
more vulnerable to climate change;
- Significant reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions are technically
possible and economically feasible by utilizing an array of technology
policy measures that accelerate technology development, diffusion
and transfer; and significant no regrets opportunities are available
in most countries to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions;
8. Instruct their representatives to accelerate negotiations on
the text of a legally-binding protocol or another legal instrument
to be completed in due time ...regarding:
* policies and measures including, as appropriate, regarding energy,
transport, industry, agriculture, forestry, waste management,
economic instruments, institutions and mechanisms;
*quantified legally-binding objectives for emission limitations
and significant overall reductions within specified timeframes,
such as 2005, 2010, 2020, with respect to their anthropogenic
emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases
not controlled by the Montreal Protocol;"
DEBATE QUESTION: Should the U.S. Senate
ratify the Koyto Treaty and agree to quantified legally-binding
objectives for greenhouse gas emission limitations and significant
overall reductions within specified timeframes?
|
Group 1. Students (A-L) |
Group 2. Students (M-Z) |
|
Assigments are by letters of last names. |
|
| Option # 1 Yes: Students A-D | Option # 1 Yes: Students M-R |
| Option # 2 No: Students E-L | Option # 2 No: Students S-Z |
The first references are either general information and/or on the YES side of the debate.
Climate
Change Information Kit- the Climate Change Convention - contains
quite a few links.
Greenhouse
Effect Australia
This is a very brief article and includes a few graphics and glossary
of terms.
Global
Climate Change Information Programme - comprehensive series
of short essays and fact sheets.
Global
Warming: Myth vs. Facts, Environmental Defense Fund Pro side
GLOBAL WARMING
HOT AIR: SOME POPULAR MYTHS DISPELLED -pro
Myths of Global Warming National Center for Policy Analysis -Brief Analysis more on the pro side
Global Warming
Alert: A Primer on the Issue
Climate
Models: How Reliable are their Predictions? A comprehensive
look at how models are constructed, used, and an evaluation of
the predictions made from these models.
Examination of
Climate Model Predictions vs. Actual Facts - Reputable source
- more of a NO slant. Contains a Greenhouse Scored Card about
half way down the article.
Koyto
Compromise - the latest agreements reached in December of
1997. Look also at some of the Newspaper articles on the bottom
of the page as they give some pros and cons.
Sites that have more of a NO side slant:
Global Climate - contains some skeptics links - more toward the bottom of the pages.
Still Waiting for Greenhouse A Lukewarm View of Global Warming by - John L. Daly
World Climate Report gives contrary views on global warming. Look at the Current Features section to get a long list of articles from past issues. Might be slow in loading.
Greenhouse
Warming: Fact, Hypothesis, or Myth? Careful examination of
data from a scientific skeptic.
The Koyto
Protocol--Bad for the Environment?
Global Warming Information Page
DEBATE QUESTION: Should
the U.S. Senate ratify the Koyto Treaty and agree to quantified
legally-binding objectives for greenhouse gas emission limitations
and significant overall reductions within specified timeframes?
Various members of the class and the professor contributed to the discussion. Please read these postings before you make a contribution to this ongoing discussion. You may add new information for this discussion, make further comments on information already posted, or ask questions to other students or the professor about the information already posted. Answers to THREE Rounds of Discussion are required. This may be done all at once or you may wait for more of the discussion in Round 1 to be completed before giving your final answer to the question in Round 2.
| For this issue, everyone MUST answer either 2a or 2b as one of the five questions above. |
| ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: The best method to answer questions is to type the answers in a word processor so that you have a copy as a backup. Then when you are ready to post the answer to the bulletin board - select and copy the text from the word processor, go to Netscape, find the question series below this box, click on the Issue Discussion Forum Question link, scroll down the Message box, click cursor in the box, paste the text into the box, and finally post the message. |
|
Group 1. Students (A-L) |
Group 2. Students (M-Z) |
|
Assigments are by letters of last names. |
|
| Option # 1 Yes: Students A-D | Option # 1 Yes: Students M-R |
| Option # 2 No: Students E-L | Option # 2 No: Students S-Z |
General Questions - Issue #1
|
Please read the discussion responses before you decide which questions to answer. Try to answer questions that no one else has answered or respond to answers already present. Check out the discussion responses on the |
Use the following questions to briefly summarize the critical thinking necessary to solve the problem.
1. Identify the major technologies used and science concepts and principles which are applied to the technologies in this issue. Definitions: Technology is the application of scientific knowledge in the creation of new products and processes. Science is the knowledge gathered about the natural world through observations and controlled experimentation.
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 1 Technology Definition
QUES. 1a. What technologies are currently used to provide energy in a modern society?
QUES. 1b.What types of fuels are used for these energy sources?
QUES. 1c.What is the combustion reaction?
QUES. 1d.What is the important by-product of this reaction that is important for this issue?
QUES. 1e. What are some alternate energy sources that could be developed further?
2. Identify the issues, questions,
limitations or drawbacks involved with the technology, especially
environmental effects. Definition: Application of technology is
called into question when the quality of life and/or the environment
deteriorates.
| For this issue only, everyone MUST answer either 2a or 2b in addition to the one question listed above. This will be counted as 2 pts. extra credit. |
Based upon the data presented in Evidence for Global Warming,
QUES. 2a: What is the evidence that temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations are correlated?
QUES. 2b. What is the evidence that the use of fossil fuels, which produce carbon dioxide, is causing climate change?
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 2 Issues, Questions
3. For the issues and questions above, list/explain the science concepts and cause and effect relationships involved; and/or identify the use of the scientific method (Hypothesis? Experiments? Results and Conclusions?) to prove or disprove any of the questions or hypotheses.
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 3: Science Concepts
QUES. 3a.Explain the operation of a greenhouse or the inside of your car on a sunny day?
Dr. O responds: Incoming radiation from the sun in the form of ultraviolet and visible light pass through the glass of a green house or the windshield of your car. Then as the light bounces around inside of the greenhouse the energy is changed to infrared energy which is unable to pass through the glass. The infrared energy then heats the air on the inside of the greenhouse.
QUES. 3b. How does the atmosphere and the presence of carbon dioxide behave like the greenhouse analogy?
QUES. 3c.From your reading did you find at least 3-4 other gases that are also considered greenhouse gases? Explain further.
QUES. 3d. How are computer models used to predict that carbon dioxide and temperature increases are related?
QUES. 3e. What are the consequences to the environment and human society should global warming occur?
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 3: Science Concepts
4. Identify the limitations or uncertainties of the science in understanding and/or solving the problem. Definition: Science is more limited in its ability to deal with systems with complex interactions because it can effectively study only a small number of variables and is incapable of controlling all of the variables. The "answers" provided by science may not be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 4: Uncertainties in Science
QUES. 4a. How good is the temperature data that is being used to support the theory of global warming?
QUES. 4b. Can this data be used as an absolute proven fact that global warming is already occurring or will occur?
QUES. 4c. How accurate are the computer models in making predictions? What is the limitation on their accuracy?
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 4: Uncertainties in Science
5. Identify the social, philosophical, and/or ethical issues. Definition: Social issues relate to the general welfare of society. Philosophical issues relate to the principles and values for the conduct of life. Ethical issues are concerned with morals (distinction between right and wrong) and values (the ultimate worth of actions or "things").
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 5: Social and Ethical Issues
QUES. 5a. Are fossil fuels being used excessively in the industrialized countries to provide for the convenience of society?
QUES. 5b. What are the economic ramifications of a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions mandate?
QUES. 5c. As currently proposed in the agreement in Koyto, Japan, December 1997, the industrialized nations committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, while the undeveloped nations such as China, India, and others did not commit to any reductions. Is this correct and fair?
QUES. 5d. Should people be charged a tax to more accurately reflect the damage done to the environment by the use of excessive energy?
QUES. 5e. Is society morally responsible to provide a livable world for future generations?
Issue Discussion Forum - Ques. 5: Social and Ethical Issues
QUES. 6: Use this space to make general comments or ask other questions.
Issue
Discussion Forum - Ques. 6: General Comments, Questions
2nd Round of Discussion:
QUES. 7: Based upon all of the evidence presented, as an individual citizen or as a group, what course of action would you take regarding the main issue question? This is worth 4 points and requires a 4-6 paragraph answer for full credit.
|
Group 1. Students (A-L) |
Group 2. Students (M-Z) |
|
Assigments are by letters of last names. |
|
| Option # 1 Yes: Students A-D | Option # 1 Yes: Students M-P |
| Option # 2 No: Students E-L | Option # 2 No: Students Q-Z |
ISSUE QUESTION: Should the U.S. Senate ratify the Koyto Treaty and agree to quantified legally-binding objectives for greenhouse gas emission limitations and significant overall reductions within specified timeframes?
Option # 1: Yes. Establish an international agreement on a long term goal for stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere at a level that minimizes the risks to the biosphere and to human societies, with a specific commitment to stabilize carbon dioxide emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2010.
If you endorse this position, make some recommendations about how to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Group
1 - Ques. 7: Answer Issue Question (Groups 1 - Students A-L)
Group
2 - Ques. 7: Answer Issue Question (Groups 2 - Students M-Z)
Option # 2: No. No action is needed because the "theory" of global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is an unsupported assumption. Continued research is necessary, before any costly counter measures are implemented.
Interpret available information and data to formulate a solution to the question and a possible plan of action.
Group
1 - Ques. 7: Answer Issue Question (Groups 1 - Students A-L)
Group
2 - Ques. 7: Answer Issue Question (Groups 2 - Students M-Z)