There are more and more stories about climate change in the news every day.

But how much do

you know about the science behind the headlines? Find out with our quiz!

1. The greenhouse effect is caused by…

a) Greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere absorbing solar radiation

b) Greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere absorbing radiation from the Earth's surface,
and preventing much of it escaping into space
c) Too much heat in the atmosphere
d) Too much sunshine reaching Earth
2. Which of these natural events affect the climate?

a) Thawing permafrost
b) The path of the Earth around the sun
c) Volcanic eruptions
d) All of the above
3. Which of these greenhouse gases is most abundant in the atmosphere?

a) Carbon dioxide
b) Methane
c) Nitrous oxide
d) Water vapour
4. What greenhouse gas was not present in the atmosphere in pre-industrial times (before 1750)?

a) Trichlorofluoromethane
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Nitrous oxide
d) Methane
5. Which of the following changes in climate has NOT already occurred?

a) 0.74°C increase in average global temperature over the last century

b) 0.17m rise in sea level during the 20th century
c) A decrease in the sea ice around Antarctica
d) Fewer cold days and frosts, and more frequent heatwaves over the last 50 years
6. Which of these countries has the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions?

a) United States
b) Australia
c) Saudi Arabia
d) China
7. Which of the following activities contributes the most to carbon emissions globally?

a) Agriculture
b) Transport
c) Forestry
d) Energy supply
8. In research published in Nature scientists claim we have a good chance of stabilising global
warming below 2°C if the world's total carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 to 2050 don't exceed
1,000 billion tonnes. How much carbon dioxide did we emit between 2000 and 2006?

a) 1000 billion tonnes

b) 234 billion tonnes
c) 146 billion tonnes
d) 94 billion tonnes
9. Australia emitted 597 million tonnes of greenhouse gas in 2007. We could cut up to 110
million tonnes off our annual emissions by…

a) Installing energy efficient lightbulbs in every home

b) Greater energy efficiency in industry and more energy efficient buildings
c) Recycling all recyclable waste at home and in industry
d) Planting one million trees
10. Which of the following is NOT expected to happen in Australia as a result of global
warming?

a) Central Australia will become drier and have more frequent and severe droughts
b) Perth will have between 29 to 38 days above 35°C a year by 2030
c) Canberra will have between 26 and 29 days of extreme fire danger by 2020
d) Tasmania will become a tropical island

 1. Following is the most widely discussed impact of climate change:

 Discuss

o A.

Increase in average sea level

o B.

Deforestation

o C.

Soil erosion

o D.

None of the above

 2. Which of the following greenhouse gases has the biggest impact on climate change?

Discuss

o A.

Water vapour

o B.

Methane

o C.

Carbon dioxide

o D.

Ozone

 3. Which sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in India?

o A. Transport
o B. Domestic
o C. Agricultural
o D. Electric power generation
 4. CFCs (chloro-fluoro-carbons) are greenhouse gases that have caused a rise of 0.3 ºC in
the global temperatures in the past century. Name the CFC that is used in refrigerators.
o A. Carbon dioxide
 o B. Freon
o C. Methane
o D. Ammonia
 5.

The Kyoto Protocol measures a state's greenhouse gas reductions against which baseline
year?

o A. 1980
o B. 1990
o C. 2000
o D. 2010
 6. Which country has the world's highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita?

Discuss

oA. USA
oB. Australia
oC. Japan
oD. Norway
 7. What are the predicted effects of climate change?

Discuss

o A. All parts of the world will get warmer

o B. There will be fewer extreme weather events, like cyclones and tornadoes
o C. Some parts of the world will get warmer, others will get cooler
o D. We cannot predict what will happen
 8. What effect will climate change have on plant growth?
o A. Plants will grow faster because of extra carbon dioxide
o B. Plants will grow faster because of extra warmth
o C. It will depend on the level of other nutrients and water in the soil
o D. There will be no effect – there is already more carbon dioxide in the air than
plants can use
 9. Which of the following statements is true?
o A. The loss of natural forests around the world contributes more to global
emissions each year than the transport sector
o B. More energy goes into making solar panels than they can produce in their
lifetimes
o C. Half the energy produced at coal-fired power stations is lost as heat
 10. The European Union signed on to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) as a single party, and is therefore considered to be one of the world’s top
greenhouse gas emitters. Which of the following are currently the world’s top five
greenhouse gas emitters?
o A. United States, China, European Union, Russia and India
o B. United States, China, European Union, Russia and Japan
o C. United States, Mexico, European Union, China and India
o D. United States, Brazil, European Union, Russia and Canada