Geography

Section A (30 Marks)

Answer all the questions for ALL the 3 activities. The total response of each activity should be at most 250 words long listed below.

1) Activity 3b: U.S. – China Deal

Reading

Read “Canada Can’t Hide any Longer After U.S.-China Deal” by Dave Sawyer in The Globe and Mail.

· Sawyer, D. (2014, November 12). 

Canada can’t hide any longer after U.S.-China climate deal

. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/canada-cant-hide-any-longer-after-us-china-climate-deal/article21553164/

Focus Questions

1. Are you hopeful that Canada will take stronger action on climate change at the federal level?

2) Activity 7: Focus on Your Value System

Reading

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

· Gifford, R. (2013, July). 

Dragons, mules, and honeybees: Barriers, carriers, and unwitting enablers of climate change action

. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 69(4), 41-48. doi: 10.1177/0096340213493258

Focus Questions

1. Explain the dragons of inaction, mules, and honeybees.

2. Which category or categories do you fall into?

3) Activity 5: Renewable Energy

Reading

Read Al Gore’s article “The Turning Point: New Hope for the Climate.”

· Gore, A. (2014, June 18). 

The turning point: New hope for the climate

. Rolling Stone, 1212. Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-turning-point-new-hope-for-the-climate-20140618

Note

You are encouraged to explore REN21’s 2014 “Global Status Report”, the world’s most frequently referenced report on the renewable energy sector, which is a recommended reading for this module.

· Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). (2014). Global status report. Web link: 

http://www.ren21.net/REN21Activities/GlobalStatusReport.aspx

.

Focus Questions

1. Do you share Al Gore’s “realistic hope” regarding the transition to renewable energy?

Joel Pett Editorial Cartoon used with the permission of Joel Pett and the Cartoonist Group. All 

Section B: Essay (70 marks)

Write an essay of 750 words discussing some of the issues and challenges associated with creating an international agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Your essay must consider some of the problems already encountered with international agreements on climate change as well as ongoing challenges. Also consider the following questions: Should a new agreement be legally binding at the international level? Should all countries be treated equally? What action would you like to see Canada take on climate change?