ECON 340/ENVA 300: Reading questions for Feb. 4

Reading questions for Tuesday Feb. 4:

Because we are not sure if the course packet will be available, I am using a substitute reading for our look at energy.

We will start from Chapter 7 from the Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, 2006; see http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm

This is a major and influential report which we will review later in the semester -- for what it says about economics and climate change. For now, we'll look at what it says about energy use.

Questions:

1. Section 7.2:
a. What does CO2 equivalent mean?
b. What proportion of CO2 equivalent emissions are CO2 itself?
c. What does the "power" sector in Figure 7.1 include?
d. How important are cars, worldwide, for GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions? (see Fig. B)
e. Fig. 7.2: estimate the ratio of world CO2 emissions 100 years ago to 50 years ago to today.

2. Section 7.3:
a. Use the primary equation to interpret what is meant by the term "energy intensity."
b. What countries is the U.S. similar to in energy intensity? Rather different from?
c. Use Table 7.2 to explain why U.S. emissions of CO2 are increasing.
d. In what key ways has the EU experience of the past two decades differed fromt the U.S.?

3. Section 7.6:
a. Does Lord Stern's report conclude that oil shortages and soaring prices will have a significant impact on CO2 emissions? Explain.
b. What is an estimate for the price elasticity of energy demand?

2.

ECON 340/ENVA 300: Consumer diary

Over the next week you will be keeping a very simple diary of selected purchases and consumption choices made each day. This diary should cover January 29 - February 5.

Transportation (list miles travelled by each mode: car,bus, foot, etc.)

Major electronics use (# hours turned on: TV, computer, dorm fridge, other?)

Other utility use (minutes in hot shower, # loads of laundry; include just you, not roommates)

Food (servings of beef & pork, poultry, dairy, fruit.)

Set up your diary in a form which is easy to fill out each day, and which will cover a full week. Once the diaries are complete we will be estimating a variety of impacts. Bring yours to class Thursday, Jan. 30, along with any questions.

ECON 340/ENVA 300: IPCC FAQ Summaries

In your group prepare a brief (5-8 minute) presentation/discussion of the aspect climate change science, together with a one page handout for the class, which you chose in class on Jan. 24.You may rely exclusively on the IPCC "FAQ" for your group, which you can find at
http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/ar4/wg1/faq/index.htm .

You may post questions about the assignment on the blog.

ECON 340/ENVA 300

This question will get us started using the blog, and is also meant to give just a little incentive to start thinking about the natural world in which you live. Provide a one paragraph answer, as a comment to this post, before our next class period; links are welcomed and encouraged. I will scroll through the comments during class.

I gave an example in class today of one way in which the environment provides value to me. In what very specific way does one aspect of the environment provide value to you?