CONFIDENTIAL 2 LG/DEC 2022/ELC501/SET1(B)

TOTAL: 35 MARKS

Read the following article and answer ALL the questions that follow.

Climate Change: The Blame Game

I Every passing year, many groups have been accused of an ongoing lack of
action towards the climate crisis, from fossil fuel companies and wealthy
countries, to politicians, the rich and the rest of the world. With years of
inaction, the emission cuts and waste reduction needed to limit global warming
to relatively safe levels grow steeper. This leads to frustrations knowing the 5
fact that preemptive measures could have prevented the crisis. Some may feel
it is useless to blame anyone in this matter while others feel it is necessary to
question who is responsible for being the largest contributor to today's
worsening climate change. However, environmental advocates mooted that it
is also important to acknowledge allocating emissions to those heavily 10
involved. Mentioning them does not necessarily mean they are entirely
responsible for the emissions. However, finding out the parties that are
involved in climate change will inevitably impact the solutions proposed to
mend the crisis.

II An update last year outlined the top 20 fossil fuel firms behind a third of 15
emissions, according to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Future in its
2020 report on climate change. The amount of carbon produced and used to
fuel vehicles and machinery globally counts for its vast amount of emissions
in the air, rapidly thinning the ozone layer. A major report released by Carbon
Majors Database in 2017 attributed 70 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas 20
emissions over the previous two decades to just 100 fossil fuel producers.

III Oil and gas firms have also had a long history of triggering climate change.
Their involvement in the climate crisis has been occurring for decades. These
firms have been the source of 635 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted
since 1988, the year human-induced climate change was officially recognised. 25
Looking further back in time, the report also pointed towards a doubling in the
contribution of fossil fuels to climate change since 1988. The long involvement

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in generating carbon emissions created by the firms plays a significant role in

the extent of today’s climate change, bringing the crisis to a point of almost no
return. 30

IV At the same time, the rich are seen as those who practise a high-carbon
lifestyle by consuming more carbon than the rest. They are releasing vast
amounts of carbon compared with other lower-income earners. The large
carbon consumption stems from their luxurious lifestyle involving buying
imported goods, travelling via personal jets and owning big and often multiple 35
homes. They create copious amounts of carbon footprints from their endless
capacity to utilise more carbons and create more waste. World Inequality Lab,
an organisation promoting research on global inequality on income and
wealth, believed that the wealthiest citizens of the United States (US) and
other countries are more responsible for the rising temperatures than people 40
who earn less money in those same nations. Furthermore, a recent
international study from the University of Leeds calculated that, across 86
countries, the wealthiest 10 per cent of the consumers utilised about 20 times
more energy than the poorest 10 per cent.

V Another climate blame game is often apportioned by looking at which countries 45

emit the most harmful gases. This is because the world’s richest countries
have released the lion’s share of emissions. Many continue to emit many times
more than poorer ones. For more than a century, the largest emitters of
greenhouse gases, in total as well as per capita, have been the big developed
nations, most notably the US and the countries of Europe. They grew their 50
economies including by burning fossil fuels, spewing carbon and generating
wastes from their factories, industries, commercial activities, homes and cars.
The US has emitted far more carbon than any other countries and a quarter
of all emissions dated since 1751.

VI Today, developed countries continue as a major driver of environmental 55

damage despite pledging to help reduce such impact. In 2021, the US
produced 4.87 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. To illustrate, an average
person in the US emits more than twice as much as someone living in China,

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five times more than one in Mexico and eight times more than one in India. In
the fourth quarter of 2021, European Union greenhouse gas emissions totalled 60
1,041 million tonnes of carbon. These reflect how the volume of emission
created by just a few developed countries alone is already the largest part of
the climate change equation.

VII For many, the products and energy consumed by average individuals also
plays a part in creating greenhouse effects. One of them is chemical emission 65
through the emergence of fast fashion, giving rise to overconsumption. Today,
garment consumption accounts for up to 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide
output, unexpectedly more than international flights and shipping combined,
according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Moreover, textile
production makes up 15 per cent of all petrochemical emissions. Therefore, 70
the amount of toxic emissions accumulated from garment productions and use
can reach a significant amount.

VIII Food waste from homes plays a role too. People are completely unaware of
the climate impacts of food waste, opined Mattias Eriksson, who researches
food waste at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala. Kate 75
Parizeau, an associate professor at the University of Guelph, and her
colleagues ran a study in Canada and discovered that, on average, each
family threw out around 3kg of avoidable food waste each week, equivalent to
23.3kg of carbon emissions. Meanwhile, according to 2020 data from the
British waste and recycling charity programme, 68kg of food was wasted at 80
home each year per person in the United Kingdom.

IX While the debate on who is to blame for the climate change is ongoing, poorer
nations are being the hardest hit by the environmental damage. Unchecked,
climate change will push up to 130 million people into poverty over the next 10
years. Furthermore, this could cause over 200 million people to migrate within 85
their own countries by 2050. Toxic wastes are released into their pristine
oceans and the searing heat from carbon emissions are affecting their forests
and crops, causing them to lose their sources for food and economic survival.
They are bearing the strain as these emissions are affecting their peace and

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livelihood. Seventy four per cent (74 per cent) of the world’s poorest account 90
for less than one tenth of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the
World Bank. The climate crisis is a deeply unfair one, lamented the
International Development Association (IDA), as the poorest people in the
world contribute the least to climate change.

X It seems that each party takes a notable part in contributing to the damage 95
done to the environment. Even if the role is smaller than the other, the final
impact on the planet is just as damaging. Ultimately, it is vital to understand
how the blame game can be turned into something more beneficial where all
parties involved in creating the most emissions can actually unite in saving the
planet. More importantly, what needs to be implemented is a drastic measure 100
to minimise carbon and waste impact on the planet. Although the blame game
is endless, environmentalists believe that the focus should be on what each
party can do with their power to quickly save the planet from further
environmental damage. By using the power that each party has, perhaps the
world can begin to shed light on how to truly turn things around on climate 105
change.

Retrieved and adapted from

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200618

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QUESTION 1

Interpret the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You are
allowed to write a one-word answer or a phrase (not more than four words). Do not write in
a full sentence.

a) mooted (line 9)

___________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

b) copious (line 36):

__________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

c) driver (line 55):

__________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

d) searing (line 87):

__________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

e) notable (line 95):

__________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(5 marks)

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QUESTION 2

Identify the stated main idea of paragraph III and provide ONE MAJOR and MINOR
supporting detail.

a) Stated main idea

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

b) Major supporting detail

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

c) Minor supporting detail

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(3 marks)

QUESTION 3

Indicate the topic that is most suitable for the content of paragraph V. Circle your
option.

a. Blaming the United States and Europe for substantially generating carbon
emissions
b. Accusing developed countries for being a large contributor to climate change
c. Condemning homes, vehicles and industries for contributing the most carbon
d. Criticizing developed countries for generating carbon for a hundred years

(1 mark)

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QUESTION 4

Formulate the implied main idea of paragraph II.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

QUESTION 5

This is because the world’s richest countries have released the lion’s share of emissions.
(Paragraph V)

Make an inference based on the above statement.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

QUESTION 6

List 2 types of support given by the writer in paragraph IX to strengthen the author’s
argument that poorer nations do not significantly contribute to climate change.
Provide one example for each type of support.

a) Type of support: _______________________________________________

Example: _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

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b) Type of support: _______________________________________________

Example: _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

(4 marks)

QUESTION 7

Identify the type of support for each of the supporting details based on the following
options. Use each option only ONCE.

Example Expert opinion Research finding

Expert testimony Historical Data Explanation

No Type of
Supporting Detail
. Support

a) Looking further back in time, the report also points towards a

doubling in the contribution of fossil fuels to climate change since
1988. (Paragraph III)

b) Furthermore, a recent international study from the University of

Leeds calculated that, across 86 countries, the wealthiest 10 per
cent of the consumers utilised about 20 times more energy than
the poorest 10 per cent. (Paragraph IV)

c) They grew their economies including by burning fossil fuels,

spewing carbon and generating wastes from their factories,
industries, commercial activities, homes and cars. (Paragraph V)

d) People are completely unaware of the climate impacts of food

waste, opined Mattias Eriksson, who researches food waste at

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the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.

(Paragraph VIII)

(4 marks)

QUESTION 8

Today, garment consumption accounts for up to 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide output,
unexpectedly more than international flights and shipping combined, according to the United
Nations Environment Programme. (Paragraph VII)

Make a conclusion based on the above statement.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

QUESTION 9

Write T for a statement that is TRUE and F for a statement that is FALSE.

a) The onus to resolve the current climate crisis falls on the United States
since it has the most power.

b) Environmentalists reject setting emission levels for major carbon

contributors.

c) The rich countries’ lifestyle is a reflection of their appreciation of the well-

being of the earth.

d) Describing the extent of climate change is inclined more towards

quantitative measurement of emissions.

(4 marks)

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QUESTION 10

Do you think oil companies, rich countries and the wealthy are the only ones who should
be held responsible for climate change? Provide two reasons to support your opinion.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

(3 marks)

QUESTION 11

Study the statements below. Write I for inductive reasoning and D for deductive reasoning
in the boxes provided.

No Statements Type of
. Reasoning

a) For many, the products and energy consumed by average individuals

also plays a part in creating greenhouse effects. One of them is
chemical emission through the emergence of fast fashion, giving rise
to overconsumption. Today, garment consumption accounts for up
to 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide output, unexpectedly more
than international flights and shipping combined, according to the
United Nations Environment Programme. Moreover, textile
production makes up 15 per cent of all petrochemical emissions.
Therefore, the amount of toxic emissions accumulated from garment
productions and use can reach a significant amount. (Paragraph VII)

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b) Food waste from homes plays a role too. People are completely
unaware of the climate impacts of food waste, opined Mattias
Eriksson, who researches food waste at the Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala. Kate Parizeau, an associate
professor at the University of Guelph, and her colleagues ran a study
in Canada and discovered that, on average, each family threw out
around 3kg of avoidable food waste each week, equivalent to 23.3kg
of carbon emissions. (Paragraph VIII)

Today, developed countries continue as a major driver of

c)
environmental damage despite pledging to help reduce such impact.
In 2021, the US produced 4.87 billion metric tonnes of carbon
dioxide. To illustrate, an average person in the US emits more than
twice as much as someone living in China, five times more than one
in Mexico and eight times more than one in India. In the fourth quarter
of 2021, European Union greenhouse gas emissions totalled 1,041
million tonnes of carbon. These reflect how the volume of emission
created by just a few developed countries alone is already the largest
part of the climate change equation. (Paragraph VI)

(3 marks)

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QUESTION 12

It seems that each party takes a notable part in contributing to the damage done to the
environment. Even if the role is smaller than the other, the final impact on the planet is just
as damaging. Ultimately, it is vital to understand how the blame game can be turned into
something more beneficial where all parties involved in creating the most emissions can
actually unite in saving the planet. More importantly, what needs to be implemented is a
drastic measure to minimise carbon and waste impact on the planet. Although the blame
game is endless, environmentalists believe that the focus should be on what each party can
do with their power to quickly save the planet from further environmental damage. By using
the power that each party has, perhaps the world can begin to shed light on how to truly turn
things around on climate change. (Paragraph X)

Identify two (2) underlying assumptions that can be made in paragraph X. Circle your
options.

a. Expert advice is needed to combat climate change.

b. Pointing a finger at large contributors for climate change delays problem solving
efforts.
c. Only major contributors to climate change can make a difference in saving the
planet.
d. Parties involved in generating emissions can solve the climate change problem
through collaboration.
(2 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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