← All Quizzes Science

Climate Change & Environment Quiz

Q: What year has the UK government set as its target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions?

2050 — The UK legislated a net zero target for 2050 under the Climate Change Act 2008 (amended 2019), making it the first major economy to do so.

Q: Which gas is the single largest contributor to the greenhouse effect caused by human activity?

Carbon dioxide — Carbon dioxide (CO₂), released primarily by burning fossil fuels and deforestation, accounts for the largest share of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Q: What does the term 'carbon sequestration' mean?

Capturing and storing carbon dioxide — Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it long-term, for example in forests, soils, or underground geological formations.

Q: The UK's Committee on Climate Change advises the government on hitting its targets. What is its independent chair's formal title?

Chair of the Climate Change Committee — The Committee on Climate Change is an independent statutory body; its leader holds the title Chair of the Climate Change Committee.

Q: Approximately what fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from food and agriculture?

Around 20–25% — Food systems — including livestock farming, land use change, and food processing — account for roughly 20–25% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Q: Which Scottish city hosted the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in 2021?

Glasgow — COP26 was held in Glasgow in November 2021, bringing together nearly 200 countries to accelerate action on climate change.

Q: What is the main greenhouse gas emitted by livestock such as cattle and sheep?

Methane — Cattle and sheep produce methane through enteric fermentation in their digestive systems, making livestock a significant source of this potent greenhouse gas.

Q: What is 'biodiversity net gain', a policy now required for most new developments in England?

A legal requirement to leave biodiversity in a measurably better state than before development — Biodiversity net gain, mandated in England under the Environment Act 2021, requires developers to demonstrate at least a 10% improvement in biodiversity value compared with the pre-development baseline.

Q: Which of the following best describes the 'Paris Agreement' target?

To limit warming to no more than 1.5°C–2°C above pre-industrial levels — The 2015 Paris Agreement committed signatory nations to limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2°C, and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels.

Q: What percentage of the UK's electricity generation came from renewable sources in 2023?

Around 50% — In 2023 roughly half of the UK's electricity generation came from renewable sources, including wind, solar, and hydro, continuing a rapid rise over the past decade.

Net zero, carbon, biodiversity — how well do you understand the climate crisis?

12 questions · ~6 mins ·

Question 1 of 12

1. What year has the UK government set as its target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions?

2. Which gas is the single largest contributor to the greenhouse effect caused by human activity?

3. What does the term 'carbon sequestration' mean?

4. The UK's Committee on Climate Change advises the government on hitting its targets. What is its independent chair's formal title?

5. Approximately what fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from food and agriculture?

6. Which Scottish city hosted the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in 2021?

7. What is the main greenhouse gas emitted by livestock such as cattle and sheep?

8. What is 'biodiversity net gain', a policy now required for most new developments in England?

9. Which of the following best describes the 'Paris Agreement' target?

10. What percentage of the UK's electricity generation came from renewable sources in 2023?

11. The term 'ocean acidification' refers to what process?

12. Which UK habitat stores more carbon per hectare than any other, making its restoration a key climate tool?

Climate Change & Environment Quiz

Great effort!