Environmental Science

Final Exam

Choose one of the topics (production and distribution of food, water resources and pollution, energy resources) and use the corresponding articles to answer the questions. Remember that this is a final assessment of what you have learned in this course, so no points will be awarded for brief or superficial statements. You must be able to demonstrate that you understand the issue and can apply what we have learned to analyze and address it. Use the articles and what we have learned to support your position.

You may bring to the exam and use whatever resources you like.

1. Define the issue and identify the cause(s). (3)

2. Often, environmental issues involve groups with different perspectives representing conflicting agendas. How is this evident in the articles? (4)

3. The debate over the solution to a global issue nearly always has several different perspectives represented by stakeholders with different interests. For the topic you chose, identify the different stakeholders and identify the facets of the issue that need to be considered in finding solutions. (e.g., economic, environmental, popular opinion, consumer behavior) (12)

4. Is there evidence of the problem being addressed? Use what you have read in the articles and what you have learned this semester to discuss what needs to be done to address the issue. Be sure to mention what make solutions difficult to implement. (12)

5. Do the articles make you feel optimistic or pessimistic about the issue? (3)