25 Aug List and describe the energy options currently available.
Requirements: 2 documents
LAB Energy En-ROADS– Instructions and Background
Overview
In the next century, the world faces two parallel energy related challenges. We must increase energy supply to meet demand though fossil fuels can no longer meet that demand. At the same time, we must limit greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming below 2oC and avoid the worst effects of climate change. In this lab, you will use the (a computer model) to explore possible technological and policy changes to meet our energy and climate goals.
This document will be your guide and instructions to complete the LAB. It has the learning outcomes, background information, and detailed instructions for the simulator. You will want to keep it open on your computer or print it out as you work on the LAB.
To complete this lab you will need:
This document
The En-Roads online simulator
The ability to take screenshots
You will complete two tasks:
Part 1. LAB Energy En-ROADs Quiz on Canvas
Part 2. LAB Energy En-ROADs Synthesis document submitted to Canvas
Estimated time to complete: 3-4 hours.
LEARNING OUTCOMES________________________________________
Assignment Learning Outcomes
List and describe the energy options currently available.
Explain the impacts of energy options and policy on global temperature change due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Describe the role of energy efficiency in meeting energy demand and global temperature change goals.
Week 8 Learning Outcomes
Outline and assess environmental impacts of fossil fuel use
Specify strategies for and the potential impact of conserving energy and enhancing efficiency
Compare the potential of different energy sources and strategies to meet energy demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
BACKGROUND_______________________________________________
Special note on time management: This introduction is long, but intended to include all the information you need to understand the topic. We recommend NOT reading it all now, but using it as a reference if you need more information as you complete the lab. The lab instructions will direct you back to the relevant paragraphs.
Modern civilization depends on inexpensive energy, mostly produced with fossil fuels. Demand for energy is increasing rapidly as more countries industrialize and electricity becomes available to more people. However, we are also facing a climate crisis caused by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and we must reduce those emissions in the very near future.
We have two goals when we are considering the world’s future energy production:
meet growing energy demand as countries industrialize and
decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 2oC, avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.
The purpose of this LAB is to explore potential strategies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus climate change. This may include government policy and regulations, technological innovation, business models, and consumer choices. We also want you to think about the use of computer models, like the En-ROADS simulator, in making decisions that will affect our global future. What are their strengths and limitations, and are the potential strategies actually possible?
Keep in mind that ‘all models are wrong, but some models are useful’. Computer models, like this simulator, cannot perfectly capture reality or predict the future. In research, we often depend upon computer models to explore potential future scenarios. A computer model iteratively runs a set of mathematical relationships to mimic time passing. The mathematical relationships describe actual data and use the best information at the time. For example, climate scientists use computer models to project how different ‘carbon emission scenarios’ may result in different CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and thus different amounts of climate warming (see the ).
How do we know how much energy demand will increase and why? Demand for energy is increasing as population grows, more countries industrialize, and more people gain access to electricity. It is also increasing as we move more and more online – the ‘internet of things’, mobile devices, cloud data storage, streaming video etc., all require electricity.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), part of the US Defense Department, is a politically independent agency that collects, analyzes, and reports on data related to global energy use and energy production for use by policymakers and the public. The EIA projects global energy use will increase 50% from 2018 to 2050, passing 950 exajoules (900 quadrillion BTUs) by 2050 (). High-income countries may increase some, but most of the increase in demand will come from lower-income, or ‘industrializing’, countries. In particular, there are a couple of excellent infographics for and (if the links break, see the full URLs in the Appendix).
Industry currently consumes the most electricity, and likely will continue to through 2050. Large increases in industrial energy use will happen in lower income countries as manufacturing shifts out of high-income countries. However, the greatest increase in electricity use will come from residential electricity consumption, as low-income countries gain access to home electricity and electric appliances. In a business as usual scenario (i.e., continuing with the policies and choices we currently have), renewables are expected to become the #1 source of energy by 2050 at ~ 270 EJ, though fossil fuels, combined, (oil+gas+coal ~ 650EJ) will still supply more energy than renewables.
How is energy used around the world now? . If the link breaks, you can find the url in the Appendix.
How is energy used in the US? . If the link breaks, you can find the url in the Appendix.
Our economy is so dependent upon fossil fuel-sourced energy that the US, and many other countries, subsidizes fossil fuel industries, and does not tax or cap carbon pollution. These subsidies include lower taxation rates, and cheap leases on public lands for mining and drilling.
(Scientific American, 2020), though estimates vary widely.
One conservative estimate claims that the to fossil fuel industries.
How do we meet growing energy demand as fossil fuels are declining? Though fossil fuels historically fueled the growth of modern civilization, they are nonrenewable resources, and we will not be able to rely on them indefinitely. What this means as that though we may be able to continue to use these fuels, we will not be able to increase their production to meet growing demand over the next century. Oil and natural gas may already have peaked, or will in the very near future, leaving only coal to meet growing demand in the future. This will necessitate a transition of new production away from nonrenewable energy production to ‘renewables’ like solar, wind, etc.
What is peak oil? Refer to the section and Figure 19.12b in your textbook.
Energy efficiency. One solution to the conundrum of dwindling fossil fuel supply and increasing demand is to improve energy conservation and energy efficiency at every level, from production, to industry and transportation, to household consumption. Some of the easiest ways to increase energy efficiency is switching lights to LEDs (up to 40% energy reduction) and insulating and weatherizing homes and other buildings. Historically energy efficiency has increased on the order of 0.5% per year.
What is energy efficiency? . If the link breaks, check the url in the Appendix.
How can consumer choices conserve energy? Make sure to participate in the Discussion Board this week and review options at .
How does energy production contribute to global warming and climate change? Atmospheric greenhouse gasses, especially CO2, have been increasing due to human activity since at least the 1800s. A large propotion of CO2 emissions are from electricity production around the world. Why? Because we have historically relied on fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas, to produce energy, all of which produce CO2 when combusted. Prior to the widespread use of fossil fuels, atmospheric CO2 was around 280 ppm. As of the writing of this lab CO2 is at 412 ppm and climbing, a level higher than has occurred in more than 30 million years and never while human beings have existed on the planet.
Check it out! . If this link doesn’t work you can find it in the Appendix.
Why does the increase in CO2 ppm and emissions matter? Carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, captures heat and holds it in the atmosphere. It acts a little like a blanket – and this is historically a good thing, keeping the Earth warm enough for life. But more CO2 means more heat is captured in the atmosphere, increasing global temperatures (i.e., global warming), and that is causing the entire Earth climate system to change (i.e., climate change). Thus far the Earth has already warmed by 1oC (1.8oF) compared to pre-industrial times (pre 1800s). If we continue to burn fossil fuels as we have, we could warm the earth by up to 5oC or more, which could result in catastrophic change to our climate. Many scientists recommend that to limit the worst effects of climate change we must keep warming to at or below 2oC, which is projected to correlate to 480-550 ppm CO2, or a cumulative of 3200 Gt CO2 released since the early-1800s.
How do we know 2oC is the limit? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publishes a report every few years that synthesizes what science knows about climate change. You can access the from the latest report and take a close look at Figure SPM5 a and b on page 9. (Sorry that we can’t reproduce the figure here – it is copyrighted).
Scientists produce these figures using computer models that try to project potential future warming at different levels of greenhouse gas emissions, including scenarios that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero, or scenarios in which greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. Using these models, scientists can estimate that at 480-530 ppm CO2, we have a 60% chance of remaining at approximately 2oC of climate warming. Why only a 60% chance? Because the purpose of the model is not to predict the future, but to explore possibilities. The climate system is incredibly complex and science is only beginning to be able to understand it on the global scale. Though we know that global temperatures will continue to increase as greenhouse gas emissions continue, we cannot be completely certain of how much or when we will warm to a certain temperature. Models can provide us with a range of possibilities, from the most conservative (RCP 2.6 in Figure SPM5 a) to the most extreme (RCP 8.5 in Figure SPM5 a), that can help us to make decisions about an unknowable future.
Even if we contain warming to only 2˚C, we would expect about half a meter of sea level rise ( Figure SPM.6, p11). Most areas of the globe would experience more record high temperatures and fewer record low temperatures, as well as more frequent and more severe heat waves. While some areas will receive more precipitation on average and some areas less, most areas will experience more intense and severe precipitation events. What’s worse, thus far as a globe we are not on track to contain atmospheric CO2 below 480-530 ppm, or to contain warming below 2oC. We are tracking between the worst and 2nd to worst-case scenarios (RCP8.0 and 6.0 in figure SPM5 a) with an estimated 3.6oC warming by 2100.
What will 2-3oC warming or more look like around the world? for a breakdown of environmental impacts (note that it is Europe-centric but the information is still valid). If the link breaks, find the full url in the Appendix.
How can we reduce CO2 emissions while also providing the world’s energy? To meet our climate goals we must move rapidly away from a fossil-fuel economy. There are a number of low or no-carbon alternatives for energy production, including renewable energy like solar, wind, biofuels, and hydropower, and low-carbon nonrenewables like nuclear. We also need to ‘electrify’ our transportation, heating, and cooking, shifting away from carbon-based sources like oil, gas, and wood, to electricity produced with renewables. Many of these energy sources are already being used, but the majority of our energy still comes from fossil fuels. Can we encourage rapid adoption of no or low-carbon energy production in time to slow climate change? And will renewable energy alone be enough to meet our climate goals?
Government subsidies and taxation can help meet energy demand and carbon emission goals. Every government can create policies that can either encourage or reduce investment and adoption of technologies. Taxation makes a particular activity or technology more expensive and less attractive for consumers and industry. Subsidies (reducing taxes, providing rebates from tax-dollars, leasing public resources like land at low rates, etc.) can encourage and support particular activities or technologies, particularly if they are prohibitively expensive compared to an activity or technology that the government wants to phase out, or they are vital to an economic sector that needs bolstering. These methods have proven effective in the past: taxation of pollutants and subsidies for technology adoption has been instrumental in decreasing air pollution in the US and Europe over the past half a century, for example. Under a “business as usual”, “baseline”, or “status quo” scenario, fossil fuel production is often subsidized and there is no carbon pollution tax.
Let’s simulate! For this lab we are going to use the online En-ROADS simulator at and clicking on the ‘En-ROADS simulator’ button, or find it directly here: .
To complete the lab, you’ll follow the instructions below, and answer the questions associated with each simulation in the Quiz and the LAB Synthesis document. We’ll start by exploring the simulator interface, and then play with the possibilities and limitations revealed by the model.
After you have read the background, move on to Part 1 LAB Energy Quiz.
Part 1. LAB Energy Quiz_- Explore the En-ROADS simulator_____________________
Read instructions carefully!
To complete this portion you will need:
This document containing additional instructions and background information
Ability to take screenshots – You will submit these in the Synthesis portion.
The online
The Canvas LAB Energy En-Roads Quiz
Simulation #1: Get acquainted with the simulator – you will answer questions in the quiz_______
Special note – This simulator has A LOT of information and built-in options and assumptions to play with. We’re going to keep things simple.
The simulator has regular updates – if anything in the lab seems to be inconsistent with the simulator, let your instructors know so we can clarify any changes.
Getting started
Open the simulator and look around at the interface for a moment but don’t change anything yet. Follow the instructions below to answer the questions in the quiz.
Help!
Find out more about the simulator, and to find FAQs, click on the ‘Help’ dropdown at the top toolbar of the screen.
Consider watching the ‘Video Tours’ to get more familiar with the interface. Note that they are from a previous version and so the screen won’t look identical, but they work the same!
Click on the ‘En-ROADS User Guide’. Read the brief intro to the simulator and answer the question in the quiz.
On the same page, scroll down to “Contents” and click on the . This will help guide you through the components of the simulator.
This tutorial explains everything we will use in this simulator. Make sure you can find it again if you are confused!
Graphs
The total projected increase in temperature by 2100 is in the far right hand in big blue font.
The main screen has two graphs. What data do these graphs show?
If you hover your mouse over the lines in the graph, data will pop-up for that year.
What does ‘baseline’ or ‘business as usual’ mean? What does ‘current scenario’ mean?
To view additional datasets you can click on the ‘Graphs’ dropdown menu at the top toolbar of the screen.
The ‘Left graphs’ are all related to energy and related economic and greenhouse gas emissions.
The ‘Right graphs’ are impacts of carbon emissions. We will use a few of these graphs in the following simulations.
To return to the default graphs, click the little ‘house’ icon at the top toolbar of the screen.
If you are having difficulty finding any of these elements, return to the En-ROADS tutorial and the Video Tours.
Answer the questions in the quiz.
Sliders/Actions:
The lower half of the screen has a collection of ‘sliders’ for different polices or actions that can effect energy production and other drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and thus global temperature; these are what we will change to achieve our goals.
Look carefully at each of the sliders
What are each of the categories? Why are they important to carbon emissions?
If you click on the label OR the three dots to the right of each slider label a new window will open up with additional information, including an explanation of the category. To close this window, click on the little ‘x’ in the upper right.
What does sliding the cursor for each category do? What does it mean?
Watch the words below the slider change; what do they mean? What do status quo, taxed, and subsidized mean?
Watch the graphs and the expected increase in temperature, how do they change? Are they following ‘business as usual’ still?
Answer the questions in the quiz.
What is the impact of the slider/action policy changes?
After you’ve made some changes you can get a report of some of the results:
Click on the ‘View’ dropdown menu and click on ‘Actions and Outcomes’. This will open a new screen including some key data that we will use in later simulations.
To return to the simulator, click on the small ‘x’ at the upper right.
How to reset the simulator.
After each scenario, we’ll want to ‘reset’ the simulator.
Click on the counter-clockwise arrow in the upper menu OR the Simulation dropdown at the top toolbar of the screen and click on ‘Reset Policies’. This will clear any changes you made to the sliders below and return to a ‘business as usual’ or ‘baseline’ scenario so you can start again.
Simulation #2: Can renewable energy alone meet our energy and greenhouse gas emission goals?
In this simulation, we will use the sliders to change policies relating to renewable energy and other low-carbon energy sources, increasing their share of total energy production over the next century, and consider the effect on expected temperature increase by 2100.
Begin simulation
First, make sure you are starting from the defaults. Click the counter-clockwise arrow or ‘reset policies & assumptions’ in the Simulation dropdown to reset the simulator.
Tax renewables. Locate the ‘Renewables’ slider and use your mouse to drag all the way to the left to discourage investment and their adoption. Be certain to pull the slider all the way or your results will differ. For example:
Take a screenshot of the simulator after you’ve moved the slider – you’ll include this in the Synthesis portion of the lab. Remember to save it now as an image, or paste it into the Synthesis document.
Answer the question in the quiz and paste the screenshot into Question S1.1a
Reset the simulation to ‘status quo’ by clicking on the counter-clockwise arrow or ‘reset policies & assumptions’ in the Simulation dropdown to reset the simulator.
Subsidize renewables. Now slide the ‘Renewables’ slider to all the way to the right. Note that you went through many levels between – we want to take it to the extreme in this simulation.
Take a screenshot of the simulator after you’ve moved the slider – you’ll include this in the Synthesis portion of the lab. Remember to save it now as an image, or paste it into the Synthesis document.
Look at the graphs and answer the questions about conditions under your policy change. Remember that you can hover your mouse over the graphs to see data from each year.
Answer the question in the quiz and paste the screenshot into Question S1.1b
Tax Fossil Fuels. Keeping the renewable slider at ‘highly subsidized’, Slide the fossil fuel bars (coal + oil + natural gas) all the way to the left. For example:
Take a screenshot of the simulator after you’ve moved the slider – you’ll include this in the Synthesis portion of the lab. Remember to save it now as an image, or paste it into the Synthesis document.
Look at the graphs and answer the questions about conditions under your policy change.
Answer the question in the quiz paste the screenshot into Question S1.1c
Simulation #3 – The role of energy efficiency in meeting our climate goals___________________
In this simulation, we will leave energy production alone, and simulate the impact of improvements in energy efficiency and electrification.
Begin simulation
First, make sure to reset the simulator. Click the counter-clockwise arrow or ‘reset policies & assumptions’ in the Simulation dropdown to reset the simulator.
Find out a little more about what energy efficiency is – click on the label for the Energy Efficiency in Transport and the Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry slider.
Answer the questions in the quiz.
Increase Energy Efficiency for Transport AND Energy efficiency in Buildings and Industry by sliding them all the way to the right. For example:
Take a screenshot of the simulator after you’ve moved the sliders – you’ll include this in the Synthesis portion of the lab. Remember to save it now as an image, or paste it into the Synthesis document.
Look at the graphs and answer the questions about conditions under your policy change.
Remember that you can hover your mouse over the graphs to see data from each year.
Answer the question in the quiz paste the screenshot into Question S1.1d
End of Part 1 LAB Energy Quiz, proceed to Part 2 LAB Energy Synthesis
Part 2. LAB Energy Synthesis________________________________________________
Now that we’ve had a chance to get familiar with the simulator, let’s think about what we’ve learned about the challenge of meeting our global climate goals and explore some of the other options in the simulator.
Section 1 – Screenshots and Reflections on Simulation #2 and #3
Complete the questions in the Synthesis document including screenshots and captions
Section 2 – Develop your own scenario
Simulation #4 – How can we get warming to 2oC?
Develop your own scenario to limit global warming to less than 2oC. Make a plan. Keep track of the effect each decision has in the provided table (see example in the Synthesis document). Then take a screenshot of the final dashboard view. Then answer the questions in the Synthesis document.
End of LAB Energy, submit Synthesis document to Canvas.
Appendix – References
EN-ROADS Climate Ambassador Training. “Energy simulator”. Climate Interactive and MIT Management Sustainability Initiative. Accessed 12/2/2020 at
IPCC 2014. Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp. Accessed 11/2/2020 at
NASA 2020. Global Climate Change Vital Signs of the Planet: Carbon Dioxide. Accessed 11/2/2020 at
NuScale Power. 2020. About Us. Accessed 11/7/2020 at
Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 2020. The Keeling Curve. Accessed 11/7/2020 at
BP. Statistical Review of World Energy. 2020. 69th Edition.
US Department of Energy. Energy Efficiency. Energy.gov.
U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2019. International Energy Outlook 2019 Reference case. Accessed 11/9/2020 at
Key Takeaways infographics:
Manufacturing –
Electricity –
IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.
Figures (a) and (b) above from page 9 of Summary for Policymakers
Geoffrey Supran, Peter Erickson, Doug Koplow, Michael Lazarus, Peter Newell, Naomi Oreskes, Harro van Asselt. “Fossil-Fuel Subsidies Must End”. Scientific American. February 24, 2020.
EESI: Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Fact Sheet: Fossil Fuel Subsidies: A Closer Look at Tax Breaks and Societal Costs. July 29, 2019.
Part 2: LAB Energy En-ROADS Synthesis
OVERVIEW_____________________________________________________________
This document contains the synthesis questions for the LAB Energy En-ROADs assignment. You will submit this document to the LAB Energy En-ROADS Synthesis Canvas assignment page. Before completing this submission please:
review the LAB Energy En-ROADS Instructions and Background document
and complete Part 1 LAB Energy En-ROADS Quiz
Paste screenshots from the LAB Quiz into the questions below
Part 2. LAB Energy – Synthesis_____________________________________________
Section 1 – Screenshots and Reflections on Simulation #2 and #3
Paste your screenshots below and add an informative caption.
Example screenshot from Simulation #1 and caption:
Example Caption: Simulation #1 Getting to know the simulator, showing the baseline scenario for energy production and temperature increase by 2100.
S1.1. Screenshots and captions from Simulation #2 (4 pts)
a. Paste image here for Tax renewables Question 13 in the LAB Quiz
Caption for S1.1a: Type answer here
b. Paste image here for Subsidize renewables Question 14 in the LAB Quiz
Caption for S1.1b: Type answer here
c. Paste image here for Tax fossil fuels Question 16 LAB Quiz
Caption for S1.1c: Type answer here
d. Paste image here for Simulation #3 Increase Energy Efficiency for Transport AND Energy efficiency in Buildings and Industry
Caption for S1.1d: Type answer here
S1.2 Reflecting on the results in Simulation #2, answer each of the following with a sentence or two and referring to your screenshots (4 pts):
Was subsidizing renewables alone sufficient to meet our global climate goals? Why or why not? Hint: think about the amount of energy produced from fossil fuels and why, and refer to Question 14 from the Part 1 Quiz and the screenshot S1.1b.
Type answer here
How did taxing fossil fuels in addition to subsidizing renewables get us closer to meeting our global climate goals? Hint: think about the amount of energy produced from fossil fuels and why, and refer to Question 16 from the Part 1 Quiz and the screenshot in S1.1c.
Type answer here
S1.3 Reflecting on the results in Simulation #3 answer the following with a sentence or two and referring to your screenshots (2 pts):
Was increasing energy efficiency more effective, less effective, or similar to subsidizing renewables and taxing fossil fuels in meeting our global climate temperature goal? Why? Hint: think about the amount of energy produced from fossil fuels compared to previous smiulations and refer to Question 19 in the Part 1 Quiz and the screenshot in S1.1d
Type answer here
S1.4 Consider the policies you implemented in Simulation #2 and #3 to answer the following questions (2 pts).
In your opinion, do you think that we should prioritize subsidizing renewables, taxing fossil fuels, or increasing energy efficiency, or some combination? Why?
Type answer here
What barriers can you see to actually applying the policy scenarios we implemented in simulations 2 and 3? Explain.
Type answer here
Section 2 – Develop your own scenario
Simulation #4 – How can we get warming to 2oC?
S2.1 Before you start your scenario, check in with your expectations. Identify and explain the top 2 policies (i.e., moving a single slider in the simulator) you think will have the most impact achieving the 2oC goal. These can include actions we tried in Simulation 2 and 3, or actions on the Dashboard we have not yet tested. (2 pts)
a. Policy #1 and explanation (single slider change only; points lost if you list more than one policy change)
Type answer here
b. Policy #2 and explanation (single slider change only; points lost if you list more than one policy change)
Type answer here
S2.2 Fill out the table below with each policy decision you make, the cumulative reduction in projected temperature, and the change in temperature increase due to that step. See the example in the in the table. The goal is to reach 2oC warming and for someone else to be able to repeat your scenario and confirm your results. If you reach 2oC before step 18, you do not need to fill in all lines of the table. Note for full credit the last step/row much match your screenshot in the next question. (7 pts)
S2.3 Paste your screenshot below and add an informative caption. (1 pts)
Paste image here
Caption for S2.3: Type answer here
S2.4 What were the top 2 most important policies in your scenario (i.e., led to the largest single reduction in global temperature increase; refer to the last column in your table)? Were they different from what you expected in S2.1? Why or why not? (4 pts)
Type answer here
S2.5 What barriers, socially, legally, politically, etc., can you anticipate to the polices needed to keep below 2oC warming? How do you think these policy changes might change your life? (4 pts)
Type answer here
End of LAB
To complete this portion you will need:
The LAB Energy En-Roads Instructions and Background document (click ‘previous’ to review)
The online En-Roads simulatorLinks to an external site. https://www.climateinteractive.org/en-roads/
This LAB Energy En-Roads Quiz
The ability to take screenshots – You will submit these in the Synthesis document.
Question 11 pts
I have all the necessary materials and am prepared to follow the instructions to take the quiz.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Flag question: Question 2
Question 21 pts
En-ROADS is designed to provide a synthesis of the best available science on climate solutions and put it at the fingertips of groups in policy workshops and role-playing games. These experiences enable people to explore the long-term climate impacts of global policy and investment decisions. This means that…
See Keep in mind that ‘all models are wrong, but some models are useful’ in the Background for more on the purpose of computer models.
Group of answer choices
The model is intended to illustrate how we have already achieved our climate goals
The model is intended to enable us to explore a range of possible futures, not to predict the future accurately
The model is intended to predict the future accurately
Flag question: Question 3
Question 31 pts
Use the dropdowns to complete the sentence. See the Background ‘How do we know 2oC is the limit?’ for more information.
We can use the En-ROADS simulator to explore energy policies that can help keep the total increase in global temperature by 2100 to
[ Select ]
. A total increase in temperature
[ Select ]
is more likely to cause extreme climate impacts that will disrupt our society, including extreme heat waves, ocean acidification that would kill all coral reefs, and more than 1 meter sea level rise.
Flag question: Question 4
Question 41 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard to answer this question.
According to the En-ROADS simulator, the total temperature increase by 2100 under baseline conditions or ‘business as usual’ is _____ degrees C, which is higher than the 2oC goal to limit climate change impacts. This signals that the globe is at risk for extreme climate change impacts if current conditions continue.
Flag question: Question 5
Question 51 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard and information in the section in the Background titled How do we know how much energy demand will increase and why? to answer this question.
In the graphs and sliders on the En-ROADS interface, what does the ‘baseline’ or ‘business as usual’ scenario represent?
Group of answer choices
Increasing subsidies for fossil fuels and decreasing or de-incentivizing renewable energy which enable carbon emissions to decline
Continuing with the current policies and technologies, i.e. the ‘status quo’, which enable carbon emissions to continue to grow
Flag question: Question 6
Question 61 pts
Refer to the How do we know how much energy demand will increase and why? section in the Background to answer this question.
Why might energy production be expected to increase over the next century?
Group of answer choices
To meet growing energy demand due to increases in energy efficiency in industrialized countries.
To meet growing energy demand due to population growth and industrialization in low-income countries.
Question 71 pts
Consider the “Global Sources of Primary Energy” Graph without changing anything. Complete each of the following statements about baseline/status quo conditions using the dropdown menus.
NOTE this question is specific to the December 2020 version of the simulator; it may not match the data if there has been a subsequent update very soon before this assignment was published. Contact your instructor if you have questions.
1. Total energy production in exajoules / year
（increases/decreases） by a factor of 2 from 2020 to 2100.
2. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, represent
[more than half/less than half ] of all energy production in 2100.
3. Renewables, nuclear, and bioenergy, represent
[more than half/less than half ] of all energy production in 2100.
Question 81 pts
Refer to the How do we meet growing energy demand as fossil fuels are declining? section in the Background to answer this question.
Consider the “Global Sources of Primary Energy” Graph without changing anything. Complete each of the following statements about baseline/status quo conditions using the dropdown menus.
To meet total energy demand in 2100,
[ renewables/fossil fuels]
will increase as
[ renewables/fossil fuels]
peak and/or begin to decline. Though
[ bioenergy/nuclear energy ]
is an alternative that could meet growing energy demand, there is no current policy to substantially increase its use. Meanwhile
[ bioenergy/nuclear energy ]
is an important source of energy in some regions but has a hard, biological limit that will keep it from providing a significant portion of global energy demand.
Question 91 pts
Refer to the En-ROADs Dashboard Primary Energy graph to answer this question. Use the dropdown menus and the graphs to complete the sentence.
Under baseline policies, Greenhouse Gas Net Emissions will
[ increase/stay the same/decrease]
because total energy production from fossil fuels is expected to
[ increase/stay the same/decrease]
from 2020 to 2100.
Question 101 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard to answer this question. The En-Roads tutorial may also be helpful.
Match each slider category to its role in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Click on the slider title for more information.
Group of answer choices
Natural gas
[ Choose ]
Renewables
[ Choose ]
Transport Energy Efficiency
[ Choose ]
Transport Energy Electification
[ Choose ]
Buildings Energy Efficiency
[ Choose ]
Building Electrification
[ Choose ]
Combustion of this to produce energy also releases carbon dioxide
Technology to heat, cool, light buildings using less total energy
Switching from gasoline and diesel fuels to electric motors
Switching building’s heat, cooking, lighting, etc. from fuel (oil, gas, or bioenergy (wood)) to electricity
This type of electricity generation does not release carbon dioxide
Technology to transport more people or materials using less total energy
Question 111 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard and the section Government subsidies and taxation can help meet energy demand and carbon emission goals in the Background to answer this question
When you move the sliders under Energy Supply, the label under the slider bar changes to indicate a policy change that affects that Energy production type. Match each policy change type to its impact on energy production.
Group of answer choices
Taxed
[ Choose ]
Status quo
[ Choose ]
Subsidized
[ Choose ]
Continuing with current policies, no effective change in the cost of the activity
The government imposes an additional financial cost on the activity, may de-incentivize the activity
The government provides a financial rebate, reduces taxes or reduces other costs of an activity, may incentivize the activity
Question 121 pts
Refer to the En-Roads Dashboard Sliders and the section How do we know how much energy demand will increase and why? section in the Background to answer this question.
Consider the sliders under Coal, Oil, and Natural gas. Why can the slider only move a small amount to the right?
Group of answer choices
The status quo is that these fossil fuels are already highly taxed by global governments
The status quo is that these fossil fuels are already subsidized by global governments
（increase/decrease/stay the same）
Question 141 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard and graphs to answer this question. Update V21.11
Subsidize renewables. Now slide the ‘Renewables’ slider all the way to the right.
You can ‘replay’ an action by clicking on the looped clockwise arrow in the top menu. If you click it 3 times it will replay the last 3 actions.
Take a screenshot for the Part 2 Synthesis
Use the dropdowns to complete each sentence below.
1. Global temperature increase by 2100
[ Select ]
.
2. Global greenhouse gas net emissions
[ Select ]
.
3. Total energy production by renewables in 2100
[ Select ]
.
4. Total energy production by fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas)
[ Select ]
. （increase/decrease/stay the same）
Question 151 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard Temperature Increase by 2100 indicator to answer this question.
Does highly subsidizing renewables only achieve the goal of keeping warming at or below 2oC by 2100?
Group of answer choices
No, it was not sufficient because fossil fuels did not decrease enough.
It cannot be determined with this simulator
Yes, it drastically reduced the temperature by replacing fossil fuels entirely.
（increase/decrease/stay the same）
Simulation #3 – The role of energy efficiency in meeting our climate goals
In this simulation, we will leave energy production alone, and simulate the impact of improvements in energy efficiency and electrification.
Begin simulation
First, make sure to reset the simulator. Follow the instructions in the LAB instructions and background document to answer the following questions.
Flag question: Question 17
Question 171 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard to answer this question. Click on the slider name or three dots to the right of the slider. You can also find information in the Energy efficiency section in the Background.
In the EnRoads simulator baseline, energy efficiency in transport increases at a rate of per year.
Group of answer choices
1.2%
12%
0.5%
Flag question: Question 18
Question 181 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard to answer this question. Click on the slider name or three dots to the right of the slider. You can also find information in the Energy efficiency section in the Background.
In the EnRoads simulator baseline, energy efficiency in buildings and industry increases at a rate of per year.
Group of answer choices
1.2%
0.5%
12%
1-2（decreases about the same as the previous scenario/ decreases less than in the previous scenario/ decreases more than previous scenario）
3-5 （increase/decrease/stay the same）
Question 201 pts
Use the En-ROADs Dashboard to answer this question. Click on the slider name or three dots to the right of the slider.
How much does energy efficiency in transport, and building and industry, have to improve per year to match the scenario in the previous question?
Group of answer choices
1% per year
5% per year
10% per year
