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All 15 Flashcards — Managing urban air pollution
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Question
What does a catalytic converter do?
Answer
It converts CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons in petrol car exhaust into less harmful gases.
💡 Hint
Cleaner exhaust
Question
Name one technology solution and one policy solution for air pollution.
Answer
Technology: catalytic converters/scrubbers. Policy: emission standards/LEZs/congestion charging.
💡 Hint
Tech + policy
Question
What is an emission standard?
Answer
A regulation setting legal limits on pollutants emitted by vehicles or industries.
💡 Hint
Legal limit
Question
What is a low emission zone (LEZ)?
Answer
An area where high-emitting vehicles are restricted or charged to reduce pollution.
💡 Hint
Restrict dirty vehicles
Question
What is a particulate filter used for?
Answer
To trap soot/particulates from diesel exhaust, reducing PM emissions.
💡 Hint
Trap soot
Question
What are two common economic instruments used to reduce emissions?
Answer
Congestion charges and pollution taxes (also subsidies and scrappage schemes).
💡 Hint
Use prices
Question
How can congestion charging reduce air pollution?
Answer
It reduces traffic volume by making driving in busy zones more expensive, lowering emissions and improving air quality.
💡 Hint
Price reduces traffic
Question
How do scrubbers reduce air pollution from power plants?
Answer
They remove SO2 (and sometimes particulates) from flue gases before release.
💡 Hint
Remove SO2
Question
List three evaluation criteria for pollution management strategies.
Answer
Effectiveness, cost, and equity (also feasibility and co-benefits/trade-offs).
💡 Hint
Effectiveness + cost + fairness
Question
Why do EVs not automatically mean zero overall pollution?
Answer
They have zero tailpipe emissions, but total impact depends on how electricity is generated and on manufacturing impacts.
💡 Hint
Electricity mix matters
Question
Why is “equity” important for measures like congestion charging?
Answer
Charges can disproportionately affect lower-income groups unless alternatives (public transport) and exemptions are provided.
💡 Hint
Who bears the cost?
Question
Give two behavioural/planning approaches that reduce emissions.
Answer
Public transport investment and safe cycling/walking infrastructure (also mixed-use planning and remote work).
💡 Hint
Shift travel behaviour
Question
EVS link: Which worldview often prefers behaviour change over tech fixes?
Answer
Ecocentric (often prioritises demand reduction and lifestyle change), while technocentric often prefers technology solutions.
💡 Hint
Ecocentric vs technocentric
Question
Evaluation tip: What are common limitations of tech solutions?
Answer
Cost, maintenance/enforcement, unequal access, and addressing symptoms rather than reducing demand.
💡 Hint
Cost + equity + demand
Question
Essay tip: What is the best structure for evaluating urban air pollution management?
Answer
Compare multiple strategies (tech, regulation, economic, behaviour), evaluate with criteria and EVSs, then conclude with a justified judgement.
💡 Hint
Compare → evaluate → conclude
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Full study notes for Managing urban air pollution
Topic 8.3 hub
Urban air pollution
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