Environmental Quiz

Most recent update March 7, 2012

The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about:

• 3.4 billion

• 7.0 billion

• 9.3 billion

• 11.5 billion

The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about:

• 3.4 billion

• 7.0 billion

• 9.3 billion

• 11.5 billion

World Population 1850-2012

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2012.

The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,900 people per:

• month

• week

• day

• hour

The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,900 people per:

• month

• week

• day

• hour

Rate of Population Increase - 2012

Time Unit Population Increase

Year 78,250,507

Month 6,520,876

Week 1,504,817

Day 213,799

Hour 8,908

Minute 148

Second 2.5Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Division, 2012.

The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about:

• 3.4 billion

• 6.8 billion

• 9.4 billion

• 11.5 billion

The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about:

• 3.4 billion

• 6.8 billion

• 9.4 billion

• 11.5 billion

World Population 1850-2050(Medium Projection of Growth Assumed After 2000)

0123456789

10

Year

Billions

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2012.

The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about:

• 187 million

• 220 million

• 313 million

• 459 million

The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about:

• 187 million

• 220 million

• 313 million

• 459 million

True (T) or False (F):

United States population growth is near zero, with the population expected to

stabilize by about 2050.

True (T) or False (F):

United States population growth is near zero, with the population expected to

stabilize by about 2050.

Growth of U.S. Population, 1776- 2100

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

History

Projection

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (2012)

True (T) or False (F).  Assuming a growth rate of 5% annually, the population of the United States would surpass the current population of China by 2050.

True (T) or False (F).  Assuming a growth rate of 5% annually, the population of the United States would surpass the current population of China by 2050.

At a 5% annual growth rate the U.S. would surpass China’s current population (1.34 billion) by the year 2042. By 2050 the U.S. would have 1.5 x the number of people that China now does.

If the U.S. population were to continue its current rate of growth for the next

700 years, the population would increase to over 321 billion! (The

current world population is 7.0 billion).

True (T) or False (F):

Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased sharply over the past 30years.

True (T) or False (F):

Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased sharply over the past 30years.

True (T) or False (F):

The United States is a net exporter of most raw materials used by industry

today.

True (T) or False (F):

The United States is a net exporter of most raw materials used by industry

today.

Due in part to domestic environmental concerns, the U.S. is a net importer of most categories of raw materials used to support our economy and lifestyle.

Most metals Portland and masonry cement Petroleum (the basis for plastics) Wood and wood products

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2010, and

by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/

Material % Imported Principal Foreign Sources (2006-09)Niobium 100 Brazil, Canada, Germany, EstoniaManganese 100 S. Africa, Gabon, China, AustraliaGraphite 100 China, Mexico, Canada, BrazilStrontium 100 Mexico, GermanyBauxite/Alumina 100 Jamaica, Brazil, Guinea, AustraliaFluorspar 100 Mexico, China, S. Africa, MongoliaYttrium 100 China, Japan, FranceThallium 100 Russia, Germany, NetherlandsRubidium 100 CanadaAsbestos 100 CanadaQuartz (crystal) 100 China, Japan, RussiaThorium 100 UK, France, India, CanadaTantalum 100 Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Germany

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2010, and

by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/

Material % Imported Principal Foreign Sources (2006-09)Arsenic (trioxide) 100 Morocco, China, BelgiumIndium 100 China, Canada, Belgium, JapanRare earth metals 100 China, France, Japan, AustriaCesium 100 CanadaMica (natural) 100 China, Brazil, Belgium, IndiaGallium 99 Germany, Canada, China, UkraineGemstones 99 Israel, India, Belgium, S. Africa Bismuth 94 Belgium, China, UK, MexicoPlatinum Group 94 S. Africa, Germany, UK, CanadaAntimony 93 China, Mexico, BelgiumGermanium 90 Belgium, China, Russia, GermanyIodine 88 Chile, Japan

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2010, and

by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/

Material % Imported Principal Foreign Sources (2006-09)Rhenium 86 Chile, NetherlandsStone (dimension) 85 Brazil, China, India, TurkeyDiamond (dust, grit) 85 China, Ireland, Russia, S. KoreaPotash 83 Canada, Belarus, RussiaCobalt 81 Norway, Russia, China, CanadaTitanium concentrates 81 S. Africa, Australia, Canada, MozambiqueZinc 77 Canada, Peru, Mexico, IrelandSilicon carbide 77 China, Venezuela, Netherlands, RomaniaBarium (Barite) 76 China, IndiaTin 69 Peru, Bolivia, China, IndonesiaVanadium 69 S. Korea, Czech Rep., Canada, AustriaTungsten 68 China, Canada, Germany, BoliviaSilver 65 Mexico, Canada, Peru, ChileTitanium (sponge) 64 Kazakhstan, Japan, Ukraine, Russia

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2010, and

by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/

Material % Imported Principal Foreign Sources (2006-09)Peat 59 CanadaPalladium 58 Russia, S. Africa, UK, BelgiumChromium 56 S. Africa, Kazakhstan, Russia, ChinaMagnesium Cpds 53 China, Canada, Austria, AustraliaPetroleum 49 Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico

Venezuela, NigeriaBeryllium 47 Kazakhstan, Kenya, Germany, Ireland Ferrosilicon 44 China, Russia, Venezuela, CanadaLithium 43 Chile, Argentina, ChinaNickel 43 Canada, Russia, Australia, NorwayNitrogen (fixed) 43 Trinidad/Tobago, Russia, CanadaAluminum 38 Canada, Russia, China, MexicoMagnesium Metal 34 Canada, Israel, China, RussiaGold 33 Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2010, and

by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/

Material % Imported Principal Foreign Sources (2006-09)Copper 30 Chile, Canada, Peru, MexicoLumber (softwood) 28 Canada, Chile, Sweden, GermanyMica (scrap/flake) 27 Canada, China, India, FinlandGarnet (industrial) 25 India, Australia, China, CanadaPerlite 25 GreeceSalt 24 Canada, Chile, Mexico, The Bahamas Vermiculite 22 China, S. AfricaSulfur 17 Canada, Mexico, VenezuelaGypsum 15 Canada, Mexico, SpainPhosphate rock 15 MoroccoCement (Portland/msry) 8 China, Canada, S. Korea, TaiwanIron and steel 7 Canada, EU, China, MexicoPumice 7 Greece, Italy, Iceland, Mexico

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2010, and

by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/

Material % Imported Principal Foreign Sources (2006-09)Diamond (industrial) 3 Botswana, S. Africa, Nambia, IndiaLime 2 Canada, MexicoStone (crushed) 1 Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas

a/ Source of mineral data is U.S. Geological Survey. 2012. Mineral Commodity Survey.

b/ Principal foreign sources arranged by most important supplier to the left, next most important to the right of that, and so on.

c/ Petroleum data from U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration 2012 (March).

d/ Data for construction lumber from Random Lengths, 2011, 2012.

True (T) or False (F):

The raw material that is used in the greatest quantity in the U.S. today, and which accounts for almost one-third (by weight) of the total raw materials used

annually is steel.

True (T) or False (F):

The raw material that is used in the greatest quantity in the U.S. today, and which accounts for almost one-third (by weight) of the total raw materials used

annually is steel.

Annual U.S. Consumption of Various Raw Materials, 2010

Million Metric tons Million m3

Roundwood 153 341Industrial roundwood* 135 300Cement 71 64Steel 80 101Plastics 40.6 35.8Aluminum 3.5 1.3

Source: Data for wood from UNECE (2012); for cement, steel, and aluminum from the U.S. Geological Survey (2012); and for plastics from the American Plastics Council (2012).

* Roundwood is the volume of all wood harvested. Industrial roundwood is the volume of wood used in making forest products; the difference is firewood.

In fact, more wood is used in the U.S. every year than all metals and all

plastics combined!

True (T) or False (F):

Energy consumption per capita (per person) in the United States is twice that of the

European Union.

True (T) or False (F):

Energy consumption per capita (per person) in the United States is twice that of the

European Union.

Per Capita Energy Consumption in the U.S. and the E.U. Countries, 2008

Energy Consumption (kilograms of oil equivalent per person)

United States 7885.9

Finland (EU highest) 6555.0

France 4396.8

Germany 4187.0

UK 3894.6

E.U. Average 3773.4

The number one cause of tropical deforestation worldwide is:

• commercial logging.• wildfire. • clearing of lands for

agricultural use.• gathering of firewood.• building of roads and cities.

The number one cause of tropical deforestation worldwide is:

• commercial logging.• wildfire. • clearing of lands for

agricultural use.• gathering of firewood.• building of roads and cities.

Various estimates indicate that 60 to 85% of tropical deforestation today is due to permanent and shifting agriculture.

The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600.

• 72 percent• 50 percent• 33 percent• 17 percent

The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600.

• 72 percent• 50 percent• 33 percent• 17 percent

Forests now cover 72% of the land area in the U.S. that they did at the time of

European settlement

1600 2010

Forest -1,100 million acres

Forest - 751

million acres

Source: USDA - Forest Service

True (T) or False (F). The geographic area that encompasses the United States today has about the same forest coverage as the same geographic area did in 1907.

True (T) or False (F). The geographic area that encompasses the United States today has about the same forest coverage as the same geographic area did in 1907.

Forest Area in the United States 1630-2007

1045

759 760 756 761 744 738 747 749 751

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1630 1907 1938 1953 1963 1977 1987 1997 2002 2007

Th

ousa

nd

Acr

es

Source: USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009).

True (T) or False (F). Growing trees capture carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen.

True (T) or False (F). Growing trees capture carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen.

CO2 O2

Carbon

Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests:

• Forest harvest exceeds growth by 20 percent.• Forest harvest exceeds growth by 5 percent. • Forest harvest roughly equals growth.• Forest growth exceeds harvest by 29 percent.• Forest growth exceeds harvest by 72 percent.

Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests:

• Forest harvest exceeds growth by 20 percent.• Forest harvest exceeds growth by 5 percent. • Forest harvest roughly equals growth.• Forest growth exceeds harvest by 29 percent.• Forest growth exceeds harvest by 72 percent.

Net Growth/Removals Ratios – U.S., 1952-2006

Source: Smith, et al., 2004; USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009).(This is the most recent year for which national statistics are available)

When net forest growth divided by removals = 1.0, timber inventories are neither expanding or declining.

Growth/Removals Ratios – U.S., 1952-2006

Year Softwoods Hardwoods Total

1952 1.00 1.50 1.17

1962 1.25 1.65 1.55

1970 1.23 2.01 1.48

1976 1.25 2.25 1.54

1986 1.19 1.92 1.42

1991 1.15 1.75 1.33

1996 1.33 1.71 1.47

2001 1.33 1.71 1.47

2006 1.55 2.03 1.72Source: Smith, et al., 2004; USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009).

True (T) or False (F):

As originally established, it was never intended that the National Forests of the U.S. would be periodically harvested to

obtain timber that would be used in meeting the nation’s need for wood.

True (T) or False (F):

As originally established, it was never intended that the National Forests of the U.S. would be periodically harvested to

obtain timber that would be used in meeting the nation’s need for wood.

True (T) or False (F). At current rates of deforestation, forty (40) percent of current forests in the U.S. will be lost by the middle of this century.

True (T) or False (F). At current rates of deforestation, forty (40) percent of current forests in the U.S. will be lost by the middle of this century.

In fact, the area covered by forests in the U.S. is increasing.

True (T) or False (F):

In the U.S. and globally, more species of plants and animals have been driven to extinction by logging activity than any

other activity of mankind.

True (T) or False (F):

In the U.S. and globally, more species of plants and animals have been driven to extinction by logging activity than any

other activity of mankind.

There is no evidence that even one plant or animal species has been driven to extinction as a result of

logging activity in the United States.

True (T) or False (F). Under current United States law, forest harvesting is allowed in federally designated wilderness areas.

True (T) or False (F). Under current United States law, forest harvesting is allowed in federally designated wilderness areas.

No harvesting is allowed in wilderness areas

True (T) or False (F). Populations of elk, pronghorn antelope, and wild turkey have declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 60 years.

True (T) or False (F). Populations of elk, pronghorn antelope, and wild turkey have declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 60 years.

In fact, populations of each of these species within the U.S. have increased by at least 800 to 1,000 percent over the past 50 years.

T r e n d s in U .S . E lk P o p u la t io n s 1 9 3 0 - 1 9 9 0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

T r e n d s in U .S . W i ld T u r k e y P o p u la t io n s 1 9 0 0 - 1 9 9 0

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

T r e n d s in U .S . P r o n g h o r n P o p u la t io n s 1 9 1 0 - 1 9 9 0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

True (T) or False (F):

Considering the total annual harvest of forests in the United States and the total consumption of wood and fiber products within our country, the U.S. is a net importer of wood

and wood products.

True (T) or False (F):

Considering the total annual harvest of forests in the United States and the total consumption of wood and fiber products within our country, the U.S. is a net importer of wood

and wood products.

The United States is a Net Importer of Wood and Wood Products

Net U.S. imports of wood and wood products amounted to 15-20 percent of total wood consumption and 28 percent of construction lumber consumed in 2011.

When waste paper exports are included in the net import

calculation, the U.S. net import figure for wood and wood

products drops to 2-3 percent.

As a percentage of all the paper used in the United States in 2010 _____ was recovered for reuse.

• 14 percent• 37 percent• 63 percent• 92 percent

As a percentage of all the paper used in the United States in 2010 _____ was recovered for reuse.

• 14 percent• 37 percent• 63 percent• 92 percent

Recovered paper provided _____ of the U.S. paper industry’s fiber in 2010.

• 14 percent• 37 percent• 63 percent• 92 percent

Recovered paper provided _____ of the U.S. paper industry’s fiber in 2010.

• 14 percent• 37 percent• 63 percent• 92 percent

True (T) or False (F). More extensive recycling of paper could reduce harvesting of forests in the U.S. by 60 percent or more.

True (T) or False (F). More extensive recycling of paper could reduce harvesting of forests in the U.S. by 60 percent or more.

Were paper recycling in the U.S. to go to the limit of technology worldwide the domestic timber harvest could be

reduced by about 12%.

True (T) or False (F).   The manufacture of wood construction materials generally results in far lower environmental impacts than when similar construction materials are manufactured from steel, aluminum, plastic, or concrete.

True (T) or False (F).   The manufacture of wood construction materials generally results in far lower environmental impacts than when similar construction materials are manufactured from steel, aluminum, plastic, or concrete.

At a time when Society is seeking to more effectively harness solar energy, it turns out that one of our major raw materials – wood – is totally produced using solar energy.

And, very little additional energy is required to convert wood into useful products.

The manufacture and use of all construction materials results in

environmental impacts. The impacts, however, differ

considerably.

If, for example, an interior If, for example, an interior wall of a house is constructed wall of a house is constructed using steel rather than wood using steel rather than wood

studs, the result is a large studs, the result is a large increase in energy increase in energy

consumption and emissions to consumption and emissions to air and water. air and water.

If, for example, an interior If, for example, an interior wall of a house is constructed wall of a house is constructed using steel rather than wood using steel rather than wood

studs, the result is a large studs, the result is a large increase in energy increase in energy

consumption and emissions to consumption and emissions to air and water. air and water.

Interior Non-Load Bearing Wall, Wood vs. Steel

Comparative Energy Use (GJ)

Wood Steel* Difference

3.8 11.5 3.0X

* 30% recycled content.

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute.

Comparative Emissions in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel Wall Difference

CO2 (kg) ,305 965 3.2XCO (g) 2,450 11,800 4.8X

SOX (g) 400 3,700 9.3X

NOX (g) 1,150 1,800 1.6XParticulates (g) 100 335 3.4XVOCs (g) 390 1,800 4.6XMethane (g) , 4 , 45 11.1X

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute.

Comparative Effluents in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel Wall Difference

Suspended solids (g) 12,180 495,640 41XNon-ferrous metals (mg) 62 2,532 41XCyanide (mg) 99 4,051 41XPhenols (mg) 17,715 725,994 41XAmmonia (mg) 1,310 53,665 41XHalogenated organics (mg) 507 20,758 41XOil and grease (mg) 1,421 58,222 41XSulphides (mg) 13 507 39X

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute.