Environmental Impact and Economic Concepts

What is "embodied energy"?

• The energy used to recycle a product.

• The energy used to make, package, and transport a product before you buy it.

• The energy saved by using renewable resources.

• The energy lost during transportation.

What does "externality" mean in economic terms?

• A direct cost included in the price of a product.

• A side effect of an economic activity not included in its price.

• The total cost of production.

• The profit margin of a product.

What is "life-cycle analysis (LCA)"?

• A method to calculate the cost of a product.

• A "cradle-to-grave" accounting of the environmental impacts of a product.

• A way to measure the energy efficiency of a product.

• A process to improve product design.

What are "deforestation-risk commodities"?

• Products that are made from recycled materials.

• Crops such as soy or palm oil whose expansion is linked to forest loss.

• Commodities that are not linked to any environmental impact.

• Products that are energy efficient.

What is a hidden global impact of poultry feed used in Virginia?

• It is made entirely from local ingredients.

• It contains soy imported from Brazil, a major driver of deforestation.

• It has no environmental impact.

• It reduces carbon emissions.

What was the five-year high of coal exports through Hampton Roads terminals in 2023?

• 30.5 million short tons

• 35.5 million short tons

• 40.5 million short tons

• 45.5 million short tons

What is the first step in the cause-effect chain example of a chicken sandwich at a Richmond café?

• Soy shipped to U.S. feed mill

• Soy fields cleared in Brazil

• Feed delivered to poultry farm

• Processing plant jobs created

What is the impact of manure applied to fields in the cause-effect chain?

• Increase in local employment

• Possible Chesapeake Bay nutrient runoff

• Reduction in global pollution

• Increase in consumer satisfaction

What is a strategy mentioned for balancing jobs and the planet?

• Increase coal exports

• Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Dependence on global markets

• Habitat loss

What is a con of resource-heavy industries in Virginia from a social/justice perspective?

• Community identity

• Secure employment

• Health costs borne by frontline communities

• Cleaner technology investment