Environment Quiz - Environmental Treaties (Questions)

We have known that the environment is in trouble for a long time. But what action have governments around the world taken to tackle it? In this quiz we look at some of the environmental treaties, agreements and laws brought in to protect our planet.

There are laws in place to protect specific species, limit greenhouse gas emissions, control harmful chemicals and much more besides. Unfortunately, some countries are not signed-up to all of them, and others are non-binding. If we seriously want to save the planet, it will take cooperation between every nation on Earth.

The United Nations is certainly taking the issue seriously. As the threat to the environment has become more and more noticeable, the number of treaties aimed at protecting it have increased. But not all countries are as enthusiastic about making the necessary sacrifices. In fact, some leaders have even denied that humans are causing climate change at all!

1. Environmental laws have been around for a long time. In 1272 the burning of coal was banned in London by which monarch?
[ ] Edward I
[ ] Victoria
[ ] Charles I
[ ] Stephen
2. Whales were first protected when the International Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling was signed in which year?
[ ] 1887
[ ] 1937
[ ] 1967
[ ] 2007
3. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959. What does the treaty forbid on the continent?
[ ] Hunting
[ ] Mining
[ ] Farming
[ ] Military activity
4. In 1963, the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty forbade testing nuclear weapons in which of the following places?
[ ] Space
[ ] Under the sea
[ ] In the atmosphere
[ ] All of the above
5. In 1979, a treaty to protect migratory species was signed in which former German capital?
[ ] Berlin
[ ] Hamburg
[ ] Munich
[ ] Bonn
6. Adopted in 1985, the Vienna Convention is aimed at protecting which part of our atmosphere?
[ ] The troposphere (the part we live in)
[ ] The ionosphere (where auroras happen)
[ ] The ozone layer (protects us from UV radiation)
[ ] The exosphere (the highest level)
7. The UNFCCC came to be in 1992, with the aim of tackling greenhouse gasses. What does UNFCCC stand for?
[ ] The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
[ ] The United Nations Focus Comittee on Climate Change
[ ] The United Nations First Call on Climate Change
[ ] The United Nations Fundamental Crisis of Climate Change
8. Until it was banned in 1994, fourteen countries (including the UK) used to dump what in the ocean?
[ ] Plastic waste
[ ] Radioactive waste
[ ] Human waste (sewage)
[ ] Chemical waste
9. The Rotterdam Convention was signed by 72 nations in 1998. It controls trade in what?
[ ] Elephant ivory
[ ] Hazardous chemicals
[ ] Endangered species
[ ] Oil
10. The Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005 as a way to combat greenhouse gasses. It was signed by all but 4 UN members. Which country withdrew its support in 2012?
[ ] Australia
[ ] The UK
[ ] Canada
[ ] The USA
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Environment Quiz - Environmental Treaties (Answers)
1. Environmental laws have been around for a long time. In 1272 the burning of coal was banned in London by which monarch?
[x] Edward I
[ ] Victoria
[ ] Charles I
[ ] Stephen
As London’s population grew and the forests around it shrank, people started to use coal, rather than wood, for fuel. This produced clouds of toxic gas, hence Edward’s ban
2. Whales were first protected when the International Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling was signed in which year?
[ ] 1887
[x] 1937
[ ] 1967
[ ] 2007
It's still in force today - unfortunately, fewer than half the countries in the world are bound by the agreement
3. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959. What does the treaty forbid on the continent?
[ ] Hunting
[ ] Mining
[ ] Farming
[x] Military activity
As well as banning military activity, the treaty also makes Antarctica a scientific reserve
4. In 1963, the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty forbade testing nuclear weapons in which of the following places?
[ ] Space
[ ] Under the sea
[ ] In the atmosphere
[x] All of the above
The treaty prohibited nuclear tests anywhere other than beneath ground. Before then, most nuclear tests were carried out in lands far from the nations doing the testing – places where wildlife and indigenous people were exposed to radiation
5. In 1979, a treaty to protect migratory species was signed in which former German capital?
[ ] Berlin
[ ] Hamburg
[ ] Munich
[x] Bonn
Bonn was the capital of West Germany prior to reunification. Sadly, 31 nations have still not signed the Bonn Convention, including China, Russia and the USA
6. Adopted in 1985, the Vienna Convention is aimed at protecting which part of our atmosphere?
[ ] The troposphere (the part we live in)
[ ] The ionosphere (where auroras happen)
[x] The ozone layer (protects us from UV radiation)
[ ] The exosphere (the highest level)
The treaty set out strategies for reducing CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) which damage the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects us from ultraviolet light which causes skin cancer
7. The UNFCCC came to be in 1992, with the aim of tackling greenhouse gasses. What does UNFCCC stand for?
[x] The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
[ ] The United Nations Focus Comittee on Climate Change
[ ] The United Nations First Call on Climate Change
[ ] The United Nations Fundamental Crisis of Climate Change
The framework limits the amount of greenhouses gasses countries are allowed to produce. However, because over 190 countries are involved and consensus is required, progress has been slow
8. Until it was banned in 1994, fourteen countries (including the UK) used to dump what in the ocean?
[ ] Plastic waste
[x] Radioactive waste
[ ] Human waste (sewage)
[ ] Chemical waste
Between 1946 and 1994, 18 times as much nuclear waste entered the oceans as did so in the Fukushima disaster of 2011 - we did this deliberately!
9. The Rotterdam Convention was signed by 72 nations in 1998. It controls trade in what?
[ ] Elephant ivory
[x] Hazardous chemicals
[ ] Endangered species
[ ] Oil
The convention forces exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labelling, to give directions for safe handling, and to inform users of any known restrictions. However, it does nothing to outlaw them
10. The Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005 as a way to combat greenhouse gasses. It was signed by all but 4 UN members. Which country withdrew its support in 2012?
[ ] Australia
[ ] The UK
[x] Canada
[ ] The USA
Andorra, Palestine, South Sudan, the United States and Canada are the only countries not bound by the Protocol
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