Question 1

Regardless of divisions into nation-states, the planet constitutes a single ecosystem, deﬁned as the system composed of the interaction of all living organisms and their natural environment.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The planet can be viewed as a single ecosystem in which all living organisms interact with each other and their environment. While political divisions may exist between nation-states, these do not change the fundamental interconnectedness of the global ecosystem.

Question 2

Why should climate change be of interest to criminologists?

Accepted Answer

Climate change should be of interest to criminologists for several reasons, as it has significant implications for social stability, crime patterns, and the broader context within which criminal justice systems operate. Here are some of the key reasons why criminologists should pay attention to climate change:

1. **Changes in Crime Patterns**: Climate change can lead to shifts in crime patterns. For example, as temperatures rise, there may be an increase in certain types of crime, such as assaults and other violent crimes, which have been linked to higher temperatures. Additionally, resource scarcity due to climate impacts can lead to increased theft, looting, and potentially even armed conflict.

2. **Resource Scarcity and Conflict**: Climate change is expected to exacerbate resource scarcity, particularly in relation to water and food. This can lead to increased competition and potential conflict, both within and between nations. Criminologists can study the ways in which environmental stressors contribute to criminal behavior and societal unrest.

3. **Displacement and Migration**: The effects of climate change, such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and drought, are likely to displace large numbers of people. This displacement can lead to increased tensions in host communities, potentially resulting in xenophobia, discrimination, and violence. Criminologists can explore the dynamics of these social tensions and the associated risks of criminality.

4. **Environmental Crimes**: Climate change can also lead to an increase in environmental crimes, such as illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and pollution. These crimes can have significant environmental and social impacts, and criminologists can play a role in understanding their causes and developing strategies to combat them.

5. **Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies**: Criminologists can contribute to the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies to address climate change. This includes assessing the effectiveness of laws and policies designed to reduce carbon emissions, protect the environment, and prevent environmental crimes.

6. **Emergency Response and Disaster Management**: Criminologists can study the impact of natural disasters, which are expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change, on social order and crime. They can also contribute to improving emergency response and disaster management plans to ensure they are equitable and do not disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

7. **Policy and Legislation**: Understanding the relationship between climate change and crime can inform the development of policy and legislation. Criminologists can provide insights into how laws and regulations can be designed to prevent environmentally-related crimes and to ensure that climate policies do not inadvertently increase crime rates.

8. **Justice and Equity**: Climate change poses significant justice and equity issues, as the impacts are often felt most acutely by the poorest and most vulnerable communities who have contributed least to the problem. Criminologists can examine the social and criminal justice implications of climate change and advocate for policies that address these disparities.

In summary, climate change intersects with criminology in numerous ways, affecting crime rates, patterns, and the justice system's response to these challenges. Criminologists have a critical role to play in researching these impacts, advising on policy, and helping to ensure that the societal response to climate change is effective and just.

Question 3

Four main primary green crimes were introduced in the chapter in which the environment and non-human species as well as humans are harmed, damaged or degraded through human actions. What are they?

Accepted Answer

These choices represent primary green crimes that involve harm to the environment and non-human species: air pollution, deforestation, crimes against animals, and water pollution.

Question 4

The plundering of the Earth´s resources has only recently been thought of as a crime but there is increasing recognition of the problems of wasteful over-consumption and exploitation. In their approach to these issues, criminologists may adopt which two startegies?

Accepted Answer

The legal-procedural approach focuses on the legal framework and procedures for addressing environmental crimes, while the critical or socio-legal approach examines the social and political context of environmental harm and the role of law in shaping and responding to it.

Question 5

Which of the following were used in this chapter to describe criminology´s interest in the environment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following were used in...

Question 6

The world has lost half of its forests over the past 8,000 years and, just in the latter part of the twentieth century, between 1960 and 1990, about what per cent of the world´s tropical forest was lost?

Accepted Answer

Between 1960 and 1990, about 20% (0.2) of the world's tropical forest was lost.

Question 7

The rate of growth in carbon emissions is around what per cent per year?

Accepted Answer

The rate of growth in carbon emissions is approximately 2% per year. This reflects the increasing amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere annually, primarily due to fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.

Question 8

One set of distinctions explored in the chapter and devised by White (2008: 98-9) was a threefold grouping: which one was it?

Accepted Answer

White (2008: 98-9) devised a threefold grouping of environmental issues into Green, Brown, and White categories, each representing different aspects of environmental concerns.

Question 9

Green criminology takes ´pollution´ as a central concept and addresses violations of what have been variously termed ´environmental morality´, ´environmental ethics´ and ´animal rights´ (Beirne and South, 2007: xiii)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Green criminology takes ´pollution´ as a central...

Question 10

Is there a sound case for substituting harm for crime when considering green criminology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is there a sound case for substituting...

Quiz 19: The Police and Policing