earth day quiz
Welcome to Quiz questions on environment, climate and sustainability with a focus on Earth Day. Here you'll find two rounds of quiz questions and answers suitable for those who want to play an online quiz on their own or challenge friends. The questions mix history, science and everyday choices: from how the day originated and spread globally, to what actually reduces emissions, saves energy and protects biodiversity. The difficulty level is medium to hard, so you'll often need to connect clues rather than just know single facts. You also get short explanations after each answer, so you can learn something new without having to search further. Perfect for a quick break, a class activity or as inspiration for a more sustainable week.
Earth Day has a powerful history dating back to 1970. It was founded in the United States by Senator Gaylord Nelson after he witnessed the devastating effects of a massive oil spill in California. The first Earth Day mobilised 20 million Americans - 10 % of the country's population - who took to the streets to demand a new way forward for environmental protection. This massive popular movement led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the introduction of groundbreaking environmental laws. To understand these origins is to realise the power of collective engagement and how a single day's demonstration can lead to real and lasting political change.
Today, Earth Day has grown into a global phenomenon, engaging over a billion people in more than 190 countries every year. The theme of the day varies, but the overall goal is the same: to raise awareness of the pressing environmental issues we face, from climate change and plastic pollution to biodiversity loss. The day serves as an annual reminder of our shared responsibility for the planet and inspires action at all levels - from individual lifestyle choices such as reducing consumption, to large-scale initiatives such as tree planting and political campaigns. It is a day for both reflection on the fragility of the Earth and celebration of its beauty.
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Round 1
In which year was the first Global Environment Day held in the US?
Answer: 1970
The first major coordinated mobilisation was held in spring 1970 and became a catalyst for broader environmental policies. It showed that mass mobilisation could influence legislation and government policy-making.
Which spring month is most commonly associated with the celebration of the planetary theme day?
Answer: April
The day falls in April in many countries and is often associated with the start of spring in the northern hemisphere. The timing was chosen to fit student calendars and allow for large outdoor events.
Which US Senator is most strongly linked to the initiative behind the day?
Answer: Gaylord Nelson
He promoted the idea of a national environmental manifestation and built it as a grassroots movement. The initiative brought together universities, associations and local communities for joint actions.
What kind of disaster in 1969 helped to increase environmental awareness in the US?
Answer: Oil spills
A major coastal incident highlighted the vulnerability of ecosystems to fossil fuel industry accidents. Images and reporting increased pressure for stricter rules and better enforcement.
Which social movement in the 1960s inspired the approach of mass meetings and local events?
Answer: The anti-war movement
The organisers adopted forms such as teach-ins and broad mobilisation from contemporary protests. The method made it easy to create thousands of parallel programmes with local content.
Which US agency was created in 1970 and is often linked to the breakthrough of environmental legislation?
Answer: EPA
The agency was created to coordinate and enforce federal environmental regulations. It became the centre for air and water standards and the control of hazardous substances.
Which colour-coded symbol is often used to indicate that packaging can be recycled?
Answer: The Möbius Loop
The symbol consists of three arrows forming a triangle and is used on many types of materials. It indicates recyclability, but does not guarantee that local systems will accept the material.
Which greenhouse gas accounts for the largest share of the global human climate impact?
Answer: Carbon dioxide
Emissions come mainly from the burning of coal, oil and gas and land use. The gas stays in the atmosphere for a long time and drives warming over a long period.
Which sector often accounts for the largest share of direct emissions in many industrialised countries?
Answer: Transport
Road transport, aviation and shipping use large amounts of fossil fuels. Measures such as electrification, more efficient vehicles and reduced travel can deliver significant emission reductions.
Which term describes when species disappear at a faster rate than normal?
Answer: Mass extinction
When the rate of loss increases significantly, ecosystem stability and functions are affected. Drivers include habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change.
Which international meeting in 1992 put sustainable development high on the global agenda?
Answer: Rio Conference
The meeting brought together world leaders and resulted in important frameworks for environment and development. It helped establish principles and processes for international climate action.
Which type of waste requires special treatment due to heavy metals and chemicals?
Answer: E-waste
Products such as mobile phones and computers contain substances that can harm the environment and health if mishandled. At the same time, there are valuable metals that can be recycled through specialised processes.
Which renewable energy source is based on converting moving air into electricity?
Answer: Wind power
Turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity without combustion. Production varies with the weather, requiring planning with grids, storage or other power sources.
Which method often reduces the carbon footprint the most when making sustainable everyday choices?
Answer: Reduce consumption
Buying fewer newly produced goods reduces emissions from raw material extraction, manufacturing and transport. Reuse and repair can often have a greater impact than simply changing the type of material.
Which term describes when a product is designed to be used for longer and easily repaired?
Answer: Circular design
The idea is to reduce waste by extending service life and enabling reuse. It includes modular parts, standardised screws and materials that can be separated for recycling.
Which part of the sea is particularly threatened by eutrophication causing oxygen depletion?
Answer: Baltic Sea
When nutrients leak from agriculture and sewage, algal blooms can increase and oxygen depletion can occur on seabeds. This affects fish, benthic fauna and entire food chains in coastal ecosystems.
Which group of chemicals in refrigeration systems was phased out globally because it damaged the ozone layer?
Answer: CFC
These substances were used in products such as refrigerators and aerosols and depleted ozone in the stratosphere. The phase-out reduced the ozone hole, although recovery takes a long time.
Which 1987 protocol coordinated the global phase-out of ozone-depleting substances?
Answer: The Montreal Protocol
The agreement set binding steps to reduce the production and use of harmful substances. It is often seen as an effective example of international environmental co-operation.
Which term describes the shifting of emissions abroad through the import of goods?
Answer: Carbon dioxide leakage
If production shifts to countries with weaker rules, global emissions may decrease less than expected. This is often discussed in climate policy, trade and policy design.
What is the most widespread plastic material in disposable packaging and often causes littering?
Answer: Polythene
The material is used in bags and many types of film packaging because it is cheap and flexible. It can fragment into microplastics and should be collected for recycling where systems exist.
What term describes small plastic particles that can end up in water and animals?
Answer: Microplastics
These particles can be formed when larger plastics break down or are released from products and textiles. They can spread far, be absorbed into food chains and be difficult to clean up.
Which Swedish authority often coordinates information on environmental objectives and permits?
Response: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
The agency works to produce data, monitor environmental objectives and support the implementation of measures. It co-operates with municipalities, county administrative boards and other actors in environmental work.
Which metric is often used to compare energy use in household appliances per year?
Answer: kWh
Kilowatt hours show how much energy an appliance consumes over time. Labelling can help consumers compare models and understand how choices affect electricity bills and indirect emissions.
What strategy is used to protect species by preserving large contiguous habitats?
Response: Nature reserve
Protected areas limit development and can conserve important habitats and ecosystem services. Management can include management, restoration and rules for outdoor recreation and hunting.
What type of farming often reduces the need for artificial fertilisers by using biological cycles?
Answer: Organic farming
The methods are based on crop rotation, manure management and preventive plant protection. Yields and environmental effects vary, but the aim is to reduce synthetic inputs and favour soil health.
Let's test your maths knowledge
If you've read the article on the front page of Quizfragor, you know the answer.
Round 2
On which day of the month is Planet Day celebrated in many countries?
Answer: 22
The date is used globally as a focal point for activities and information. It has become a recurring marker for environmental issues in schools, organisations and communities.
Which term describes the sum of emissions from a person's lifestyle and consumption?
Answer: Carbon footprint
The measure often includes energy, travel, food and purchases and can be calculated using different methods. It is used to understand where the biggest sources of emissions are and which measures are effective.
What gas is formed when organic waste decomposes without oxygen in a landfill?
Answer: Methane
The gas is a strong greenhouse gas and can leak from landfills if not collected. Collection and composting or digestion can reduce the climate impact of waste.
What principle tells us to prevent harm even when knowledge is uncertain?
Answer: The precautionary principle
It is used in environmental policy to justify action when risks may be severe or irreversible. The idea is that lack of complete evidence should not stop protective measures.
Why are cities often warmer than the surrounding countryside?
Answer: Urban heat island
Asphalt, buildings and reduced vegetation store heat and affect the local climate. The effect can increase heat stress and energy demand, and is mitigated by trees, green spaces and bright surfaces.
Which measure often provides the greatest climate benefit per meal in a typical diet?
Answer: Less beef
Ruminants produce emissions from feed production, land use and methane from digestion. Switching to more plant-based or other protein sources can significantly reduce emissions.
Which term describes when an ecosystem recovers from a disturbance such as a fire or storm?
Answer: Resilience
High resilience means that the system can maintain functions and recover from stresses. Biodiversity, diverse habitats and functioning food webs can strengthen recovery.
What kind of energy is stored in a reservoir behind a dam?
Answer: Positional energy
When water is stored higher up, the energy can be converted into electricity as it is released through turbines. The system can provide regulating power to balance variations in other electricity generation.
Which 2015 international agreement set targets to limit global warming?
Answer: Paris Agreement
Countries agreed to keep the temperature increase well below two degrees and aim for 1.5 degrees. This is based on national commitments that will be strengthened over time.
What term describes when forests, soils and oceans absorb more carbon dioxide than they release?
Answer: Coal sink
Natural sinks sequester carbon in biomass and soils, but capacity may decrease with deforestation or warming. Protection and restoration can enhance uptake, but are no substitute for emission reductions.
What acronym is used to describe the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015?
Answer: SDGs
The goals cover social, economic and environmental dimensions and are monitored with indicators. They are used by countries, companies and organisations to structure sustainability efforts.
What kind of pollutant can be formed when nitrogen oxides and sunlight react in urban air?
Answer: Ground-level ozone
It is a secondary air pollutant that can irritate airways and damage plants. Levels are influenced by traffic, industrial emissions and weather, especially during hot and sunny periods.
What method is used to compare the environmental impact of a product from raw material to waste?
Answer: Life cycle assessment
The methodology maps energy and material flows and emissions at several stages of the chain. It helps to avoid an improvement at one stage leading to a greater impact at another.
Which Swedish deposit system applies to many cans and PET bottles?
Answer: Returnable packaging
The system collects packaging via reverse vending machines and enables high recycling rates. The materials can become new bottles or other products, reducing the need for new raw materials.
Which term describes when nature's services such as pollination and water purification benefit people?
Answer: Ecosystem services
This includes both direct benefits such as food and indirect functions such as climate regulation. Valuing these services can highlight the costs when nature is destroyed or fragmented.
Which group of animals is particularly important for the pollination of many crops?
Answer: Bin
They move pollen between flowers and contribute to seed set and harvest in many plants. Habitat loss, pesticides and diseases can reduce populations and affect food systems.
Which term describes the ocean becoming more acidic as it absorbs more carbon dioxide?
Response: Ocean acidification
When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid, which lowers the pH and changes carbonate chemistry. This can make it harder for organisms to build shells and skeletons from calcium carbonate.
Which materials in batteries are often linked to both resource issues and recycling technologies?
Answer: Lithium
The metal is used in many rechargeable batteries and demand has increased with electrification. Recycling and responsible extraction are important to reduce environmental impacts and supply risks.
What kind of labelling often indicates that the electricity comes from renewable sources under guarantees of origin?
Answer: Good Environmental Choice
The label sets requirements for the origin of electricity and the environmental considerations in its production. It is used as a guide for consumers who want to link their electricity use to defined criteria.
What term describes when nutrients lead to excessive algal growth in lakes and seas?
Answer: Eutrophication
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus can drive algal blooms and later oxygen depletion as materials break down. Sources are often agriculture, sewage and urban stormwater.
What simple measure often reduces energy use in the home by lowering heat loss?
Answer: Additional insulation
Better insulation reduces the need for heating and can lower energy costs. The effect depends on the condition of the house, ventilation and the design of the heating system.
What kind of site protection is used in Sweden to preserve unique species and biotopes?
Response: Natura 2000
The network identifies valuable areas and requires that impacts are assessed so that natural values are not impaired. It is linked to common rules to protect designated species and habitats.
Which term describes offsetting your own emissions by financing reductions elsewhere?
Answer: Carbon offsetting
This can be done through projects that reduce emissions or increase removals, but the quality varies. It is often seen as a complement, not a replacement, for reducing emissions at source.
Which term describes how much of a substance accumulates higher up the food chain?
Answer: Biomagnification
Some environmental toxins are stored in fat and increase in concentration from prey to predator. This can make top predators particularly vulnerable, even if levels in water or soil appear low.
Which strategy prioritises reducing first, reusing second and recycling third?
Answer: The waste hierarchy
It ranks measures to reduce resource use and environmental impact. Prevention and reuse are often more effective than recycling because they reduce the need for new production.
