Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

What do net removals refer to in the bathtub analogy for emissions?

1. Water entering the bathtub

2. Water remaining at a constant level

3. Water draining out of the bathtub

4. Water evaporating from the bathtub

The correct answer is: Water draining out of the bathtub

In the context of the bathtub analogy for emissions, net removals are represented by the water draining out of the bathtub. This analogy illustrates the concept of emissions and removals, where the "bathtub" symbolizes the atmosphere and the "water" symbolizes greenhouse gas concentrations. When considering net removals, we refer to the processes that effectively decrease the amount of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere, akin to water leaving the bathtub. Activities such as reforestation, carbon capture and storage, and soil carbon sequestration contribute to these removals. Therefore, understanding net removals as water draining from the bathtub gives a clear visualization of how some processes can reduce greenhouse gas levels, contrasting with processes that add to emissions, which can be visualized as water flowing into the bathtub. This perspective is essential for grasping how balancing emissions with removals can affect overall climate change efforts.