This classroom activity introduces equity issues surrounding climate change. Students research the assigned developed and developing nations, discuss climate change, and label the differences between energy usage and the effects of climate change on two world maps. In the end, the class negotiates an energy treaty.
Activity takes two to three class periods. Computer access is necessary.
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Climate information can be used to reduce vulnerabilities or enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems affected by climate change. Continuing to improve scientific understanding of the climate system and the quality of reports to policy and decision-makers is crucial.
Reducing human vulnerability to the impacts of climate change depends not only upon our ability to understand climate science, but also upon our ability to integrate that knowledge into human society. Decisions that involve Earth’s climate must be made with an understanding of the complex inter-connections among the physical and biological components of the Earth system as well as the consequences of such decisions on social, economic, and cultural systems.
Energy Literacy
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Scientists can bring information, insights, and analytical skills to bear on matters of public concern. Acting in their areas of expertise, scientists can help people understand the likely causes of events and estimate their possible effects.
Social and economic forces strongly influence which technologies will be developed and used. Which will prevail is affected by many factors, such as personal values, consumer acceptance, patent laws, the availability of risk capital, the federal budget, local and national regulations, media attention, economic competition, and tax incentives.
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- Educator must manage the discussions carefully and push for negotiations in the debates.
- Educator must be very careful that students do not leave lesson with a depressed feeling of "there is no hope," and instead implement a discussion on solutions.
- To update activity, the educator may want to assign the reading of the Copenhagen Climate Treaty as homework.
- Wikipedia should be used as a secondary source since some districts do not allow a wikipedia source.
- Part of the Earth Day Network Carbon Footprints Theme for the National Environmental Education Week. Other lessons include: Biodiversity and Climate; Invasive Species and Climate; Food, Water and Climate; and Green Building and Climate.
- Homework "Guiding Questions" should be discussed by group and facilitated by educator to ensure that the inequity of climate change is realized by the students.
About the Science
- Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
- Activity stresses that climate change has consequences.
- Has students research IPCC Report and Kyoto Protocol.
- Looks at inequity from many different levels, including environmental and health concerns, and gives students a global perspective of climate policy.
About the Pedagogy
- Well-developed lesson.
- Opportunities for students to work in teams to gather evidence and draw conclusions.
- Includes necessary data sheet for student activity.
Technical Details/Ease of Use
- Easy to use.
- One technical problem: World map is missing from the Materials section and needs to be provided.
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Equity and Climate --Discussion
This important resource mentioned in the acitivity
http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/hdr_20072008_summary_english.pdf.
is missing.
There is no way to find something similar for students (and teachers too)
It's very difficult to find in internet a table that list countries and the predicted impact of climate change ...
6289:21750
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edittextuser=5737 post_id=21750 initial_post_id=0 thread_id=6289
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GPa 
GPa
