Initial Publication Date: September 24, 2024

Burning of fossil fuels and other human activities are causing the planet to warm.

Teaching this principle is supported by ten fundamental concepts:

A. Human activities have unequivocally caused the global warming observed over the industrial era by increasing the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Learn more about how human activities cause global warming

There are 9 more fundamental concepts. See them all...

B. Three-quarters of all greenhouse gases emitted by human activities come from the use of fossil fuels, primarily coal, oil, and natural gas, for transportation and energy. The rest come from industrial processes, agriculture, landfills, and land-use changes such as deforestation. Learn more about sources of greenhouse gas emissions

C. Social systems—including institutions, policies, practices, values, and behaviors—determine the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. Social systems also inequitably distribute the economic benefits of energy consumption and the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Learn more about how social systems drive climate change

D. The global climate will continue to warm in the future. How much it warms depends primarily on current and future emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities. By far the biggest uncertainty in terms of future climate change is the human factor—how much action global society will take to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about future climate change

E. Many of the human activities that produce greenhouse gases also produce small airborne particles called aerosols. Aerosols generally cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back into space, and by seeding clouds that reflect sunlight. This cooling effect is currently not big enough to fully counteract human-caused warming. Most human-produced aerosols, such as smoke from power plants and biomass burning, also have negative effects on air quality and human health. Learn more about climate change and air quality

F. Human activities continue to increase the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, although contributions vary across regions, sectors, and populations. Learn more about global greenhouse gas contributions

G. Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries or longer. This means that carbon dioxide emitted decades ago continues to contribute to climate change today. Among countries, the United States is the largest emitter of the carbon dioxide that has accumulated in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. From 1850 to 2021, total emissions from the United States are estimated to have caused around 17% of global warming, China 12%, European Union 10%, and the 47 least-developed countries collectively 6%.

H. Annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have been slowly declining since 2007, while emissions have increased rapidly in China, India, and other nations with rapidly industrializing economies. China is currently the top annual emitter as a nation. Learn more about global greenhouse gas emissions

I. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases can limit future global warming and its impacts. Parties to the 2015 Paris Agreement set a goal of holding the global average temperature to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above preindustrial levels, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F). Learn more about the Paris Agreement

J. The Paris Agreement also sets an aim to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. However, public and private financial systems continue to support investment in fossil fuels. Currently, global spending on fossil fuels outweighs investments in adaptation and mitigation. Current investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions are not large enough to keep warming below 2°C (3.6°F).

Bringing these ideas into your classroom

Even though this topic can be a sensitive one, it is also an essential facet to understanding climate change. Educators are urged not to shy away from the human role in shaping the climate, but instead to approach it in a deliberate manner, with pacing and framing intentionally designed to help your students understand the science and reconcile the meaning.

When possible, use data-driven explanations.
Weave pathways to action into the discussion every step of the way. This prevents feelings of hopelessness and also shows the scientific and technical responses that are needed to curb the worst effects of climate change.
Foster a classroom environment where discussion is welcome. Invite students to voice their doubts, fears, or uncertainties. (Learn more about creating a validating classroom environment.)

Teaching materials from the CLEAN collection

Middle school

Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom helps students learn about the connection between CO₂ emissions, CO₂ concentration, and average global temperatures.
Students can learn about the Keeling Curve and its famous data with this graphing exercise: Our Changing Atmosphere.
NASA's World of Change animation shows deforestation in Brazil. Loss of productive forests is another contributor to human-caused climate change.
Climate Change Basics video offers a simple and easy-to-understand overview of climate change and its causes.
The Fifth National Climate Assessment summarizes the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. The report can be explored by region and uses clear, simple messages to streamline the findings.

High school

Climate Change and the Carbon Cycle - This unit introduces high school students to climate change, the carbon cycle, and the effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide on Earth's climate.
Climate scientist Richard Alley summarizes the case for human-caused climate change in this video segment, It's Us.
Debunking Cranky Uncle on the carbon cycle - This video illustrates the Keeling curve as evidence to establish man's role in global climate change.
Next Generation Climate Lesson 2 - What factors have caused the rise in the global temperature over the last century? - In this activity, students explore factors that have caused the rise in global temperature over the last century. Educators have the opportunity to assess how modeling activities (the game), analogies (the cake), and mathematical models (graphs) develop and change student mental models.

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