27 TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS
Climate change is the biggest threat to our development and well-being, impacting all life on the planet. The poorest and most vulnerable populations face the undue burden of adapting to climate change while dealing with economic impacts. Due to the global nature of this problem, we need global cooperation to find solutions, adapt to its effects and develop low-carbon pathways to a cleaner future. We need to align our attitudes, behaviors, and activities with sustainable principles in order to change our climate course.
Learning Objectives
- Learners will understand the greenhouse effect as both a natural and human affected phenomenon caused by insulating layers of greenhouse gases.
- Learners will understand the impact of human activities—on a global, national, local and individual level—on climate change.
- Learners will be able to explain social, environmental, economic and ethical impacts of climate change.
- Learners will be able to encourage others to protect the climate and collaborate on ways to make a difference.
- Learners will be able to identify and promote climate-friendly policies and economic activities.
Essential Questions
Media (Identification of Value/Biases):
How does the media portray climate change?
Environment
What are ways we as citizens can protect the rights of our environment?
Poverty, wealth and power
How does climate change relate to the poverty cycle?
How does climate change uniquely affect the poor?
Indigenous peoples
How are Indigenous communities being impacted by climate change?
Oppression and genocide
How is climate change linked to oppression?
Health and biotechnology
What are the biggest impacts of climate change on our health?
Gender politics
How is climate change a gendered issue?
Social justice and human rights
How are human rights affected by climate change?
Peace and conflict
How does climate change impact war and conflict around the world?
Overview of The Goal
Our world is a beautiful place.
It is home to countless lifeforms: from the mammals of Antarctica and the fish of the Gold Coast coral reef to us in our stunning cities.
BUT IT CAN BE A HARSH ENVIRONMENT TOO.
Life on Earth has always been at the mercy of the elements. Natural disasters like floods can wash away whole ecosystems. Forest fires lay waste to swathes of land. Hurricanes and earthquakes level settlements and make living incredibly precarious. These natural processes have created and shaped the land for millennia. But studies show that rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere are making natural disasters like these much more frequent and more severe.
Video Overview to understand SDG 13: Climate Change
Overview of this SDG from the United Nations
Learning Activities
Lesson plans on Climate Change from The New York Times
Since the material is copywritten, it can’t be copied and pasted here. However, it includes videos on how climate change is displacing people worldwide, warm up activities to explore students’ prior knowledge, discussion activities, lessons on the basic science of climate change, links for students to explore, research, and discuss.
Here is the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/learning/lesson-plans/a-lesson-plan-about-climate-change-and-the-people-already-harmed-by-it.html?auth=link-dismiss-google1tap
Lesson Plans from The Nature Conservancy
Look about ¾ the way down the web page to find “Understanding Climate Change”. There is a video of explanation and an extensive Teacher Guide.
Games for Change on Climate Change:
http://www.gamesforchange.org/studentchallenge/nyc/climate-change/
Lesson plans from National Geographic
Includes projects, lecture videos, research activities, information on human footprints, and articles about climate change. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/climate-change/
Videos, Quizzes, Articles and Data for Climate Change
This resource includes videos and links for all of the SDG’s. Here is the link for videos, quizzes, articles, and data: https://app.gatheriq.analytics/goal/13
Website for Research: Statistics from the United Nations
United Nation’s statistics on current climate change: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/goal-13
Lesson Plans from The Global Oneness Project
The Global Oneness Project has some beautiful lessons on Climate Change including films with lesson plans, photo essays, and articles. https://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/collections/climate-change
Video: Bill Nye on Climate Change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtW2rrLHs08
Pdf’s from The World’s Largest Lesson
Of course, the World’s Largest Lesson also includes quite a few “printables’ on Climate Change. Here is that website: https://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/global-goals/protect-the-planet/
Video
12 Ted Talks Playlist on Climate Change.
https://www.ted.com/playlists/78/climate_change_oh_it_s_real
Video Understanding Goal 13: Climate Action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YqmEYlg4IY
Further Research and Activities
Assessment and Reflection
Reflective Learning Journal
- Describe the learning activities (articles, videos, etc.) and your experience – What did you do/hear/see?
- Interpret and evaluate the events from your perspective – What do I think about it now? How does it relate to other things that I know?
- Explain your experience; reveal your new insights, connections with other learning, your hypotheses, and your conclusions.
- Reflect on how this information will be useful to you – What questions do I have? Have I changed how I think about the situation? Where do I go from here?
- What did you particularly value and why?
- Is there anything you would do in the next unit? What have you learned? What will you do with these lessons?
Renewable Assignment Options
Change your habits. Be energy efficient and choose renewable power. Save electricity by turning off appliances and electronics when you’re not using them, freeze fresh produce before it goes bad and replace inefficient light bulbs. Save gas by running all your errands at once and take advantage of your right to elect leaders who support sustainable policies and solutions.
Discover. Carbonmap.org and see how cartograms are used to illustrate the gap between responsibility and vulnerability to climate change. Learn about different areas and brainstorm how to take action.
Calculate your carbon footprint and learn how to offset what you cannot reduce using Climate Neutral Now. Measure, reduce, offset. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Recycling paper, containers, electronic equipment, and batteries helps conserve energy and reduce pollution caused by resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal. Print double-sided, recycle used cartridges, and donate equipment to other organizations.
Speak up. Ask local and national decision-makers to support initiatives that don’t harm people or the planet. Voice your support for policies and protocols that your government has yet to sign or haven’t followed through on.
Support the movement by getting involved. Join a March for Science, attend a rally for Earth Day, or host a fundraiser for an initiative tackling climate change in your local community or abroad. Use your voice and presence to make a difference.
Start a ‘No Idling At School’ campaign. Learn about the negative effects of vehicle idling, share the knowledge around school, and encourage staff, students, parents and public transportation systems to turn off their vehicles while waiting. Have a team of students monitor traffic and parking lots to ensure the rule is followed and everyone is doing their part.
Start a composting program at your school. Not only will you help promote responsible consumption, but you’ll help the earth by providing nutrients back into the soil.
Host an art exhibit. Use the various posters and graphic designs available from the Global Goals website or create art out of recycled materials. Enlist students and community members to showcase the impacts of climate change through art and help create awareness about climate change. Allow free access or fundraise by charging admission and donate the funds to a climate action organization!
Visit the David Suzuki Foundation and learn how to take action by cutting your carbon emissions, travelling sustainably and going carbon neutral. All of these ideas can be adapted for the classroom and community
