Responding to Climate Change

King's Centre for Visualization in Science

This is the ninth and final lesson in a series of lessons about climate change. This lesson focuses on the various activities that humans can do to mitigate the effects of climate change. This includes information on current and predicted CO2 emission scenarios across the globe, alternative energy sources, and how people are currently responding to climate change. Importantly, this lesson is motivating in showing students that they can make a difference.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Lesson has two powerful applets - carbon footprint and stabilization wedges - that greatly enhance the learning experience. Educator should become familiar with them prior to implementation and also review the equations and calculations as a prerequisite to starting lesson. See the other eight lessons in this module at [link https://www.explainingclimatechange.ca/] See Stabilization Wedges Game in the CLEAN collection [link http://cleanet.org/resources/41709.html] Educator could show students current changes in energy produced by photovoltaic solar technology [link http://www.earth-policy.org/indicators/C47/solar_power_2013], as it nearly doubled from 2010 to 2012.
The opening carbon footprint learning tool allows users to change CO2 emission around the world. Users are then able to run a model to visually examine how these CO2 emissions impact carbon levels in the ocean, the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the soil. In the carbon stabilization wedge learning tool, users are able to visualize how altering lifestyles and increasing alternative energy sources can reduce emissions. No sources are provided for the data used to develop these learning tools. Comments from expert scientist: It is a very good outline of the role of carbon-dioxide in the climate system, and organizes ways to mitigate the carbon footprint. I liked the CO2 footprint and Carbon stabilization learning tools in general, as they provide a hands-on approach to the issues involved.
This resource does a great job at encouraging students that there are solutions to help mitigate the effects of climate change and to reduce GHG emissions. Questions posed throughout the lesson encourage students to think critically about potential solutions and difficulties in implementing those solutions. Two learning tools or applets - carbon footprint and stabilization wedges - engage students in how their choices impact the climate system.