Alexis Cromer: Climate Solutions Require Creativity

• This resource features an interview with a program director of a non-profit that rescues excess food from places that would otherwise throw it away, in turn, reducing food waste, fighting hunger, and addressing climate change. 
• Students will learn the many reasons why reducing food waste is one of the most impactful climate solutions, and one that all people can participate in. 

Positives

• This video explains the relationship between food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the enormous amounts of energy and resources that go into making and transporting food. 
• The discussion questions beneath the video could serve to facilitate group dialogue or could be used as writing prompts. 

Additional Prerequisites

• Provide time for students to process the varying perspectives and emotions surrounding food waste, as students can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the severity of the problem. 
• This resource provides additional information below the video that might help give additional context to the content or opportunities for extension. 

Differentiation

• Provide students with a graphic organizer that can help them take notes on all of the positive impacts of this food waste organization. 
• Consider using the "Take Action" section below the video and have students write about ways they can advocate for change in their own communities. 
• Ask students to keep a food waste journal to keep track of how much food they throw away during a week, and then brainstorm solutions that would allow for less food waste. 
• Use this SubjectToClimate lesson plan to further explore the complexities of food waste and its connection to climate change. 
• Have students engage in this media literacy activity in order to analyze food waste problems and solutions or have students read this article to also connect agricultural practices with the extinction crisis. 
• Other resources on this topic include this video describing the huge amount of greenhouse gases emitted by food waste and this worksheet and article about food waste, food loss, and what we can do to combat them. 

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.