Climate Solutions 101: Setting the Stage

• This video explains how population growth, urban sprawl, and an expanding global economy have created a growing need for water, food, land, and energy.
• Students will also learn that the dramatic increase in agriculture has caused tropical deforestation, natural water sources to diminish, and greenhouse gas emissions to grow.
• Downloadable graphics, links to more information, and two related video discussions on equitable climate solutions and climate justice are also included below the video.
  

Positives

• This expertly produced video offers bold imagery and easy-to-understand line graphs (which are available as downloadable graphics).
• The video ends with a thought-provoking comparison between life on Earth fifty years ago and life on Earth today.
• The two additional videos offer conversations on climate change in relation to topics of hope, equity, empathy, humility, and unity.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• The video offers a lot of information, so it may be best to pause the video at intervals to discuss each topic as a class before moving on to the next topic.
• Students should have a basic understanding of agriculture.
  

Differentiation

• Science classes could use the video to create a cause and effect chart showing how modern society has created the environmental problems highlighted in the video. The activity can be extended by creating a solutions column to show how the "effects" can be reversed or changed.
• Advanced students can read the two linked articles to delve more deeply into the topics discussed in the video.
• Other resources on this topic include Who Is Responsible For Climate Change? – Who Needs To Fix It?, How Does Climate Change Affect Us? | Our Climate Our Future, and Have the Talk, Climate Conversations.
  
  
  

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