Climate Solutions 101: Supporting Sinks and Improving Society

• This video highlights the importance of maintaining and augmenting natural carbon sinks, developing engineered carbon sinks, and improving society to fight climate change. 
• Students will hear how preserving existing forests, introducing regenerative agricultural practices, protecting wetlands, and converting degraded farmland into carbon sinks can help reduce climate change. 
• Downloadable graphics, links to more information, and a related video discussion on climate solutions for adapting to climate change and mitigating climate change are included below the video. 

Positives

• The video introduces the concept of solutions that provide dual benefits such as protecting coastal wetlands because they are both carbon sinks and they act as barriers during storms.  

• The video does not shy away from the imminent danger of climate change, but it also does a good job of focusing the message on the vast number of solutions available to combat the negative effects of greenhouse gases. 

Additional Prerequisites

• The video does not explain the chemistry of carbon sinks. 
• This video is the fourth of six videos in the "Climate Solutions 101" series. 
  

Differentiation

• Students could learn more about the carbon cycle using this Carbon Cycle interactive diagram. 
  
• Geography classes could identify local carbon sinks and discuss the possible risks they face. 
• Students in science classes could research the solutions listed in the downloadable graphic titled, "Land-Based Sinks Solutions" and present their findings to the class. 
• Other resources on this topic include Forests Absorb Twice as Much Carbon as They Emit Each Year, The Ocean's Green Machines, and The Big Sinks: Understanding the Importance of Oceans and Forests in the Carbon Cycle.
  

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