ICS Inter-Community School Library: Individuals & Societies: Climate Change-IDU@Gr.8

Theme, Keywords & Inquiry Questions

Statement of Inquiry: Our choices lead to changes that have long-term consequences for the sustainability of the environment and for humanity.

Possible Keywords: climate change, global warming, climate victims, fossil fuels, reforestation, decarbonization, renewable energy - solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, sustainability, etc.

Inquiry (Research) Questions:

Type	I&S	Science
Factual	Who benefits and who loses from our current system of resource consumption? How does climate change impact people in different places?	What are fossil fuels and how are they contributing to climate change? What is specific heat capacity and how is it measured? How does the Greenhouse Effect work?
Conceptual	How is equity relevant to sustainability? How can we sustainably and equitably meet our needs?	What data exists for and against climate change? Why are certain energy forms more useful than others?
Debatable	Who should be responsible for solving climate change?	What are the arguments for and against the existence of human-caused climate change and which ones are valid?

Inquiry (Research) Questions@Interdisciplinary

Factual: What are the different forms of renewable resources?

Conceptual: How can you reduce your carbon footprint?

Debatable: What are the best ways to reduce climate change?

Check out the unit planner for details: https://icsz.managebac.com/teacher/classes/11986209/units/459522/planner

Climate Watch
Climate Watch offers open data, visualizations and analysis to help policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders gather insights on countries' climate progress...

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Agreements, Conferences, Summits and Reports on Climate Change

Report: State of the Climate-National (US) and Global Climate Reports [RL 2-3]
This US National Centers for Environmental Information Center website is full of national, regional, and global climate change reports...
Agreement: Kyoto Protocol 1997 [RL 1]
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that aimed to manage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases adopted at a conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997...
Kyoto Protocol and Doha Amendment [RL 2]
The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was amended in Doha in 2012 which is known as the Doha Amendment (2012)...Read this UN article for more details...
Convention: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1994 [RL 1-2]
The first climate change/environmental protection initiative by the UN in 1994 called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change...
Conference: UN Conference of the Parties 1-25 [RL 3]
The Conference of Parties (COP) is the apex decision-making body of the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC)...
Climate crisis: what is COP and can it save the world? [RL 2]
The Guardian's new article on the COP, its function and what it may bring in the future...
EU climate action and the European Green Deal [RL 1-2]
Besides the UN, the EU is fighting climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners. Read here for details...
ASEAN Cooperation on Climate Change [RL 2]
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Joint Statement on Climate Change...

Climate Change Stakeholders/Agents

Problem Makers/ Troublemakers

Which Countries Emit the Most Greenhouse Gases? [RL 2]
This article covers Top Ten countries That Emit Greenhouse Gases and Top Ten Greenhouse Gas–Emitting Places Per Capita...
Which industries emit the most greenhouse gases? (scroll down) [RL 2]
World Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector (scroll down to paragraph "Which industries emit the most greenhouse gases?"
Which companies emit the most CO2? [RL 1-2]
According to the CDP, between 1988 and 2015, 100 companies were responsible for 71% of global GHG emissions. Read details here...
Who is Responsible for Climate Change? [RL 3]
Lecture (video and transcript) from Naomi Oreskes, the Chief Research Strategist at the Global Institute of Sustainability brought to you by Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability...
Who is really to blame for climate change? [RL 3]
We know that climate change is caused by human activity, but pinning down exactly who is responsible is trickier and this BBC article attempts to figure out the actual troublemakers...

Climate Change Victims & Sufferers

[Farming] Climate Change and the Coffee Industry with Video [RL 1]
This video narrates how climate change impacts coffee production and also imperils producers' livelihoods...
[Farming & Life style] Lake Poopó in Bolivia’s [RL 2]
The impact of Climate Change claims a Lake, and an Identity in Bolivia...
[Economic & Life style] Climate change and its impact on women in Bangladesh [RL 2-3]
Think Legal, a local NGO in Bangladesh has prepared an infographic on Climate Change and its impact on Women in Bangladesh...
[Farmers] Climate crisis is foundation of Indian farmers’ protests [RL 3]
This article briefly covers the impacts of climate change in Indian's agricultural sectors such as rice, wheat, and cotton productions...
[Fisheries] Climate change and impacts on fisheries [RL 2]
Climate change effects, such as increased sea temperature and current flows, will bring shifts in the distribution of marine fish stocks, with some areas benefiting while others lose out...
[Fisheries] Climate Change Impacts Freshwater Fish and Ecosystem [Video]
NBC Meteorologist Amelia Draper takes a look at how climate change can impact freshwater fishing and the U.S. economy...
[Health] What are the impacts of climate change on health? [RL 2-3]
WHO explains how climate change affects many of the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter...

Mitigations & Adaptations Initiatives

How countries are adapting to the effects of climate change? [RL 1-2]
An interactive map with examples of climate change mitigations and adaptions...
Kiribati buys land in Fiji for it's people to refuge and for agricultural and fish-farming projects [RL 3]
Read this Guardian article's for details...
Alaska builds differently to adapt to climate change [RL 2]
This article briefly discusses how/what Alaskans are learning to build differently to minimize the damage of global warming...
Vision of a climate resilient society- Bangladesh in 2050 [RL 3]
With prioritization of climate change adaptation as a central strategy of development, Bangladesh is already a recognized leader globally in adaptation and resilience. Read details here...
Revitalising Bangladesh’s agriculture sector [RL 3]
Read "CARRYING AGRICULTURE FORWARD" to explore Bangladesh's policy to mitigate/adapt climate change impacts on agriculture...
Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan in India [RL 3]
To protect and prepare Ahmedabad - a city in India for extreme heat events has taken several initiatives... read this document to explore those initiatives...
Climate adaptation through crop migration [RL 2]
Read this article to explore how crop migrations could be a way of climate adaptation in agriculture?
Deep-sea gear helps Kenyan fishermen ride rough waves of climate change [RL 3]

Governments & International Leaders Views

China aims for 'carbon neutrality by 2060' [RL 2-3]
Chinese president Xi Jinping announced that China aims to hit peak emissions before 2030 and for carbon neutrality by 2060...
In 2019 Russian President Putin claimed 'Nobody knows the origins of global climate change' [RL 1-2]
Russia's Vladimir Putin doubts man-made climate change!
In 2020, Russian president Putin Admits Climate Change [RL 2-3]
Although in 2019, Putin doubted man-made climate change, in 2020 he admitted it and tells officials to act on climate! Read details here...
US - Trump vs. Biden on the environment and climate change [RL 3]
Scroll down and read the CLIMATE POLICY...
US president Biden's Biden plans to fight climate change [RL 3]
President Biden claimed that he plans to fight climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before! Here's how...
New Zealand declares a climate change emergency [RL 2-3]
Jacinda Ardern calls climate change ‘one of the greatest challenges of our time’ and pledges carbon-neutral government by 2025...
4 Leaders led the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 [RL 3]
Who are they? Read this blog post for details...
Are world leaders taking climate change seriously after all? [RL 2]
This blog discusses what global leaders should do to implement Paris Agreement on Climate Change...

Alternative and Renewable Energy

What is renewable energy and where does renewable energy come from? [RL 1]
Simple definition and a brief explanation of the sources of alternative/renewable energies...Click 'Innovation in Energy' to explore more reasons for using alternative energy...
Fun Facts About Renewable Energy [RL 2]
This Ducksters webpage covers among others: Why is renewable energy important? Major Types of Renewable Energy...
Types of Alternative Energy [RL 1]
Solar energy, Wind power, Geothermal energy, Wood fuel, Nuclear power and Biomethane...
Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels? [RL 2]
This page includes a good number of debatable questions on alternative energy and a few sustainable solutions...
Disadvantages of renewable energy resources from BBC Bitesize
Scroll down and read the table called "Disadvantages of renewable energy resources"...
Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy [RL 2]
This webpage discusses the pros and cons of alternative energy...
Advantages & Disadvantages of Alternative Fuels [RL 3]
The webpage covers AtoZ of alternative fuels including the pros and cons of alternative energy...(scroll down)
The energy debate: Renewable energy cannot replace fossil fuels [RL 3]
Toni Pyke argues why renewable energy cannot replace fossil fuels...

Who should Finance in Alternative/Renewable Energy and Why?

How to shape sustainability and mobility for the future? [RL 3]
Axpo Italia's annual ‘Green Energy Solutions Talks’ where possible developments in the energy sector and related markets were discussed...
Why you should invest in renewable energy? [RL 3]
This Guardian article explains why should govt. finance in renewable energy and what are the long term benefits...
The Role of Government in Energy and Climate Policy [RL 2]
The government is involved in energy policy at various steps along the way from inception to enforcement...What role the govt. has in this regard?
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE [RL 2-3]
This Harvard article discussed why should the government invest in renewable energy...

Lead Countries that are using Renewable/Alternative Energy

Country-wise Renewable energy generation [RL-2]
Scroll down and use the interactive map e.g. How much of our primary energy comes from renewables?...
How each country contributed to the explosion in energy consumption [RL 3]
The individual contribution of renewable energy production by country from 1980 to 2016...including China, USA, Germany, Russia and India.
Top ten countries with the highest proportion of renewable energy [RL 1-2]
Mostly focused on Germany's renewable energy usage...
Renewable energy initiatives and usage in Switzerland [RL 2]
Click on Hydropower, Solar energy, Energy from biomass, wind energy and Geothermal energy on the left bar for details...
What is the main power sources of Switzerland? [RL 2-3]
Swiss get 75% of power from renewable sources! Read details here...
Swiss renewable energy statistics [RL 2-3]
German (language) documents...
Switzerland among worst solar and wind performers in Europe [RL 2]
Switzerland meets only 4.2% of its electricity needs with wind and solar power, compared to its European neighbors. Read details here...
Renewable energy in China - statistics & facts [RL 2-3]
Click on the Report to read the details...
India’s renewable power capacity [RL 2]
The renewable energy capacity in India is currently 136 gigawatts (GW). This is about 36 percent of our total capacity...
Renewable energy percentage of Germany's 2020 power consumption [RL 2]
Renewable sources met 46.3% of Germany’s power consumption in 2020, 3.8 percentage points more than in 2019...

Individuals & Societies

Reading Levels (RL) Information

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3