The Time To Act is Now!
There is a very real and practical chance that humans can stop the rising global temperature at only 1.5 degrees Celsius. Since the Industrial revolution, the global temperature has increased by about 1 degree. This 1 degree rise manifests itself in more intense storms, rising sea levels, and mass extinction. If we were to reach a rise of 2 degrees, the situation will only get worse. HOWEVER, it is within the realm of possibility to cap the temperature rise at only 1.5, we just need very immediate action as soon as possible.
This article raises many interesting questions for students, and students can take these questions in many different directions. One question could be, “What are the most immediate, effective ways we can start this process of limiting temperature rise?” Another question might be, “What is the economical impact of immediate, environmental-minded changes to our industry?” Another question that might arise is, “How do we quickly make these greener changes to our governmental policies?” These three questions alone cause students to look at the problem from a biological, economical, and governmental perspective, which is important because this real-world solution will include all three.
I think a good reading strategy for this article would be the conversation round table strategy. This can be a hot-button issue, and having 3 or 4 people to discuss this article with will give students a more complete perspective. After reading and discussing, students could complete a research project regarding global temperature rise. Write up a report about the economics of carbon taxes, make a PowerPoint about the different carbon capture techniques, create a poster about the efficacy of electric cars and heating, and so on. There are many diverse ways that a student can engage with this material.
Incorporated standard: (HS-LS2-7) Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.*
https://phys.org/news/2018-10-totally-limit-global-degrees.html
