Section outline

  • Description:

    Explore how reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities to net zero by 2050 can help limit global warming and climate change impacts. Use a state-of-the-art online simulation platform to suggest a strategy to collectively slow increasing global temperatures. 


    Objectives:

    After completing this module, you should be able to:

    • Describe how the carbon cycle works. 
    • Explain what climate change is and what factors contribute to climate change on planet Earth. 
    • Model a scenario to mitigate climate change. 

    Assessment:


    Module 7 Tasks:


    • Students must
      Mark as done
      Mitigation

      Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities to net zero by 2050 can help limit global warming and climate change impacts.

      READ the Essential Principle 5: Mitigation section of the Climate Literacy Essential Principles (2024) framework (pg. 27-28)


      READ about what is meant by net zero from the United Nations Net Zero Coalition


      WATCH How the Paris Agreement Helps Stop Climate Change (2:50)  


      TASK 12: IPCC International Climate Goals and Actions by Sector - Choose at least one sectoral factsheet to download. Take note of What Can Be Done, Making it Happen, Overcoming Barriers, and Actions sections of each factsheet infographic. What feelings are you feeling as you view these infographics? Are you noticing any feelings you may not have expected? (No journal entry necessary)


      TASK 13: En-ROADS Simulation

      1. Open En-ROADS. If you are new to En-ROADS, watch the introductory video to En-ROADS and review the En-ROADS Tutorial.
      2. Develop a scenario. Use En-ROADS to develop your vision of limiting global warming to less than 2°C (3.6°F). 
      3. Save your scenario link: Click on "Share Your Scenario" in the upper right-hand corner of En-ROADS, then choose "Copy Scenario Link." 
      4. SHARE the link in the Course Journal.

      After developing your preferred scenario, WRITE a concise response addressing these questions in less than 350 words:

      • Your Plan: What are the top 3-5 most important policies in your strategy? (For example, the most important sliders that you moved). Paste your scenario link and a screenshot of your final En-ROADS dashboard.
      • Political Feasibility: To implement your proposals, what actions and priorities are needed over the next two years in businesses, civil society, government, and the public?
      • Winners/ Losers: Who would be the biggest winners and losers globally in your proposed future? Create a table with two columns for winners and losers.    
      • Surprises: Surprises: What surprised you about the behavior of the energy and climate system as captured in En-ROADS? For example, what actions had a bigger or smaller effect than you thought?
      • Hope: What trends in the world give you hope that your proposals are possible?
      • Collective Impacts: What can the communities you belong to (neighborhood, town, civic groups, professional groups, etc.) do together to help create the necessary changes?
      • Personal Action: What can you personally do to help create the necessary changes?

      EXTENSION: UN Sectoral Solutions Interactive

    • Submit Module 7 Course Journal Assignment
      Opened: Monday, 12 August 2024, 7:18 PM
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Submit your completed Module 7 Course Journal.

      • View scoring guide>>
      • You may upload a Word document or submit a link to a Google Doc (preferred). If you submit a link to a Google Doc, adjust the sharing settings so that it can be viewed by anyone with the link. Click the blue Share button in the top right. A new box will open, under Get Link, select 'Anyone with the link'.