Climate Disagreement
Driving Question: Why is it so difficult to agree when it comes to climate change?
If the scientific community agrees that climate change is real, why do some people deny it? Investigate the reasons people disagree about climate change, and learn how to determine for yourself what to believe.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze why disagreement about climate change exists.
- Identify what makes a source of information credible.
- Critically evaluate common climate-change claims.
Vocab Terms:
- disinformation
- fossil fuel
- greenwashing
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- misinformation
Opener: Climate Disagreement
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 1.2 Teaching Guide.
Our Openers and Closers Guide will provide more information about these short, but important, activities at the beginning and end of each lesson.
New to teaching about climate change? Join our online teacher community.
Remember the claim testers? You’ll want them handy when examining climate disagreement.
Why Do We Still Disagree?
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 1.2 Teaching Guide.
The following blog post will share some strategies for creating climate champions – Cultivating climate champions: A 3-D approach to teaching climate change
If 97% of scientists believe that climate change is happening, why is there still disagreement? Let’s take a look…
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- How do politics within a country contribute to its population’s disagreement over climate change?
- How do politics between countries contribute to the disagreement over climate change?
- What is one economic challenge to tackling climate change?
- How do social factors influence opinions of and action around climate change?
- What strategies might be effective in building consensus and encouraging action around climate change?
After you read
Respond to this question: Why do you think it’s important to be able to understand and overcome disagreements surrounding climate change?
Who Can You Trust?
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 1.2 Teaching Guide
New to claim testing? Watch this video to learn about teaching claim testing.
Why do we believe what some people say but not others? It’s a key question to ask yourself as you confront claims about climate change.
Closer: Climate Disagreement
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 7 of the Lesson 1.2 Teaching Guide
Our Openers and Closers Guide will provide more information about these short, but important, activities at the beginning and end of each lesson.
It happens—people disagree. Be prepared to respond to common claims about climate disagreement.
