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Evaluating Climate Solutions

Driving Question: How can we respond to climate change?

There’s no denying the size of the problem, but what can we actually do about it? Explore adaptation and mitigation solutions to understand the role of each in addressing climate change.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the difference between adaptation efforts and mitigation solutions.
  2. Assess the need for different types of climate solutions.
  3. Evaluate the efficacy of different climate solutions.

Vocab Terms:

  • adaptation
  • geoengineering
  • mitigation
  • resilience
STEP 1

Opener: Evaluating Climate Solutions

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of Lesson 3.1 Teaching Guide Locked .

Our Openers and Closers Guide External link 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 External link .

What can we actually do to take on climate change? Explore the differences between adaptation and mitigation solutions to help answer that question.

STEP 2

Addressing Climate Causes and Impacts

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of Lesson 3.1 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out our Reading Guide External link to learn about the Three-Step Reading approach.

Where should we focus our energy when it comes to addressing climate change? Read the article to explore different types of solutions, and then use the activity to decide for yourself the right approach.

STEP 3

Adaptation or Mitigation?

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 6 of Lesson 3.1 Teaching Guide Locked .

STEP 4

What Is Geoengineering?

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 8 of Lesson 3.1 Teaching Guide Locked .

Curious about using podcasts in your classroom? Check out this community post about podcasting with students External link !

Are there some climate change solutions that create more problems than they solve? Dive into the controversy that surrounds geoengineering as a potential fix in the podcast, and then use the activity to make an argument based on what you believe.

Podcast: Smog Cloud Silver Linings

Are there some climate change solutions that create more problems than answers? This Radiolab podcast explores the problem of geoengineering and wrestles with the question of what we should be doing about climate change and what we should even be talking about.
STEP 5

Closer: Evaluating Climate Solutions

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 10 of Lesson 3.1 Teaching Guide Locked .

Not all solutions are equally effective—some will have a far greater impact on improving quality of life and reducing carbon emissions. Which solutions do you think deserve our limited resources?