Decarbonization Solutions
Driving Question: What are the most promising solutions to reducing carbon emissions and what effects could these solutions have?
There are numerous solutions to reduce emissions in each of the Grand Challenges, but not all solutions are equal when it comes to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. How will decision-makers in different communities and countries know where to focus energy, time, and resources? This lesson explores how we can evaluate solutions to maximize their impact and what we can do to get them into widespread use.
- Describe and assess carbon-reduction strategies within each Grand Challenge.
- Analyze various solutions to decarbonization and determine which Grand Challenge is most critical to emissions reduction.
- Assess the benefits and challenges of evaluating climate solutions against a set of limited criteria.
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Guiding Questions
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Observe
Skim the full infographic, paying attention to things like prominent colors, numbers, charts, and types of text. How do you know where to start and which direction to read? How do you know what numbers are most important? What concept is the focus of the graphic? What big questions do you have?
Key Ideas
- How much carbon dioxide needs to be removed from the atmosphere every year to reach net zero by 2050?
- How does CCS technology work?
- How does DAC technology work?
- How much time will DAC need to start making an impact?
- What is the cost of DAC relative to CCS?
- What is the impact potential of DAC?
Evaluate
- Do you think DAC is a valuable solution that should be pursued? Why or why not?
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Guiding Questions
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Skim
Before you read, you should quickly skim the article, by looking at the headings of each section and the charts. Read the questions below as well, so you know what to look for when you read!
Key Ideas
- Why do solutions in one Grand Challenge have to account for emissions in other Grand Challenges?
- What does it mean to say that a type of energy production is scalable?
- Why are air conditioners such a big concern?
- What are the three criteria the article recommends we use to evaluate solutions?
- Who does the article identify as the types of people and groups that can implement solutions?
Evaluate
- Can you think of any criteria beyond time, cost, and impact potential that we should use to evaluate solutions? Why?
- After reading this article, think of one solution that would reduce greenhouse gases. Now, evaluate this solution using the three criteria provided in the article.
Can We Make Electricity Without Fossil Fuels? Crash Course Climate & Energy #3
Electricity makes our modern lives possible—but can we make electricity without fossil fuels? This video explores how we might decarbonize the electricity supply.
Key Ideas
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- Why is it important to decarbonize our electricity supply?
- What are two drawbacks of wind and solar power?
- Why is nuclear power safe?
- Why are fossil fuels relatively inexpensive?
- What’s the biggest hurdle to large-scale carbon-free electricity?
After you watch
- What are the costs of not decarbonizing electricity? Will these costs increase or decrease over time?
Expand your understanding of a specific decarbonization solution as you complete the Grand Challenge Solutions Research activity below with help from the Solutions Research Library.
