The Grand Challenges
Driving Question: What are the Grand Challenges?
Each year, humanity releases 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. How can we start to make sense of a number that big? This lesson will give you a better understanding of the types of things that release emissions, how they are connected, and what makes reducing emissions so challenging.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the five Grand Challenges.
- Explain the obstacles to reducing emissions in each Grand Challenges.
- Understand how the Grand Challenges are connected.
Vocab Terms:
- decarbonization
- emissions
- Grand Challenges
- manufacturing
Where do greenhouse gas emissions come from? These images will give you some clues into the major culprits.
You’ll hear the term Grand Challenges throughout the next few lessons. We use it to group major sources of emissions into categories—an imperfect but helpful way for students to make sense of a complex problem.
The Grand Challenges can help us make sense of a complex problem like decarbonization. But what are the Grand Challenges, and what do they tell us about potential solutions?
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Preview the questions below, and then review the transcript.
While you watch
Look for answers to these questions:
- 1:16 What is decarbonization, and why is it challenging?
- 3:04 What are the five Grand Challenges?
- 3:40 Why are the Grand Challenge categories imperfect?
- 4:27 How can understanding the Grand Challenges be helpful?
After you watch
Respond to this question: Do you think the Grand Challenge framework is helpful to address climate change? Why or why not?
What puts the challenge in the Grand Challenges? Explore the infographic to see how emissions are tied to pretty much everything we do, and then use the visual aid to dive deeper in the categories. Finally, use the activity to explore whether or not having categories is useful.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then 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 in which direction to read? How do you know which numbers are most important? What concept is the focus of the graphic?
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What are the five Grand Challenges?
- What are the primary sources of emissions in the How We Plug In Grand Challenge?
- Which Grand Challenge is responsible for the most carbon emissions globally?
- Which Grand Challenge is responsible for the most carbon emissions in the United States?
- Why is it important to know that the breakdown of the five Grand Challenges looks different in every country?
After you read
Respond to this question: The five Grand Challenges are not the only way to categorize carbon emissions. What’s another way to break down the sources of emissions?
Unpacking the Grand Challenges
If time allows, invite students to share their responses with a partner—or challenge them to map emissions from their school or community.
You understand the Grand Challenges on a global scale. Now think about them on a personal level.
How can we make sense of a number like 51,000,000,000? Discover how breaking up the problem can make it easier to grasp.
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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:
- What’s the point of the five Grand Challenges?
- Why does this article claim that how we “plug in” might be the most important of the Grand Challenges?
- What makes the production of concrete such a big challenge?
- Is carbon dioxide the most dangerous greenhouse gas?
- How are the ways we keep cool and stay warm linked to other Grand Challenges?
After you read
Respond to these questions: Which Grand Challenge do you think is the most important or the most urgent? Which would you work on: The biggest challenge, the most interconnected, or the one that’s easiest to fix?
