A Concrete Idea to Reduce Carbon Emissions
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Provided by: TED|Published on: June 30, 2022
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Synopsis
- This short video describes how concrete made with Portland cement is a huge contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for about 8% of emissions globally.
- Karen Scrivener is the speaker in the video and she explains the reasons behind the huge carbon emissions. The main reasons are its prevalence as the second most used material on the globe and the breakdown of calcium carbonate in limestone as a part of the production process.
- Karen proposes that the use of LC3, a new type of cement material using less calcium carbonate, could reduce carbon emissions drastically, making a significant impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions globally.
Subjects: Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Karen Scrivener
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video defines an excellent example of engineering and industrial innovation to tackle part of the climate change problem.
- The video effectively talks through the science of why Portland cement is an issue, so this could be a great video to watch when discussing chemistry and the environment.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the chemical structure of calcium carbonate.
- There are subtitles available in 21 languages.
Differentiation
- It may be helpful to have students diagram out the Portland cement production process next to the new LC3 process to help them understand the difference in carbon dioxide emissions.
- Consider having students research other materials from the construction sector, and discuss how they contribute to climate change. Students can think of ways to innovate and reduce the climate change impact from other materials such as lumber and steel.
Scientist Notes
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Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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