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Energy and Climate Change

Provided by: Stanford Understand Energy |Published on: May 8, 2026

Articles/Websites

1112AP

Synopsis

This resource is a compilation of information about climate change and how it is related to energy.
The resource includes fact sheets, infographics, a 10-minute video summary, a 58-minute video lecture, and a quiz to assess students’ understanding.

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Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering

Authors: Stanford Understand Energy

Region: United States

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Preparation:

When deciding how to implement this resource, note that the link to the answer key to the climate change quiz is readily available on the webpage. If using this as an assessment, consider downloading or printing materials for students to view, rather than having them access the webpage.

Prerequisites:

Define the terms anthropogenic, greenhouse gas, tipping points, and others.
Ensure students have a basic understanding of the carbon cycle and greenhouse effect.

Classroom Implementation:

Have advanced students watch the lecture as homework, coming to class ready for a discussion about what they have learned.
Consider assigning sections of the fast facts as homework to activate students’ background knowledge for upcoming lessons or activities on extreme weather, ocean acidification, sea level rise, etc.
Use the Curated Videos and Readings on Energy and Climate Change section as a research library that students can use to answer research questions about energy and climate change.

Interdisciplinary Connections:

Social Studies:
- Assign the Fast Facts sections, Countries Particularly Vulnerable to Climate Change Impacts and GHG Emissions by Country, as homework. In class, discuss who should be responsible for paying for adaptation measures in the face of climate impacts. Consider using this lesson plan.

Related Resources:

Use this resource to expand on the different ways people feel about climate change, referenced in the lecture.
Introduce students to the tragedy of the commons, referenced in the lecture, using this video or this game.
Have students use this database, referenced in the lecture, to explore solutions.

Sustainable Development Goals Connections:

Make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Stanford Understand Energy

Stanford University’s Understand Energy Learning Hub provides free access to Stanford course content on energy resources from fossil fuels like oil and coal to renewable resources like the wind, the sun, and efficiency; energy currencies like electricity and hydrogen; and energy services such as transportation and buildings. Explore the Hub and build your energy literacy to address climate change and sustainability issues, engage on equity and human development challenges, participate in energy industry markets and technology innovations, and make informed energy decisions.

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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.

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Energy and Climate Change

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Related Teaching Resources