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The 4 Most Important Climate Change Charts

Provided by: Project Drawdown |Published on: May 8, 2026

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Synopsis

This article presents four key data visualizations that illustrate the need to tackle climate change from a variety of angles.
Students will understand how other greenhouse gases impact climate change, how different sectors and activities emit greenhouse gases, and how to use this information to create a more effective plan for climate action.

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Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: Jonathan Foley, James Gerber

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Prerequisites:

Ensure students are familiar with greenhouse gases, climate change, and the various sectors that generate emissions.
Consider defining the terms global warming potential, anthropogenic, and others ahead of time.

Classroom Implementation:

Use the four charts as a jigsaw activity: assign each small group one chart to analyze deeply, then share findings with the whole class.
Ask students to consider what is meant by a "portfolio approach" to climate action.

Literacy Connections:

Have students use the Key Takeaways section to identify details throughout the text that support each of these main ideas.

Extensions:

Have students check out Project Drawdown's Solutions Explorer and find a solution to read about and share with the class. Discuss how these solutions can be combined in an approach to mitigate climate change.

Scientist Notes

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Project Drawdown

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. Project Drawdown resources for educators include the database of Drawdown Solutions, educational video series Climate Solutions 101, the Drawdown Stories initiative, and more.

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

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The 4 Most Important Climate Change Charts

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Related Teaching Resources