This video could be used by science classes when learning about the impacts of nonrenewable energy.
Science teachers can extend on this resource by using the activity Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy afterward to explore solutions to fossil fuel usage.
For the most up to date information on levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, have your students explore this resource from NOAA.
Scientist Notes
This resource is a 6-minute video that asks the question: What would happen if we used up all of the Earth's fossil fuel resources? The scenario is roughly equivalent to 2000 ppm of carbon dioxide, which is a very high emitting future scenario. The resource presents the potential sea level rise, temperature increase, and impacts on droughts and flooding, as well as giving some clear actions to avoid this future scenario. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
HS-ESS2-4 Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate.
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
HS-ESS3-5 Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.