What If We Burned All the Fossil Fuels?

Videos

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APChemistry, Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Hot Mess

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What it is

This video cohesively explains the possible detrimental impacts of burning all the fossil fuels on Earth.
The video also highlights and explains suitable options to reduce the use of fossil fuels in our societies.

Teaching tips

Positives

The video concisely explains information through engaging imagery and clear text to ensure student understanding.
The solutions provided in the video and the mention of commitments to reduce warming help to alleviate some of the panic students may feel when hearing about the possible future.

Prerequisites

Students will need to have a basic understanding of the connection between climate change and fossil fuels.

Differentiation & Implementation

This video can be used by civics and English classes as a hook to engage students in the activities Write a Letter to Your Energy Minister or Write a Letter to Congress.
This video can be used by science classes when learning about the impacts of nonrenewable energy.
Science teachers can extend 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.

From the scientist review

This resource is a 6-minute video that answers 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.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Subjects: Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences
Format: YouTube Video
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Hot Mess
Authors: Hot Mess
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2 + 6 more

Core

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

4-ESS3-1.Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and that their uses affect the environment.
5-ESS3-1.Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
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.
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.

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