This is a 52-page report about the UK’s commitment to reach a target of zero emissions by 2050.
It identifies the little lifestyle changes that need to be made now to achieve "Absolute Zero" and highlights opportunities for growth in a zero-emissions economy.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The report provides solutions and opportunities along with challenges faced.
The images, graphs, and infographics add color to the report and enhance understanding.
It includes an executive summary and has key messages after each section.
It provides specific steps to hit the "Absolute Zero" target by 2050.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should understand climate change and global emissions over time.
Teachers should review the document to see which sections would be useful in their classroom.
Differentiation
Teachers could assign specific sections to different groups for reading and each group could share a summary with the class.
Classroom discussions could be held on certain sections of this resource, such as Section 4 about opportunities.
Pages 2 and 3 contain a summary of key changes to be made. These could be discussed in class, and artistic posters could also be made to share this information.
Pages 6 and 7 contain a colorful diagram depicting a timeline for changes to be made from now to 2050. This diagram could be projected and discussed in class.
Cross-curricular connections can be made with chemistry classes by further exploring the chemistry behind material production (section 2.2) that leads to negative environmental impacts.
Scientist Notes
Datasets, figures, and annotations used in the resource are accurate. The resource provides a detailed assessment for net zero emissions in 2050 and beyond using various energy outputs and models. Students will be engaged in the procedures for carbon pricing, emissions capture from sources, and ways to reduce carbon footprint.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and 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.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.8 Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.10 By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.10 By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
