This fact sheet debunks common greenwashing techniques in the aviation industry related to hydrogen flight.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Teaching your students how to see through greenwashing is one of the best gifts you can give them.
The infographic on p. 2 very clearly shows the limited potential of hydrogen aircraft.
Additional Prerequisites
This is part of a series of greenwashing fact sheets from Stay Grounded.
Stay Grounded is a Europe-based network of groups aiming to reduce emissions from aviation.
Differentiation
In English class, students could research print and video marketing materials from aircraft manufacturers to spot greenwashing related to hydrogen-powered flight. Student could share materials with the rest of the class while playing "Spot the Greenwash."
In economics class, students could research the cost-benefit analysis of investing in hydrogen-powered aircraft.
You could also share this video that explains greenwashing and how to see through greenwashing.
The resource highlights the potentials of hydrogen aircraft and how they can transform the aviation industry. There is need for a just transition off fossil fuels and the potential of harnessing hydrogen-powered flights is a new technology to help reduce our carbon footprint in the coming decades. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.11.9-12 Use economic indicators to analyze the current and future state of the economy.
D2.Eco.15.9-12 Explain how current globalization trends and policies affect economic growth, labor markets, rights of citizens, the environment, and resource and income distribution in different nations.
Dimension 3: Gathering and Evaluating Sources
D3.2.9-12 Evaluate the credibility of a source by examining how experts value the source.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
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.
