Why Don't Fossil Fuel Companies Stop Global Warming?
Provided by: TED|Published on: May 20, 2022
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Social Studies, Engineering
Authors: Myles Allen
Region: Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video features IPCC report contributor Myles Allen explaining why fossil fuel companies aren't decarbonizing their product.
- Students will learn about two ways that fossil fuel engineers could decarbonize their industry, why they should help solve this problem, and the implications of inaction.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video provides viewers with an encouraging, although expensive, solution that could be incorporated into the many other solutions required to solve climate change.
- The speaker is an engaging expert who will hold students' attention.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with climate change and the role of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide in global warming.
- There are many other solutions that can be explored to provide context to this video, such as this interactive table of solutions with carbon equivalents for each solution and this video outlining the current solutions available.
Differentiation
- Social studies classes could use this resource as a way to discuss what sort of role governments could have in requiring fossil fuel companies to take the actions detailed in the video.
- This video lends itself well to a discussion around the efficacy of the solutions posed. Some discussion questions include:
- What is the plan Myles Allen puts forward for decarbonizing the fossil fuel industry?
- What is the main reason cited for companies not doing this already?
- Do you agree or disagree with the opinions of the speaker? Why? Why not?
- What was your main takeaway after watching? What do you want to learn more about?
- Other related resources include this video about who is responsible for climate change, this resource about fossil fuel consumption, and this opinion map about making fossil fuel companies pay for climate change mitigation.
This 11-minute TED talk discusses ways in which the existing fossil fuel industry can be reworked to help solve the climate crisis. The resource discusses challenges with banning fossil fuels or relying on cheap renewable energy to outcompete fossil fuel use. Rather the resource recommends the decarbonization of fossil fuels themselves by already established (yet expensive or unprofitable) methods. Pathways to complete fossil fuel decarbonization are presented. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
