This video shows Greta Thunberg's full speech at the COP25 conference in 2019 in Madrid, Spain.
In her informative speech, Greta focuses on scientific facts to convey the urgency of addressing climate change. She discusses information from the IPCC about the carbon budget and climate equity.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This speech by Greta Thunberg highlights the importance of leadership when combatting global climate change.
Greta argues that the richest, most developed countries must take responsibility for their actions.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should have some knowledge about the IPCC and carbon budgets.
Differentiation
Social studies classes learning about globalization can use this video to discuss climate equity and justice.
Social studies or science classes can pair this video with a discussion about carbon offsets and what it means when an organization or country pledges to be net zero.
Pair this resource with this report about carbon offsets in the aviation industry, or this video that examines who is responsible for climate change.
Scientist Notes
This speech supports the IPCC's report on the need to get to a net zero future. To avoid catastrophic weather and natural calamities, we must restrict CO2 emissions and keep temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Also, at 5:48, there is an error: "climate neutral" instead of "carbon neutral." Above all, this video is suggested for classroom use.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Economics
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 4: Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions
D4.3.6-8 Present adaptations of arguments and explanations on topics of interest to others to reach audiences and venues outside the classroom using print and oral technologies (e.g., posters, essays, letters, debates, speeches, reports, and maps) and digital technologies (e.g., Internet, social media, and digital documentary).
Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
D4.7.6-8 Assess their individual and collective capacities to take action to address local, regional, and global problems, taking into account a range of possible levers of power, strategies, and potential outcomes.
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.
