Hydrogen: Is Sustainable Air Travel Possible?

• This video explains how airplanes produce a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions and what can be done to make them more sustainable.
• Students will learn why airplanes cannot be powered by batteries and how hydrogen fuel might be a sustainable alternative in the distant future.

Positives

• The video is short and engaging.
• The video clearly explains why planes cannot be powered by electricity.
• The video description provides links to several sources for further reading.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• The video assumes that students know the fundamental cause of global warming and climate change.
• Students can watch this video from ClimateScience that explains what is causing climate change.
• To eliminate emissions from the aviation industry, there is no other scalable alternative other than to stop flying.

Differentiation

• Science or engineering students could research Airbus's plans to produce zero-emissions planes and present their findings to the class.
• Students could brainstorm alternatives to air travel, which are friendlier to the atmosphere.
• For excellent infographics and information on the true cost of flying, students can read this text from Stay Grounded.
• Students could read about folks who have given up flying, like Gideon Forman and Peter Kalmus.