In this TED Talk, Rose Mutiso, an energy researcher and thought leader from Kenya, explains why Africa's energy needs must be prioritized when using what's left of the world's carbon budget.
She describes the problem of energy inequality and the responsibility that Western countries have to take the lead on decarbonization while allowing developing countries to adapt and prosper.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video highlights how climate change has disproportionately affected people in developing countries, and the responsibility that developed countries have to focus on equity.
The video provides a transcript and subtitles that are available in many languages.
Additional Prerequisites
Before watching the video, consider having students highlight words they do not know or understand on a copy of the transcript and go over any new vocabulary.
Differentiation
Civics or economics classes could use this video as part of an investigation on climate justice and to learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Related resources include this speech by Greta Thunberg and this course about climate equity.
Scientist Notes
This TED talk discusses climate change challenges within Africa, with a particular focus on the historical emissions and climate impacts within Africa and from non-African nations. Issues of development, justice, and fairness are presented and a vision for a fair and just pathway that allows African nations to develop while more developed nations rapidly reduce their carbon emissions is presented. This resource is a good look at the complexity of international climate issues. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.10.9-12 Analyze the impact and the appropriate roles of personal interests and perspectives on the application of civic virtues, democratic principles, constitutional rights, and human rights.
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.
