Almost everyone has heard of the term net zero, but do you know what it really means? In this podcast, the presenters investigate the true meaning of "net zero" and why this term has recently become so popular with politicians.
Listeners will learn about the positives and negatives of net zero pledges and if this focus on net zero emissions can actually help reverse climate change.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Students can learn about the challenges of inciting measurable action for climate policies, and holding politicians accountable for their commitments to the climate.
This podcast provides the unique perspectives of citizens in South Africa, where the president has pledged to achieve net zero by 2050, despite the country's dependence on coal mining.
Additional Prerequisites
The podcast switches to climate news at 21:17.
This podcast mentions the IPCC. Before listening, it may be helpful for students to already have some knowledge of the IPCC and some history of international climate agreements.
Differentiation
Students in government or civics classes can listen to this podcast to learn more about the dynamics of climate and politics and the impacts of proposed policies in international affairs.
Cross-curricular connections can be made with English Language Arts classes, where students can write a persuasive essay arguing for or against the effectiveness of world leaders making net zero emissions pledges.
Resources related to this topic include this course on climate politics, this interactive simulation for climate policies, and this video about net zero targets.
Scientist Notes
The idea of net zero and its significance in decarbonizing the earth are introduced in the podcast. Keeping track of the obligations made by the various nations is crucial because they differ from one another. Policy and decision makers would be guided by climate scientist predictions about the best way to get to net zero. In order to achieve net zero, it is crucial to act scientifically rather than politically. This resource is perfect for the classroom.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.12.9-12 Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.
D2.Civ.5.9-12 Evaluate citizens' and institutions' effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international level.
Dimension 3: Gathering and Evaluating Sources
D3.1.9-12 Gather relevant information from multiple sources representing a wide range of views while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
