Chapter 2a: Discussion Questions & Activities
Discussion Questions for Chapter 2a
- Be able to define the following in your own words: greenhouse gas, CO2, fossil fuels, Paris Agreement, climate anxiety, Indigenous concept of belonging.
- Be able to discuss each of the charts above.
- Watch this video explaining the Paris Agreement. Comment on how it was introduced and organized. Who do you think is its audience? What made it relatable to this audience?
- Which countries are emitting the most greenhouse gases? Did this surprise you? Why or why not?
- Which industries are emitting the most gases? Watch the video for a month-by-month demonstration of global warming. Which months did the gases go down, and why do you think that is?
- What is the difference between developed, developing/frontier, and emerging markets? Which describe the country that you are from?
- What makes climate justice a social justice issue? What makes it a global issue, not just within a country?
- Did you relate to the majority of Americans in the charts above (not feeling informed and/or interested in global warming news)? Do you think you are more or less informed than the average American?
- Why do you think some governments mandate environmental regulations on businesses and some don’t?
- Compare these photos of glaciers (or find another source that compares glaciers over time) and discuss what you notice.
- What can help you feel less anxious when discussing climate change? Consider this pdf: https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u304/2021/Emotional-Resilience-Toolkit-for-Climate-Work-v1.5-04Oct19-2.pdf
- Reflection Questions:
- When you think about climate change right now, what do you feel?
- What kinds of feelings have you been having lately about climate change?
- What do you love and appreciate about the Earth?
- What do you love and appreciate about being alive on Earth?
- What climate-related feelings do you carry around with you during the week?
- What feelings come up, when you think about the future?
- How do you experience grief as it relates to climate change?
- What do you find hard about working on climate issues?
- How do your feelings about climate affect your body?
- What do you need to help you take care of yourself in the face of challenging feelings?
- Healing and Coping Questions:
- What do you love about the world?
- What gives you hope for the future?
- What is one way you cope well with your feelings about climate?
- What is something you would like to let go of?
- What are some supports in your life?
- What is a way that you take care of yourself?
- How do you connect with nature?
- Reflection Questions:
Activity 1: Your Own Carbon Footprint
Objective: Apply lessons from this unit to your own impact on the environment.
Instructions:
- Take a test such as this on your own impact on the environment.
- Write 3-5 sentences on what surprised you, what you learned, and what changes you are considering.
- The original carbon footprint test was created by BP public relations officials in 2004. Read more about it here. Were you surprised BP coined this term? What do you think were its motives?
Assignment 2: Compare Countries’ Vulnerability to Climate Change
Objective: Compare two countries’ vulnerability to climate change.
Instructions:
- Pick a country you want to learn more about and look up its vulnerability to climate change:
- Compare this country’s vulnerability to another country. Read their profiles. Then compare their readiness.
- Explain in a paragraph what made you pick these countries and why they are ranked this way. Then explain if anything surprised you and what you learned.
- Prepare to share your results and what you learned with the class.
Assignment 3: Connecting Past, Present, and Future with Indigenous Populations
Objective: Reflect on your own connection to the planet and its history.
Instructions:
- Compare to your own relationship with the planet. What are some things you do that ground you with nature? Examples include hike, camp, have bonfires, drink herbal teas, water plants, etc.
- Conduct research on the native population from your area. You can pick any area/country. If your family of origin has native roots, you can do research on your ancestors’ group.
- Share with the class an interesting way this group connected with the Earth.
- Discuss whether or not these traditions are upheld and why or why not. What could be done to reinforce past traditions in today’s world?