Background Information
Mitigation involves attempts to slow and reverse the process of warming by decreasing human-produced greenhouse gases emissions. Actions such as choosing modes of transportation and energy-efficient appliances and planting trees has benefits and consequences for human lifestyles and economies, as well as the natural world.
Suggested Activities
- Calculate Your Food Carbon Footprint
- Global Warming Wheel Card
- The One Degree Factor: The Carbon Dioxide Game
Intended Learning Outcomes
- map food origin/path
- compare and contrast impact of local food vs food from other regions
- list/graph individual carbon sources in household (heating/cooling, refrigeration, AV, lighting, travel)
- design city in a carbon friendly way
- discuss climate impacts of agriculture
- compare carbon footprint of rural WI resident vs. NY city resident
- design “clean development” paths for developing countries
Applicable Standards
Science
Life and Environmental Science
- F.8.9 Explain how some of the changes on the earth are contributing to changes in the balance of life and affecting the survival or population growth of certain species
- F.8.10 Project how current trends in human resource use and population growth will influence the natural environment, and show how current policies affect those trends.
Environmental Education
Decision and Action Skills
- EE D.8.5 Explain how personal actions can impact an environmental issue; e.g., doing volunteer work for conservation
