10.6 Case for the Classroom – Debate on Climate Change
B. Climate Change: Locating a Main Idea – A Mind Map for the Quest for Truth
Before we start working on this issue, I recommend you go to www.Procon.org to become familiar with the most current issues related to climate change. Once you have studied the academic considerations presented there, watch these videos:
Let’s Watch: On Climate Change
Autumn Peltier on Water Advocacy
Video: “Autumn Peltier, 13-year-old water advocate, addresses UN” by CBC News [4:58] is licensed under the Standard YouTube License.Transcript and closed captions available on YouTube.
Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot on the Climate Crisis
Video: “Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot make short film on the climate crisis” by Guardian News [3:41] is licensed under the Standard YouTube License.Transcript and closed captions available on YouTube.
Corresponding Article for the above video: The Guardian – Greta Thunberg: ‘We are ignoring natural climate solutions’
Our Reasoning-Building Tools for this challenge are what, for many years, we have called the 5W’s + 1:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?
Strategy Template
Download a version of this template in MS Word or Adobe PDF.
| QUESTION | DETAILS supporting my responses to the questions | What do these details tell me about the validity of the Main Idea? |
What is happening?
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Who is involved?
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Where does this take place?
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When does this event take place?
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Why is this happening?
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How is this happening?
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Let’s proceed with our mental mapping for this issue:
WHAT is climate change?
- Definition: A long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, especially temperature and precipitation.
- Impacts:
- Rising temperatures
- More frequent and intense storms, droughts, and wildfires
- Sea level rise
- Health threats like heat stress, malnutrition, and disease spread
WHO is involved in climate change?
- Contributors: Primarily humans through activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture.
- Affected populations: Everyone, but especially vulnerable groups in developing countries, coastal regions, and areas with weak infrastructure.
- Decision-makers: Governments, corporations, scientists, activists, and international bodies like the UN and IPCC.
- Opposition voices: Some political figures and interest groups deny or downplay climate change, such as President Donald Trump, who recently called it a “scam”.
WHERE is climate change happening?
- Global reach: Climate change affects every continent and ocean.
- Current Hotspots:
- Middle East: Facing extreme heat, droughts, and water scarcity.
- Polar regions: Rapid ice melt and permafrost thaw.
- Small island nations: Threatened by rising sea levels.
- Urban centers: Vulnerable to heatwaves and flooding.
- Salt marshes and ecosystems: Even research areas like Quebec’s marshes are becoming too hot for fieldwork.
WHEN did climate change start?
- Natural cycles: Climate has always changed over geological time.
- Human-driven acceleration: Began with the Industrial Revolution (around 1750), when fossil fuel use surged.
- Modern urgency: The last few decades have seen unprecedented warming rates and extreme weather events.
WHY is climate change happening?
- Main cause: Human activity—especially burning fossil fuels and changes in land-use.
- Greenhouse gases: CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide trap heat in the atmosphere.
- Melting ice, deforestation, and permafrost thaw amplify warming.
HOW is climate change being addressed?
- Attempts at mitigation: Reducing emissions through renewable energy, reforestation, and sustainable practices.
- Adaptation: Building resilient infrastructure, improving disaster response, and modifying agricultural practices.
- Policy: International agreements (e.g., Paris Accord), national regulations, and local initiatives.
- Challenges:
- Economic costs and political resistance
- Misperceptions about public support for climate policies
- Media silence in conflict zones like the Middle East
We are now ready to engage in a knowledgeable discussion about Climate Change.
Your closing task will be a written assessment of the current state of Climate Change and the potential solutions you are prepared to adopt to mitigate the consequences of the rapidly deteriorating global climate.
This can be either an individual writing prompt or a final paper on this task for groups of 5 students.
