Week 2: Critical Global Environmental Sustainability Challenges and Issues, Part 1
Introduction
During this two-part unit, students will gain knowledge of the far-reaching effects of climate change and pollution as they pertain to the world’s ecosystems, weather patterns, and food security. Students will gain significant insight into the ever-evolving realm of global conferences and climate accords. Through critical analysis of successes and failures, progress and decline, students will predict the next steps in tackling climate change and pollution on a global scale.
This Week, You Will Be Expected to:
- Scrutinize and compare the history of conferences, declarations, and accords to address climate change, from the Tbilisi Declaration (1977) to the present day.
- Add to your glossary of terms that you began in Wk. 1, based on new terms and new perspectives.
Questions to Consider Throughout this Week:
- What are the debates surrounding climate change? Is it a natural or an artificial phenomenon? Is it human-made?
- How has the lingo surrounding climate change altered over time, and what, if any, effect has this had on global perspectives and actions? Who is creating and introducing this lingo?
Readings and Content
- Climate Change
Debates Surrounding Causes
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- Damico, J. S., Baildon, M., & Panos, A. (2018). Media literacy and climate change in a post-truth society. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(2), 11-32.
Effects: Changing Weather Patterns
Impact on Food Security
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- Locate and read relevant material: The IPCC’s AR5 Climate Change 2014 Report
Effect on the Arctic
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- Locate and read relevant material: The IPCC’s AR5 Climate Change 2014 Report
Effect on the Amazon
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- Locate and read relevant material: The IPCC’s AR5 Climate Change 2014 Report
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- Compare the above to this review from 2006: Case, M. (2006, March). Climate change impacts in the Amazon: a review of scientific literature (World Wildlife Fund-WWF). In 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (pp. 20-31).
- Global Climate Conferences, Declarations, Accords
Scan the following documents for topics of focus, conclusions, and for information you can find from introductions, summaries, and quotes. Read a section from each document that interests you:
Tbilisi, Russia, 1972
Brundtland Commission/Report
UNCED (aka The Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Additional Resources You May Find Useful
- Galloway McLean, K; Ramos-Castillo, A; Gross, T; Johnston, S; Vierros, M; Noa, R (2010). Report of the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change: 20-24 April 2009, Anchorage, Alaska. United Nations University – Traditional Knowledge Initiative.
- Earth Stewardship: Linking Ecology and Ethics in Theory and Practice (Vol. 2)
- United Nations/Conferences/Environment and Sustainable Development [Webpage]
