Mr. Ahearn
What is the USA's Current Policy?
Objective
At the end of this section the students will be able to analyze the United State's current policies to lessen human's contribution to global climate change.
Task #1- President Obama's Message
Students will watch the 4 minute video below. The video is President Obama's message for the Global Climate Summit. Have the students discuss what they found important in the Presidents message.
Task #2- Kyoto Protocol
One topic that is often heard when discussing climate change policy is the Kyoto Treaty. The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), an international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system". Students should read through the following presentations and website to get a better understanding of what the Kyoto Protocol is. The students will be divided into two groups. The first group will be for the U.S. following the Kyoto Protocol and the second against. Each group will come up with evidence as to why they are correct and the class will have a formal debate. This activity should take approximately 2 periods.
are.berkeley.edu/courses/EEP131/fall2006/slides06/KyotoDec%207.pdf
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php
www.templeofunderstanding.org/images/pdf/Global_Warming.pdf
are.berkeley.edu/courses/EEP131/fall2006/slides06/KyotoDec%207.pdf
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php
www.templeofunderstanding.org/images/pdf/Global_Warming.pdf
Extra Video's that can help in the Students Debate
Below are two videos. The first is a discussion with a climate scientist about Kyoto. The second is a student generated video that does an excellent job explaining the Kyoto Protocol.
