INTRODUCTION

The earth’s temperature has been rising since the start of the Industrial Revolution. There are always variations in the climate, but scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that human activities—particularly emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases— are the cause. Humans have so far warmed the planet 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit), mainly by burning coal, oil and gas for energy, and by cutting down forests, which help absorb the planet-warming emissions. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen steadily as shown in the graph below.

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Carbon dioxide graph levels 1960 to 2021
This graph shows the annual rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide

With the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the Earth’s temperature has risen.

The graph below shows how the planet’s average temperature has risen above the norm to 1.00C (1.8F) as of July 2021.

Because we are in a climate crisis, as the graphs above illustrate, policy makers and scientists from around the world have come together to predict the impact of climate change and to commit to climate action.

At a meeting in 1992, 197 nations (referred to as “The Parties”) agreed to a new environmental pact called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). “The Parties” have a conference (COP stands for Conference of the Parties) in a different country every year. In 2015 at COP21 in Paris, 195 of the nations signed the Paris climate agreement, which for the first time required every country to submit a plan for curbing emissions. The latest meeting was in Glasgow in the fall of 2021 known as COP26..

The nations of COP rely on science. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a body of the United Nations responsible for advancing knowledge of human-induced climate change. The IPCC is the most important source of scientific information for the COP. So far there have been five Assessment Reports created by the IPCC. They all acknowledge the need for action. The latest report from early 2022 shows that scientists have more confidence in the outcomes of inaction. They say we urgently need to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid catastrophic warming and that we have three years to hold warming to 1.5C. But, we are already at 1.1C.

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Temperature anomalies
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202107

A meta-study found that at least 85% of the world’s population is already affected by climate change: more intense storms, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods. Crops are failing and insect borne diseases are spreading.

Using Climate Stripes you can see how your state, country or region have warmed from 1895-2021.

 

The earth is an ocean planet. Covering 70% of the globe, the ocean absorbs about 90% of the atmosphere’s heat. The world’s oceans drive the global climate and weather: oceans influence the climate and weather locally and globally; and the climate can change the oceans. As the atmosphere has warmed due to human-driven climate change, the ocean has taken up about 90% of the excess heat. And, that has taken a toll: the ocean is warmer than at any time since we began keeping records in the 1880s.

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The warming of the ocean has many dire consequences: sea level rise, coral bleaching, decrease in oxygen levels, algal blooms, species moving or dying if they can’t adapt, and changing currents.

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Ocean Acidification Flowchart
NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-acidification)

As the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases due to human activity, and the ocean absorbs it, the ocean’s chemistry changes, becoming more acidic. This ocean acidification has impacts on sea creatures. Scientists have been investigating the potential effects over the last 25 years. Many shell-building animals are already showing signs of this stress.

Lesson Plans

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    Lesson Plan
    EXPLORING OCEAN MYSTERIES CURRICULUM

    “There are seven principles of ocean literacy including: the ocean is a major influence on weather and climate; and the ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.  The Ocean Mysteries Curriculum makes it easy to teach the seven principles while meeting NGSS, Common Core and Climate Literacy Standards.”

    Go To Resource

    Full Lesson Plan

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    Save Our Coral Reefs

    Using this tool, students will practice and deepen their understanding of coral reef basics, what is contributing to their loss, and what is being done to preserve this resource

    Full Lesson Plan

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    Carbonated Communities

    Through cutting-edge scientific research, students are introduced to climate change’s effects on the intertidal (ocean acidification and temperature increase) and what is known about how ocean organisms are impacted.

    Full Lesson Plan

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    Carbon Cafe

    In this lesson students learn about the effects of different diets and foods on our Climate Crisis and how to make positive changes

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    What's the bigger picture

    In this lesson, students combine art and science to interpret and illustrate graphical art. In this way, students will building understanding of the power of data infused art to convey the "bigger picture" of climate change. 

    "Hot issues such as climate change may not be the subjects of contention within the scientific community, but it seems clear that the science is not being communicated in a way that has the necessary impact. Although art cannot directly communicate science or change minds, it can create a space for dialogue around difficult issues" - Kieniewicz

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