Overview: The purpose of this lesson is to get students talking about climate and also encourage them to share what they know about greenhouse gas emissions.
Time: one to two periods of English
Objectives: students will read and talk about the Global Warming and the way it may affect the humankind.
Language skills: students will talk about the Global Warming problem, the sea level rising problem and about the countries that are at the risk of sinking due to the sea level change.
I. Discuss the following questions with your students
1. Do you like your climate? Do you want the climate where you live to be warmer or colder? Give reasons for your answer.
2. Greenhouse gas emissions are gases, such as carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), that are sent out into the atmosphere and trap the heat of the sun.
a. Will the earth's temperature increase or decrease if greenhouse gases continue to be sent into the air?
b. What will happen on our planet as a result of this temperature change? How will it affect your lifestyle?
3. Have you heard about the Kyoto Protocol?
Share with your student the following information
Greenhouse Effect, term for the role the atmosphere plays in helping warm the earth's surface. The atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming short-wave solar radiation, which is absorbed by the earth's surface. Much of this radiation is then reemitted but it is reflected back by gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halocarbons, and ozone in the atmosphere. This heating effect is at the root of the theories concerning global warming.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing by 0.4 per cent a year because of the use of fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal; the slash-and-burn clearing of tropical forests has also been a contributing factor in the carbon cycle. Other gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, such as methane and chlorofluorocarbons, are increasing even faster. Warming will alter climates throughout the world, affect crop production, and cause sea levels to rise significantly. If this happened, millions of people would be adversely affected by major flooding
The Kyoto Protocol - an agreement on global warming that requires countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.
II. Have the students read the following text
Pacific Island nations, most at risk of sinking beneath rising sea levels, are criticizing the United States for not signing the Kyoto Protocol and asking big aid donor Australia to do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Six island states met at the start of the annual Pacific Islands Forum and expressed their concern about climate change. The leader of one of the islands, Tuvalu, predicted that his country would drawn in 50 years.
The leaders of the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu released a statement saying they "expressed profound disappointment at the decision of the U.S. to reject the Kyoto Protocol."
The statement criticized Australia, the region's biggest greenhouse emitter and one of its largest aid donors. The Australian government is expected to give more than $278 million in aid to the region in the next fiscal year. Australia also did not sign the 1997 treaty on global warming that limits greenhouse gas emissions.
"We are very sad," Tuvalu Prime Minister said. "Australia is one of our traditional donors."
"We were actually expecting they would do something concrete about this problem. They are expected to do a marked contribution to ensuring that industrialized countries respect and implement the Kyoto protocol," he said.
Tuvalu has population of about 11,000 people and measures just 10 square miles. A string of nine coral atolls, Tuvalu is just 10 meters above sea level.
Tuvalu fears its last palm tree could sink under the Pacific within 50 years.
The USA abandoned the Kyoto protocol in 2003, arguing that it would hurt the US economy.
Australia released data showing its greenhouse emissions would fall by about 5 percent by 2015 from the 2000 levels.
"Australia is very serious about the greenhouse problem and climate change action," said Australian Prime Minister. “Climate change is a very serious challenge. I do not think Australia's concern varies greatly from that of the small island states.”
Answer these questions
1. Why did not the USA sign the Kyoto Protocol?
2. What are the nations worried about?
3. Which country gives the most money to Pacific Island states?
4. How high above sea level is Tuvalu?
5. When does Tuvalu think it will be underwater?
True, False or Not Stated
1. The United States is interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Australia is gradually reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Australia will sign the Kyoto Protocol.
4. The Australian Prime Minister thinks Australia has similar views to Pacific Island states about climate change.
5. Australia would like the United States to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
III. Work in groups.
1. Discuss why it is important to reduce the greenhouse gas emission.
2. If the sea level continues to rise, how can it affect the region you live in?
3. If the temperature on our planet continues to grow, how can it affect our lifestyle?
IV. Have your students express their opinion on the matter they discussed at the lesson.
Is it important to reduce the greenhouse gas emission?
Is it important to save the Pacific Island nations from sinking?
Is it important prevent the Global Warming?
V. Show the student the cartoon. How is it related to the Global Warming problem?
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