Introduction for students

The issues

Global warming and climate change are issues which matters to us all wherever we live. You are going to explore the possible impacts of global warming in different parts of the world. You are also going to discuss what we can all do to limit the effects of global warming.

Global warming is topical. The science and the news about this subject change fast. For this reason we suggest that you use the internet as the main source of your information.

This topic will help you to think about the issues, discuss them with other students in your class and then use an Exchange form to discover the views of students in other parts of the world.

Link:

• Download a copy of the Exchange Form here if you have not already got a copy.

Briefing on the background to the issues

We assume that you already know something about the greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change. If not these web sites will help you.

Have a look at the first two sections at the web site of the The United States Environmental Protection Agency:

• climate (What is the problem? What do we know?) and
• emissions (Greenhouse gases? How much do we emit?).

If you prefer to print out short briefing papers you will find some of these factsheets about Climate Change very helpful. They come from the The Atmospheric Research and Information Centre site at Manchester Metropolitan University. Select from the drop-down list of fact sheets about Climate Change for older readers

Links:

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency.
• The Atmospheric Research and Information Centre.

What you will do

As you work through the parts of this topic you will gather the information you need to complete an Exchange Form to send to students in other schools.

You do not have to limit yourself to the web sites we recommend. Google is a particularly helpful search engine for a topic of this kind. Google will find hundreds of sites so only try to find two or three more web sites about Global warming. Please send us details by e-mail if you find a web site which you think we should list in the student pages.

Links:

• Google.
• e-mail link to Science across the World.
• Solve Global Warming.

  Part 1 The impact of global warming on your country

  You start by using web sites, reference books and other sources of information to find views of a range of experts about the effects of global warming on your country. You investigate some of these effects in more detail and seek out reasons why they occur.

  Part 2 What can be done about global warming in your country?

  Here you use web sites, reference books and other sources of information to consider what can be done to reduce the problems caused by global warming. You have to bear in mind the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of the actions which might be effective.

  Part 3 Attitudes to global warming

  In this part you explore the extent to which people, organisations, pressure groups, businesses and politicians in your country think that global warming is really a problem. You find out what the national government or regional authorities in your country have already done to tackle the problems.

  Part 4 Exploring the issues with others worldwide

  This is the point at which you decide on the information to enter on the Exchange Form to send to other schools.

  Part 5 An international perspective on the issues

  Finally you compare and discuss the responses from different countries.

  Now move to Part 1.

  Photo credit: NASA