Practical Strategies for Saving the Planet

• SMSC
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Practical Strategies for Saving the Planet

L/O

To understand strategies that we can implement to help reduce climate change

What is climate change?

What is climate change?

• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
• Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.
• However since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

What are fossil fuels used for?

Fossil fuels

• The United States gets 81% of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural gas!

We depend on those fuels to: 

• heat our homes
• run our vehicles
• power industry and manufacturing
• provide us with electricity

http://needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20gets%2081,and%20provide%20us%20with%20electricity.

With the main cause of climate change being the use of fossil fuels, what can we do to reduce climate change?

Save energy at home

Much of our electricity and heat are powered by coal, oil and gas. Use less energy by lowering your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. Improving your home’s energy efficiency, through better insulation for instance, or replacing your oil or gas furnace with an electric heat pump can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 900 kilograms of CO2e per year.

https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

Walk, bike, or take public transport

The world’s roadways are clogged with vehicles, most of them burning diesel or gasoline. Walking or riding a bike instead of driving will reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- and help your health and fitness. For longer distances, consider taking a train or bus. And carpool whenever possible. Living car-free can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2e per year compared to a lifestyle using a car.

https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

Eat more vegetables

Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and less meat and dairy, can significantly lower your environmental impact. Producing plant-based foods generally results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land, and water. Switching from a mixed to a vegetarian diet can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 500 kilograms of CO2e per year (or up to 900 kilograms for a vegan diet).

https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

Reduce, reuse, repair & recycle

Electronics, clothes, and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and transporting goods to market. To protect our climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, repair what you can, and recycle. Every kilogram of textiles produced generates about 17 kilograms of CO2e. Buying fewer new clothes – and other consumer goods – can reduce your carbon footprint and also cut down on waste.

https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

How can changing your diet reduce your environmental impact?

1. Eating more plant-based foods and less meat and dairy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and require less energy, land, and water.
2. Eating more meat and dairy is better for the environment, eating only processed foods helps reduce carbon emissions, what you eat doesn't affect the environment at all.

What is one way to reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to transportation?

1. Walk, bike, take public transport, carpool
2. Drive alone every day, buy a new car every year, take taxis everywhere, never leave your house

What are some ways to save energy at home?

1. Lower heating/cooling, use LED bulbs, energy-efficient appliances, wash laundry with cold water, hang dry clothes, improve insulation, replace furnace with electric heat pump
2. Use more energy, keep house at a constant temperature, use incandescent light bulbs, buy energy-inefficient appliances

What percentage of the United States' total energy comes from fossil fuels?

1. 65%
2. 81%
3. 50%
4. 92%