E-Learning Course: Climate Change- A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines

Two E-learning courses (MOOCs) developed by Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune on Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Policy and Teaching Climate Change. These courses were developed through the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. 

The courses include lectures on the current understanding of climate science and climate change, societal impacts of climate change, climate change policies and governance, and impacts of climate change. Additionally, the course includes lectures on how teachers of all disciplines can incorporate climate change in their everyday teaching.

The online course video playlist includes:

  1. Introduction to Climate Science (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
  2. Climate Archives, Climate Data, and Climate Models (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
  3. Climate Change: Past Records: Climate Change on Tectonic Timescales, Orbital Timescales, Glacial/Deglacial Timescales, Millennial Timescales, Historical Timescales (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
  4. Modern Climate Change: Global Warming since the Industrial Revolution (Raghu Murtugudde)
  5. Future Projections of Climate Change (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
  6. Mitigation and Adaptation (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland and Malti Goel, Climate Change Research Institute)
  7. Climate Change and Society: Culture, Politics, Social Dynamics (D. Parthasarathy, IIT Bombay)
  8. Climate Change Policy and Governance: Global Negotiations and Domestic Policy Making (Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research)
  9. Climate Change: Impacts in India (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
  10. Climate Change and Impacts on
    1. The Indian Monsoon (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
    2. Water Resources (Pradeep Mujumdar, IISc Bengaluru)
    3. Biodiversity and Ecology (Deepak Barua, IISER Pune)
    4. The Himalayan Glaciers (Argha Banerjee, IISER Pune)
  11. Teaching Resources and Pedagogical Tools (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  12. Teaching Climate Change in the Chemistry Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  13. Teaching Climate Change in the Biology Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  14. Teaching Climate Change in the Physics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  15. Teaching Climate Change in the Math and Statistics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  16. Teaching Climate Change in the Economics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  17. Teaching Climate Change in the Environmental Sciences Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  18. Teaching Climate Change in the Geography Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  19. Teaching Climate Change in the Social Sciences Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 
  20. Teaching Climate Change in the Humanities Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) 

About the Tool 

Tool NameClimate Change: A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines 
DisciplineEarth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change Overview
Climate Topic Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool E-learning Course
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish
Translation
Developed byRahul Chopra (TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) for the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India
Hosted atIISER Pune Science Media Center YouTube Channel
LinkCourse 1: Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Policy:- Link
Course 2: Climate Change: A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines:- Link
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Teaching Module: Teach Climate Science with the Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change™

A teaching module of resources and activities that accompanies ‘The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ to Climate Change’

edited by Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross,the Paleontological Research Institution. This teaching module includes videos and classroom/laboratory activities on the following topics

  1. Climate Science
    1. Energy and Atmosphere
      1. Infrared energy
      2. Infrared absorption by carbon dioxide
      3. Carbon dioxide and temperature
      4. Box Model: steady state vs. non-steady state behavior
      5. Heat capacity
      6. Thermal expansion of water
    2. Carbon Cycle
      1. Diurnal variations in carbon dioxide
      2. How many molecules make a trace gas?
      3. NOAA Mauna Loa data and rate of CO2 increase
      4. Respiration
    3. Hydrologic Cycle
      1. Rainfall and river response
  1. Climate Change Mitigation
    1. Renewable Energy
      1. Solar energy
      2. Near-surface geothermal energy
      3. Wind energy
    2. Carbon Sequestration
      1. Afforestation and Reforestation: tree biomass & carbon dioxide storage
  1. Communication and Advocacy
    1. Citizen science

About the Tool 

Tool NameTeach Climate Science The Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change
DisciplineEarth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change Overview
Climate Topic Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool Teaching Module
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish
Translation
Developed byIngrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross
Hosted atPaleontological Research Institution
LinkLink
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: Climate Change- The Teacher Friendly Guide™

A reading titled ‘The Teacher Friendly Guide to Climate Change’ edited by Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross,the Paleontological Research Institution. This book includes the following chapters

  1. Why Teach About Climate Change? by Don Duggan-Haas
    1. Why Teaching About Climate Change Matters
    2. Science Learning, Its Application, and Politics
    3. We All Have Biases
    4. Systems and Scales
    5. Love and Beauty Will Persist
    6. Resources
  2. What Should Everyone Understand About Climate Change and Energy? by Don Duggan-Haas
    1. What Do You Think?
    2. Collecting Expert Opinions
    3. Consensus Documents
    4. Striving for a Coherent Conceptual Framework
    5. Resources
  3. What is Climate? by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Others
    1. Climate is a System
    2. Measuring Climate
    3. Greenhouse Gases and Global Temperature
    4. Natural Causes of Climate Change
    5. Summary
    6. Resources
  4. Climate Change Through Earth History by Robert M. Ross and Others
    1. Why Past Climate Change Matters
    2. Observing Climate Through Time in the Rock Record
    3. History of the Earth’s Climate
    4. Climate Analogs and Models
    5. Resources
  5. Evidence For and Causes of Recent Climate Change by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Others
    1. Changing Temperatures and Carbon Dioxide
    2. Shrinking Ice Sheets and Glaciers
    3. Changing Sea Ice Extent
    4. Thawing Permafrost
    5. Rising Sea Level
    6. Causes of Recent Climate Change
    7. What are the Likely Effects of Climate Change Going to Be?
    8. Resources
  6. 6. US Regional Climates, Current and Future by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Benjamin Brown-Steiner
    1. Describing Climates
    2. Northeast
    3. Southeast
    4. Midwest
    5. South Central
    6. Northwest Central
    7. Southwest
    8. West
    9. Hawaii
    10. Alaska
    11. Resources
  7. Climate Change Mitigation by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
    1. What is Mitigation?
    2. Mitigation Strategies
    3. Summary
    4. Resources
  8. Geoengineering by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
    1. Counteracting Climate Change
    2. Examples of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Techniques
    3. Examples of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) Techniques
    4. Geoengineering Choices
    5. Resources
  9. Climate Change Adaptation by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
    1. How Much Does Adaptation Cost?
    2. Types of Adaptation Strategies
    3. Adatation to Different Climate Hazards
    4. Equity and Social Justice Considerations
    5. Resources
  10. Obstacles to Addressing Climate Change by Don Duggan-Haas
    1. Controversial Issues and Complex Systems
    2. Creating Meaningful Dialog
    3. Factors That Influence How We think
    4. How Do People Change Their Minds?
    5. How Can We Envision New Systems?
    6. Resources
  11. Perspective by Don Duggan-Haas
    1. Apocalyptic Tales of Climate Change
    2. Use of Language and Perspective in Teaching Climate Change
    3. Hope and Optimism
    4. Apocalyptic Prophesies Versus Predictions of Climate Change 
    5. Reality Check: A Personal Perspective 
    6. Science Teaching Toward a Sustainable World 
    7. Resources

About the Tool 

Tool NameThe Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change
DisciplineEarth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change Overview
Climate Topic Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish
Translation
Developed byIngrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross
Hosted atPaleontological Research Institution
LinkLink
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Video/Microlecture: Teaching Climate Change in the Humanities and History Classrooms

A panel discussion titled ‘Teaching Climate Change: Perspectives from History and the Humanities’ hosted by the Not Even Past platform of the Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin. The roundtable features Stephanie LeMenager,  University of Oregon, Carlos E. Ramos Scharron, University of Texas at Austin, and Emily Wakild, Boise State University. Panel discussants include Erika M. Bsumek, University of Texas at Austin and Megan Raby, University of Texas at Austin. This video includes presentations and discussions by 

  1. Stephanie LeMenager “Climate Change Has No Discipline”
  2. Carlos E. Ramos Scharron “Cambio Climático: Covering Climate Change as a Topic in a Latin American Studies Program”
  3. Emily Wakild “Why Teaching Climate History is a Spiritual and Moral Imperative”

LeMenager discusses her co-edited book, ‘Teaching Climate Change in the Humanities’, with Drs. Stephen Siperstein and Shane Hall and ways to integrate climate science and climate change in the Humanities classrooms.

Ramos-Scharrón discusses some courses he teaches in Latin American Studies courses and how climate change is critical in understanding environmental challenges in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Wakild discusses how climate change can be integrated with syllabi in History courses. She specifically discusses examples that history teachers can use in their classrooms and how the moral and cultural dimensions of climate change may be a natural area of discussion for the Humanities and History.

Students will understand the importance of the Humanities in understanding climate change. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. How can the Humanities contribute towards our understanding of climate change?
  2. What are the moral and cultural dimensions of climate change that the Humanities can help in our understanding of the climate crisis?
  3. Discuss ways in which climate change education can be integrated with the curriculum in the Humanities and History. 

About the Tool 

Tool NameRoundtable: “Teaching Climate Change: Perspectives from History and the Humanities”
DisciplineHumanities, History
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change Overview
Climate Topic Climate Literacy; Climate and Society
Type of tool Video/Microlecture (1 hr 36 mins)
Grade LevelUndergraduate, Graduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byNot Even Past platform of Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin
Hosted atYouTube
LinkLink
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Audio: Rap Music and Climate Change

A music album titled ‘The Rap Guide To Climate Chaos’ by Baba Brinkman that contains 24 tracks on climate change. The album discusses the science, politics and economics of climate change. The tracks cover a variety of topics such as greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, climate taxes and green capitalism.  

Tracks include – Options, I.P.C.C., Keep It Positive, Greenhouse (feat. Aaron Nazrul), Party Don’t Stop, Run the Joules, Mo Carbon Mo Problems, What’s Beef (feat. Bill Nye), Battle Lines, Lost in the Numbers, Bright Side, Fossil Fuel Ballers (feat. Aaron Nazrul), Exxon Knew, Laudato Si, Yank the Plug, Make It Hot, Regulators, Carbon Bubble (feat. Mariella), Stranded Assets, Ride Electric (feat. Fand), This or That, Freedom Ain’t Free, Stand Up, Makin’ Waves (feat. Gaia’s Eye) 

In songs such as ‘IPCC’, Brinkman addresses the findings of the committee and even internal disagreements on projections. On songs such as ‘Greenhouse’, he takes the listener through a sonic journey of development including the greenhouse effect, predicted rise in global temperatures from Svante’s study and puts them alongside the findings of the IPCC and its accuracy. He critiques his own consumption and the paradox of being unable to individually contribute to reducing the impact of climate change without large scale policy reforms. Brinkman speaks extensively about cap and trade vs climate taxes, and the ecological debt that richer countries owe the marginalized. The album also focuses on Exxon’s failures and lies.

The album can be found at https://music.bababrinkman.com/album/the-rap-guide-to-climate-chaos

Note that the album is available for purchase at the link above.

The tracks are available for free viewing on YouTube as part of Baba Brinkman’s performance for ‘Talks At Google’. This free resource can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZH6R3Idb4&t=759s

Students will learn about the topic of climate change through music and learn about its current impacts.  They will also learn about the important stakeholders in climate change politics and how climate change politics plays a huge role in the development of the global economy. Students will further learn about how music can be used to discuss science based topics in order to better understand them.  

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. What is climate change? Discuss the various perceptions of climate change 
  2. Discuss climate change topics and the politics underlying the problem
  3. What is the role of fossil fuel burning in the warming of the planet?
  4. What is green capitalism?

About the tool

Tool NameThe Rap Guide To Climate Chaos
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change, Music, Rap, Hip-Hop 
Climate Topic Introduction to Climate Change, Climate and the Anthrosphere, Energy, Economics and Climate Change
Type of tool Audio (60 min)
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byBaba Brinkman
Hosted atBaba Brinkman Music/ Talks at Google 
LinkAlbum Link or Youtube Link
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic 

Audio: Climate Change Literature

An audio podcast titled ‘Climate Change and Literature: Reading Change’ that features Dr. Jemma Deer, Harvard University Center for the Environment. The podcast discusses the role of literature to understand and deal with climate change. The podcast discusses how analysing literature can allow for various interpretations and perceptions of climate change and the anthropocene. The podcast further discusses how literature allows for physical traces of society to be tracked and linked to climate change and nature, hence can potentially influence solutions.  

Students will learn about the role of literature in understanding climate change and human society. They will also learn about the influence of literature on perceptions of climate change. Students will further learn about how understanding the anthropocene can influence climate change policy and solutions.   

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does literature help understand climate change?
  2. What is the anthropocene?
  3. How can interpretations of literature influence how society responds to climate change?

About the tool

Tool NameClimate Change and Literature: Reading Change
DisciplineHumanities, English 
Topic(s) in DisciplineLiterature,  Anthropocene
Climate Topic Climate and Society
Type of tool Audio (28 mins)
Grade LevelUndergraduate
LocationGlobal 
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byAlice Evatt, Henry Tann
Hosted atThe Oxford Research Center in Humanities, University of Oxford 
Linkhttps://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/climate-change-and-literature-reading-change
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic 

Reading: Postcolonial Studies and Climate Change

A reading by Dipesh Chakrabarty, The University of Chicago titled ‘Postcolonial Studies and the Challenge of Climate Change’ that discusses the link between globalization and global warming. Chakrabarty discusses this link through the writings of Homi K. Bhabha, that aims to stretch post colonial thinking to include the reality of climate change and global warming. The reading also discusses the challenges that climate change issues pose in a “neoliberal” capitalist world. Chakrabarty highlights the three images of human that currently exist:

  1. The universalist-Enlightenment view of the human with the ability to exercise rights 
  2. The globalized view of the human
  3. The human as a geological force that changes the climate 

Chakrabarty makes this distinction to understand the current debate between society, globalization and climate change. Through the writings of Homi K. Bhabha, the reading discusses ‘the postcolonial criticism of the human’ and ‘the human in the anthropocene’ that focuses on issues such as anthropogenic global warming, degradation of the natural environment and the development of humanity. 

Students will learn about postcolonial globalization and climate change. They will also learn about the criticism that postcolonial thinkers have about the current age of the anthropocene and the increasing changes in the climate. Students will further learn about the attempts that postcolonial thinkers have made to ensure that climate change and global warming are part of the human reality for future preservation of the environment. Additionally, students will learn about the failed recognition that society gives to the interdependence of humans on nature and its natural beings.   

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What is the link between globalization and climate change?
  2. How do postcolonial thinkers criticise the age of the anthropocene?
  3. Discuss the three images that postcolonial thinkers have created for the human 
  4. How can postcolonial studies about the anthropocene inform the future?

About the Tool 

Tool NamePostcolonial Studies and the Challenge of Climate Change 
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplinePostcolonial Studies, Cultural Studies, Neoliberalism, Anthropocene, Globalization, Capitalism
Climate Topic Climate and the Anthroposphere; Climate and Society
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelUndergraduate, Graduate 
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byDipesh Chakrabarty New Literary History (Vol 43, 1)
Hosted atThe Johns Hopkins University Press
LinkLink
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: A Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi) Syllabus

An article published by Yale Climate Connections on resources for teaching climate fiction. The article features Elizabeth Rush, a climate fiction educator at Brown University, who discusses the ways in which climate fiction can create a relationship between humans, their environment and technology. The article provides educators a list of climate fiction novels and short stories. Cli-Fi resources reviewed in the article include ‘The Tamarisk Hunter’ by Paolo Bacigalupi, ‘Gold, Fame, Citrus’ by Claire Vaye Watkins, ‘Monstro’ by Junot Díaz, ‘New York 2140’ by Kim Stanley Robinson, and ‘10:04’ by Ben Lerner.

Through the Cli-Fi books listed, students will learn about climate change and the importance of Cli-Fi. 

Use this tool and the resources listed therein to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does climate fiction link society, climate change and technology?
  2. How can cli-fi provide solutions to mitigate climate change?

About the Tool 

Tool NameWhat’s on your climate fiction syllabus?
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Fiction, Cli-Fi, Literature 
Climate Topic Climate and Society
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate 
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byYale Climate Connections with Elizabeth Rush, Brown University 
Hosted atYale Climate Connections
Linkhttps://yaleclimateconnections.org/2018/04/whats-on-your-climate-fiction-syllabus/
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Video: Ethics, Philosophy and Value Theory

A video by John Broome, University of Oxford, on how ethics and philosophy impacts climate change policies. This video discusses the influence of philosophy on decision making and how it can specifically bring a paradigm shift in climate-related policy making.

Students will be introduced to philosophical concepts such as moral philosophy, value theory, decision theory, and intuition of neutrality. They will also learn how to use these theories in climate change decision making related to economic policies. Additionally, students will also learn how incorrect interpretation of certain philosophical thought leads to errors in value judgements.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. How does philosophy influence climate change decision making?
  2. What is value theory? How can it be used to understand the value of climate related human deaths?
  3. How does ‘intuition of neutrality’ lead to amoral policy making? 

About the Tool

Tool NameJohn Broome | Climate change ethics: Life and death
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplinePhilosophy, Moral Philosophy, Ethics, Public Policy, Value Theory, Decision Theory
Climate TopicClimate and Society
Type of toolVideo (59 mins)
Grade LevelUndergraduate, Graduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish
Translation
Developed byJohn Broome, University of Oxford
Hosted atStanford ENERGY channel on YouTube
Linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJlkXzYkT3g
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Audio: Climate Change Poems read by Celebrities

An audio resource that contains 21 poems on climate change. Compiled by UK poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, the resource provides audio files on themes of climate change by renowned poets, narrated by celebrities. The resource includes the following poems read by different celebrities:

  1. James Franco reads ‘Causeway’ by Matthew Hollis
  2. Jeremy Irons reads ‘Storm’ by Michael Longley 
  3. Ruth Wilson reads ‘Vertigo’ by Alice Oswald 
  4. Gabriel Byrne reads ‘Zoological Positivism Blues’ by Paul Muldoon 
  5. Michael Sheen reads ‘Scratching for Metaphor in the Somerset Coalfields’ by Sean Borodale
  6. Kelly Macdonald reads ‘Extinction’ by Jackie Kay 
  7. Maxine Peake reads ‘A Mancunian Taxi-driver Foresees His Death’ by Michael Symmons Roberts 
  8. Tamsin Greig reads ‘Last Snowman’ by Simon Armitage
  9. Iain Glen reads ‘Nostalgia’ by Don Paterson
  10. Iwan Rheon reads ‘Cantre’r Gwaelod*’ by Gillian Clarke 
  11. James Franco reads ‘Still like with Sea Pinks and High Tide’ by Maura Dooley
  12. Jeremy Irons reads ‘Turbines in January’ by Colette Bryce
  13. Ruth Wilson reads ‘Silent Sea’ by Rachael Boast
  14. Gabriel Byrne reads ‘The Solace of Artemis’ by Paula Meehan
  15. Michael Sheen reads ‘The Rhinoceros’ by Robert Minhinnick 
  16. Kelly Macdonald reads ‘X’ by Imtiaz Dharkar
  17. Maxine Peake reads ‘Doggerland’ by Jo Bell  
  18. Tamsin Greig reads ‘A Language of Change’ by David Sergeant
  19. Iain Glen reads ‘California Dreaming’ by Lachlan McKinnon
  20. Gabriel Byrne reads ‘Late Sentinels’ by Peter Fallon 
  21. James Franco reads ‘I was Born into a World’ by James Franco 

Both audio mp3 and text versions of the poems are available on the website

Students will learn about climate change through the use of poetry. They will also understand the techniques involved in writing and analysing poetry.  

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How is climate change portrayed in modern poetry?
  2. How do you analyse a poem? 

About the Tool 

Tool Name‘Our melting, shifting liquid world’: celebrities read poems on climate change
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplinePoetry, Literature 
Climate Topic Climate and Society
Type of tool Reading, Audio
Grade LevelHigh school, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byCarol Ann Duffy
Hosted atThe Guardian
LinkAudio Link
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: Introduction to Gender and Climate Change

A guidebook of gender-sensitive approaches to climate change policy for city planning. It discusses the different ways in which women and men are affected by climate change. This guidebook includes discussions on gender inequalities such as gender division of labour, gender differentials in income, gender biases in decision making, and other factors contributing to climate vulnerability.

Students will understand how climate change impacts genders differently. They will also learn the importance of gender sensitivity in formulating climate change policies. Students will be introduced to gender sensitive climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience in cities.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does climate change affect genders differently?
  2. Give a few reasons why climate change policies should use a gender-sensitive approach
  3. What are the priorities for gender-sensitive climate policies at urban levels?

About the Tool 

Tool Name Gender and Urban Climate Policy: Gender-Sensitive Policies Make a Difference
Discipline Humanities, Social Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Gender, Gender and Climate Change, Gender Inequality, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Climate Change Policy, Climate Vulnerability
Climate Topic Climate and Society, Policies, Politics, and Environmental Governance
Type of Tool Reading
Grade Level Undergraduate, Graduate
Location  Global
Language English
Translation
Developed by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 
Hosted at Giz, UN Habitat, Gender CC 
Link Reading Link
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Basic

 

Video/Micro Lecture: Amitav Ghosh on History and Climate Change

A video lecture by Amitav Ghosh, author of ‘The Great Derangement: Fiction, History, and Politics in the Age of Global Warming’ as part of a 4 part lecture series delivered at the University of Chicago’s Randy L. & Melvin R. Berlin Family Lectures. In this video lecture, Ghosh discusses the link between history and climate change. The video also discusses impacts of climate change on historical narratives of capitalism and imperialism in Asia. 

Students will understand the role of climate change in shaping history. They will further understand how global warming has contributed to shaping societies in the Asian continent.   

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. Discuss the link between climate change and history. 
  2. Discuss how climate change influenced the history of South Asia.

About the Tool 

Tool NameThe Great Derangement: Literature, History, and Politics in the Age of Global Warming
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineHistory, Political History, Imperialism, Colonialism,  Non-fiction, Literature, Climate Fiction
Climate Topic Climate and Society
Type of tool Video/ Micro Lecture (1 hr 13 mins)
Grade LevelUndergraduate, Graduate 
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byAmitav Ghosh at the Berlin Family Lectures, The University of Chicago 
Hosted atYouTube
Linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlKJ0r_2__Y&list=PLWEhymgNyZb8tuULW2lwe9AD5F8fOPKIV&index=20 
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: The climate in our hands – Ocean and Cryosphere

The Office for Climate Education (OCE) presents a Teacher’s Guidebook that aims to support teachers in carrying out various activities on climate change and the ocean and cryosphere in their classrooms, and targets students of ages 9 to 15. 

Reading: Safeguarding Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change

A reading to learn about the effects of climate change on human rights, governmental responsibility in addressing these human rights issues, assessment of actions implemented, and recommendations on integrating human rights considerations with climate adaptation and mitigation actions.

Reading: What is Climate Literacy?

A reading by the U.S. Global Change Research Program titled ‘Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science’. This reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate literacy. The reading is a guide for individuals and communities. “The guide aims to promote greater climate science literacy by providing this educational framework of principles and concepts. The guide can also serve educators who teach climate science as a way to meet content standards in their science curricula.”

 It includes the following topics: 

  1. What is Climate Science Literacy? 
  2. Why does Climate Science Literacy matter?
  3. Climate Science Literacy is part of Science Literacy
  4. Climate Science Literacy is an ongoing process
  5. How do we know what is scientifically correct
  6. Guiding principles for informed climate decisions

Students will learn about climate literacy. They will also learn about why climate literacy is important and how it belongs in the larger science literacy and communication discourses. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What is Climate Literacy?
  2. Discuss the scientific basis for climate change.

About the Tool 

Tool NameClimate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science
DisciplineEnvironmental Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change Overview, Climate Literacy, Science Literacy, Climate Communication
Climate Topic Climate Literacy
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byU.S. Global Change Research Program
Hosted atU.S. Global Change Research Program
LinkLink
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic

Video/ Microlecture: Poetry in Strange Times

A microlecture titled ‘As climate changes, I order a salad: contemporary poetry and the strange times of climate change’ by Sam Solnick,  University of Liverpool that discusses three poems that focus on temporalities associated with climate change. The video also discusses the role of media and poetry in shaping the climate change narrative. The video further discusses methods of analysing contemporary poetry. 

Students will learn about the representation of climate change in contemporary poetry. They will also learn about different interpretations and approaches to understand climate change through poetry. Students will further learn of the impact of digital media on how we perceive and respond to climate change. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What are the various temporalities of climate change?
  2. How does the media shape our experience of climate change?

About the tool

Tool NameAs climate changes, I order a salad: contemporary poetry and the strange times of climate change
DisciplineHumanities, English 
Topic(s) in DisciplinePoetry,  Literature,  Anthropocene, Temporalities, Digital Media
Climate Topic Climate and Society
Type of tool Video/ Microlecture (17 mins)
Grade LevelUndergraduate, Graduate
LocationGlobal 
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed bySam Solnick, University of Liverpool
Hosted atVimeo
Linkhttps://vimeo.com/164747631
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsBasic 

Reading: Climate Change Poetry

A set of poems commissioned by the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) that feature 9 poems on the theme of climate change. The poems are based on the collective understanding of climate change and human response to this global phenomenon. These pieces were commissioned as part of ‘Seven Dimensions of Climate Change’ series of the RSA and include the following poems

  1. ‘A Climate of Change’ by George the Poet 
  2. ‘How’s My Coal’ by Simon Barraclough
  3. ‘Except for the Lone Wave’ by Grace Nichols 
  4. ‘Untitled’ by Tom Chivers 
  5. ‘We Have Everything We Need’ by Selena Nwulu
  6. ‘Water is Company’ by Ruth Padel 
  7. ‘Polar Heart’ by Simon Barraclough
  8. ‘Inheritance’ by John Agard 
  9. ‘Alongside Beans’ by Alice Oswald 

Students will learn about climate change and its impacts on society through poetry. They will also learn about linkages of  science and human emotion. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What is climate poetry?
  2. How can poetry be used to tackle the issue of climate change?
  3. What are the essential components of poetry? 

About the tool: 

Tool Name9 Original Poems on Climate Change
DisciplineHumanities
Topic(s) in DisciplinePoetry, Literature
Climate Topic Climate and Society  
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate 
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byThe Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) 
Hosted atThe Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)  
Linkhttps://www.thersa.org/globalassets/pdfs/events/climate-change-poetry-anthology.pdf
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic