Climate Change Education Across the Curricula, Across the Globe

Climate Change Education Across the Curricula

Tag: Asia

Reading: Human Migration and Displacement

Posted by on in International Relations, Social Sciences

A reading from ‘The Epicenters of Climate and Security: The New Geostrategic Landscape of the Anthropocene’ by The Center for Climate and Security on human migration and displacement caused by climate change. It describes the impacts of climate change on voluntary and forced human migration and displacement through examples from South Asia, the Middle East and western China.

Students will learn about the key drivers and impacts of climate change that influence migration and displacement. They will also understand the role of climate change in increasing the likelihood of regional conflict. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does climate change affect migration and displacement?
  2. What are the reasons behind involuntary and voluntary migration and displacement?
  3. What are the four drivers of migration that result from climate change?
  4. What role does climate change play in the likelihood of regional conflict?

About the Tool 

Tool NameMigration and Displacement in a Changing Climate
DisciplineSocial Sciences, International Relations
Topic(s) in DisciplineHuman Migration, Displacement, Conflict, Security, Peace and Conflict Studies
Climate Topic Climate and Society
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh school, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal, South Asia, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, China 
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byRobert McLeman in Epicenters of Climate and Security: The New Geostrategic Landscape of the Anthropocene eds Caitlin E. Werrell and Francesco Femia
Hosted atThe Center for Climate and Security
Linkhttps://climateandsecurity.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/12_migration-and-displacement.pdf 
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: The Locust Plague of East Africa

Posted by on in Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences

An article titled ‘A plague of locusts has descended on East Africa. Climate change may be to blame’ by Madeleine Stone in the National Geographic that discusses the relationship between the 2019-20 desert locust swarms in East Africa and climate change. The article focuses on how rising sea surface temperatures, storms and cyclones, changing ocean circulation patterns caused by human activity may have triggered this trans-oceanic disaster and destruction of food supply. 

Students will learn about how climate change triggered the mass migration of the desert locusts over East Africa. They will also learn about the unseasonal cyclones and storms that led to unusual locust breeding that resulted in the widespread destruction of crops and disrupted the food chain in East Africa. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What are desert locusts?
  2. Is climate change responsible for the current locust outbreak in East Africa? Discuss.
  3. How is the locust plague causing food insecurity in some countries?

About the tool: 

Tool NameA plague of locusts has descended on East Africa. Climate change may be to blame
DisciplineEnvironmental Sciences, Social Sciences
Topic(s) in DisciplineLocust Plague, Desert Locust, Food Security, Species Migration, Agriculture 
Climate Topic Climate Change and Food Security; Climate and Agriculture 
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate 
LocationAfrica, East Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byMadeleine Stone
Hosted atNational Geographic
LinkLink
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: Bark Beetle Outbreaks in Bhutan

Posted by on in Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences

A reading that discusses ecosystems, biomes, food chains, and food webs and how the balance of an ecosystem can be disrupted by climate change induced insect outbreak. This reading by Dr. Kaka Tshering and Chimi Tshering, Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER), Bhutan; and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria discusses  how global warming can potentially impact ecosystems in the forests of Bhutan. It further describes strategies to predict climate change induced bark beetle outbreaks in the forest ecosystems of Bhutan using GIS, Climate, and Phenology data. 

Students will learn about the life cycle of the bark beetle and how bark beetle outbreaks tend to occur due to increased temperatures. They will further understand the factors responsible for the susceptibility of forest ecosystems to bark beetle outbreaks in Bhutan and how climate and phenology data can be used to mitigate the effects.  

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does climate change induced warming affect bark beetle outbreaks? 
  2. Discuss how frequent bark beetle outbreaks have made forest ecosystems of Bhutan unstable.
  3. Discuss how the use of GIS, phenology, and climate data helped to preempt bark beetle outbreaks and protect the susceptible forest ecosystems of Bhutan.

About the tool

Tool NamePredicting Bark Beetle Outbreaks using GIS, Climate and Phenology Data
DisciplineBiological Sciences, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in DisciplineEcosystems, Food webs, Bark Beetle, Phenology, Forest Ecosystem
Climate Topic Climate and the Biosphere
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelUndergraduate
LocationBhutan
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byKaka Tshering and Chimi Tshering
Hosted atUgyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER), Bhutan; and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria
Linkhttp://www.uwice.gov.bt/admin_uwice/publications/publication_files/Reports/2018/Predicting%20Bark%20Beetle%20Outbreaks%20using%20GIS,%20Climate%20and%20Phenology%20Data_UWICER%20Technical%20Note%202018.pdf
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: Climate Change and Locust Swarms

Posted by on in Environmental Sciences

An article titled ‘Q&A: Are the 2019-20 locust swarms linked to climate change?’ by Daisy Dunne in Carbon Brief that discusses the potential link between climate change and the locust outbreak in East Africa and surrounding regions. The article discusses how climate change has influenced heavy rains, unusual storm activity and a change in the ‘Indian Ocean Dipole’ from East Africa, the Middle East, parts of Asia to Western Australia. The article further tracks the beginning and spread of the outbreak causing mass crop failure. 

Students will learn about how climate change potentially led to the mass breeding and outbreak of desert locusts in East Africa and surrounding regions. They will also learn about how changing weather patterns, rising sea temperatures and altered oceanic currents can provide breeding grounds for desert locusts. Students will further learn about what makes desert locusts resilient, allowing them to migrate and cause mass crop failure in many countries. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What countries were affected by the locust plague of 2019-20?
  2. What weather conditions are favourable for locust breeding?
  3. Is climate change responsible for the current locust outbreak? Discuss.
  4. How is the locust plague causing food insecurity in some countries?

About the tool: 

Tool NameQ&A: Are the 2019-20 locust swarms linked to climate change?
DisciplineEnvironmental Sciences 
Topic(s) in DisciplineLocust Plague, Desert Locust, Food Security, Species Migration, Agriculture
Climate Topic Climate Change and Food Security; Climate and Agriculture 
Type of tool Reading
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate 
LocationAfrica, East Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, India, Pakistan
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byDaisy Dunne
Hosted atCarbon Brief
LinkLink
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic

Reading: Conflict and water wars

Posted by on in Social Sciences

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

 

Reading: Coping with Climate Change

Posted by on in Social Sciences

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

 

Teaching Module: The Impact of ENSO and Human Activities on River Hydrology (a case study of the Huanghe River)

Posted by on in Earth Sciences

A teaching module to learn about the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) by performing calculations and analyzing results for Tahiti and Darwin (Australia), and for the Huanghe River in China.

Read More “Teaching Module: The Impact of ENSO and Human Activities on River Hydrology (a case study of the Huanghe River)”

E-learning Course: Understanding and Addressing Climate-related Challenges from China’s Perspective

Posted by on in Earth Sciences

An e-learning course to understand the science of climate change, climate change-related challenges, and opportunities/solutions to address these challenges for the world, in general, and for China, in particular.

Read More “E-learning Course: Understanding and Addressing Climate-related Challenges from China’s Perspective”