As an Undergraduate Economics teacher, you can use this lesson plan to teach your students how countries around the world design economic policies for a ‘green recovery’ from the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by reducing carbon emissions while boosting their economies.
Through this lesson plan your students will be introduced to one of the most significant issues of our times- Climate Change– and will be able to learn how economic policies can be designed for a ‘green recovery’ from the coronavirus pandemic. In this lesson plan, students will be able to learn through a classroom activity, the role of carbon pricing in the reduction of carbon emissions and its significance for climate mitigation. Further, this activity will enable students to discuss how carbon pricing vis a vis carbon taxes, could help governments’ ‘green recovery’ economic strategies to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic related economic slowdown.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Economics
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Economics |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Environmental Economics, Climate Change Economics, Economic Recovery, Green Recovery, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Pricing, Carbon Taxes |
| Climate Topic | Policies, Politics and Environmental Governance; Climate Economics; Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy; Climate Mitigation and Adaptation |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online / Offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 120-150 min |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Reading (10 min)
Use the reading, ‘The coming battle for the COVID-19 narrative’ by Samuel Bowles, Research Professor and Director of the Behavioral Sciences Program, Santa Fe Institute and Wendy Carlin, Professor of Economics, UCL for VOX, CEPR Policy Portal, to explain how the COVID-19 pandemic will be an important consideration alongside climate change, in the future narrative of economics and public policy.
Reading (25 min)
Use the webpage, ‘Coronavirus: Tracking how the world’s ‘green recovery’ plans aim to cut emissions’ by Carbon Brief to explain the different strategies planned by various governments for their nations’ economic recovery. Use the in-built interactive grid to discuss the measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions- referred as ‘green’ measures- for several major economies such as United Kingdom, European Union, China, and India. Highlight the sector-wise application of monetary policy such as stimulus packages, unconditional bailouts, grants, loans, and tax reliefs to enable a post-pandemic green economic recovery.
Reading (10 min)
Use the policy brief, ‘Pricing carbon during the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic’ by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, to discuss their recommendations for governments globally including zero-carbon investments, removal of fossil-fuel subsidies, and using carbon pricing revenues for economic recovery. Emphasize on carbon pricing as an effective strategy to reduce carbon emissions worldwide (refer to the additional resources section).
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (75-90+ min)
Use the classroom activity, ‘Carbon Emissions Game’ by Gautam Sethi, Bard College for SERC, to enable discussion on economic policy options such as carbon pricing, carbon taxes, and emissions trading for reducing carbon emissions. Follow the instructions for the activity and conduct discussions on the effective use of economic tools such as carbon pricing in reducing carbon emissions for the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading; ‘World’s largest study shows carbon pricing reduces emissions’ | An article by James Giggacher, Australian National University, about a worldwide study that shows that carbon pricing reduces carbon emissions
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Video; ‘Webinar: What impact is Covid-19 having on global CO2 emissions?’ | A webinar with leading climate scientists and analysts, hosted by Carbon Brief.
This can be accessed here . |
| 3 | Reading; ‘Climate change will ultimately cost humanity $100,000 per ton of carbon, scientists estimate’ | An article by Louise Lerner, University of Chicago, that describes a recent publication by two scientists and a philosopher from University of
Chicago about the estimated ‘ultimate cost of carbon’ to humanity.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Reading; ‘The coming battle for the COVID-19 narrative’ | By Samuel Bowles Research Professor and Director of the Behavioral Sciences Program, Santa Fe Institute and Wendy Carlin, Professor of Economics, UCL for VOX CEPR Policy Portal. |
| 2 | Webpage; ‘Coronavirus: Tracking how the world’s ‘green recovery’ | By CarbonBrief |
| 3 | Reading; ‘Pricing carbon during the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic’ | By Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment And the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy |
| 4 | Classroom activity; ‘Carbon Emissions Game’ | By Gautam Sethi Bard College for Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College (SERC) |
| 5 | Additional Resources | James Giggacher, Australian National University, on Phys.org. CarbonBrief Louise Lerner, University of Chicago on Phys.org. |
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Economics |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | COVID-19 Pandemic and the Economy, Environmental Economics, Green Recovery, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Pricing, Carbon Taxes |
| Climate Topic | Policies, Politics and Environmental Governance; Climate Economics; Climate Mitigation and Adaptation |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online / Offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 120-150 min |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Reading (10 min)
Use the reading, ‘The coming battle for the COVID-19 narrative’ by Samuel Bowles, Research Professor and Director of the Behavioral Sciences Program, Santa Fe Institute and Wendy Carlin, Professor of Economics, UCL for VOX, CEPR Policy Portal, to explain how the COVID-19 pandemic will be an important consideration alongside climate change, in the future narrative of economics and public policy.
Reading (25 min)
Use the webpage, ‘Coronavirus: Tracking how the world’s ‘green recovery’ plans aim to cut emissions’ by Carbon Brief to explain the different strategies planned by various governments for their nations’ economic recovery. Use the in-built interactive grid to discuss the measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions- referred as ‘green’ measures- for several major economies such as United Kingdom, European Union, China, and India. Highlight the sector-wise application of monetary policy such as stimulus packages, unconditional bailouts, grants, loans, and tax reliefs to enable a post-pandemic green economic recovery.
Reading (10 min)
Use the policy brief, ‘Pricing carbon during the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic’ by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, to discuss their recommendations for governments globally including zero-carbon investments, removal of fossil-fuel subsidies, and using carbon pricing revenues for economic recovery. Emphasize on carbon pricing as an effective strategy to reduce carbon emissions worldwide (refer to the additional resources section).
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (75-90+ min)
Use the classroom activity, ‘Carbon Emissions Game’ by Gautam Sethi, Bard College for SERC, to enable discussion on economic policy options such as carbon pricing, carbon taxes, and emissions trading for reducing carbon emissions. Follow the instructions for the activity and conduct discussions on the effective use of economic tools such as carbon pricing in reducing carbon emissions for the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading; ‘World’s largest study shows carbon pricing reduces emissions’ | An article by James Giggacher, Australian National University, about a worldwide study that shows that carbon pricing reduces carbon emissions
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Video; ‘Webinar: What impact is Covid-19 having on global CO2 emissions?’ | A webinar with leading climate scientists and analysts, hosted by Carbon Brief.
This can be accessed here . |
| 3 | Reading; ‘Climate change will ultimately cost humanity $100,000 per ton of carbon, scientists estimate’ | An article by Louise Lerner, University of Chicago, that describes a recent publication by two scientists and a philosopher from University of
Chicago about the estimated ‘ultimate cost of carbon’ to humanity.
This can be accessed here. |
Credits and copyrights
| 1 | Reading; ‘The coming battle for the COVID-19 narrative’ | By Samuel Bowles Research Professor and Director of the Behavioral Sciences Program, Santa Fe Institute and Wendy Carlin, Professor of Economics, UCL for VOX CEPR Policy Portal. |
| 2 | Webpage; ‘Coronavirus: Tracking how the world’s ‘green recovery’ | By CarbonBrief |
| 3 | Reading; ‘Pricing carbon during the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic’ | By Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment And the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy |
| 4 | Classroom activity; ‘Carbon Emissions Game’ | By Gautam Sethi Bard College for Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College (SERC) |
| 5 | Additional Resources | James Giggacher, Australian National University, on Phys.org. |
