'Climate Action'
“We did not inherit our future from our ancestors, we have borrowed it from our children.”
Author unknown
Introduction
According to the United Nations website: " Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow.
People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events. The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history.
Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to surpass 3 degrees Celsius this century—with some areas of the world expected to warm even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most.
Affordable, scalable solutions are now available to enable countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies. The pace of change is quickening as more people are turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts."
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change-2/
What are we going to do?
In this challenge the activities are designed to make you more aware of what we can do to minimise our own carbon footprint, or that of the community we live in. By starting with ourselves and our communities we can each have a positive impact on climate change. So we each take responsibility to create change for the generations to follow.
Read the following document for further information on SDG13 as part of your research for Challenge 2 activities:
13_Why_it_Matters_Climate_Action_letter_size_1p.pdf
Assignment 1 - Hashtag Challenge
Find out what you school's carbon footprint is. Here are a few examples of calculators to use to calculate your schools' footprint. http://www.greenschools.net
How do we proceed?
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Make a class activity to reduce your school’s carbon footprint.
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Start a hastag (tweet alongside #globalgoals, a UN initiative) about our activity and publish the result of reducing your school's carbon footprint on twitter.
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Challenge other schools/ youth groups to do the same.
Assignment 2 - Research Project
Do you know where the products come from and in which country they are produced/ manufactured/ grown?
How “green/clean” are these companies and countries?
Check out the companies you buy your clothes/ electronics/ food from.
Let's do some research online!
How do you proceed?
Choose one company. Research and find out more about them answering the following questions:
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Do they have sustainable practices and don’t harm the environment?
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How does this company inform you as a consumer about their attempt to reduce their carbon footprint/ clean practices?
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Where are their goods manufactured and what laws are in place in those countries to protect the environment? Did this country sign the Paris Agreement?
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Contact the company and do an interview or search for online information. What difficulties do they experience in producing their products as “green/ clean” as possible and reduce their carbon footprint and still be affordable/ competitive?
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Which other questions would you like to ask?
Present your research in your group and on your schoolpage
Choose a way to share what you've discovered
Assignment 3 - Create an infographic
An infographic (information graphic) is a representation of information in a graphic format designed to make the data easily understandable at a glance.
A well-designed infographic can help you simplify a complicated subject or turn an otherwise boring subject into a captivating experience.
How do you proceed?
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Use your knowledge on Climate Change to create a colorful, interesting infographic to explain what the effects of Climate Change are on the planet.
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You can focus on one aspect, like rising water levels in the oceans, or changing weather patterns, or do an overview of Climate Change in general. Include all the facts you have gathered through research.
Below you can see some examples of infographics to give you some ideas.
Assignment 3 - Paris Agreement Research Project
On April 22 – Earth Day – the Paris Agreement meant: one step closer to having legal effect around the world, as the 195 countries that adopted the agreement in December began signing it – and 175 signing in person at a special UN ceremony.
BREAKING NEWS: China and the United States of America ratified the Paris Agreement on 03/09/2016.
A total of 180 countries have added their signatures to the agreement.
How do you proceed?
Below is the full Paris Agreement as well as a short summary of the Agreement and the events leading up to it. Read these and do additional research about your country. Use the questions below as a guide to write a 200 – 400-word essay about your findings.
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What are the major areas of Climate Change that this agreement has pledged to change?
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Is your country on the list of 195 that has signed (or is due to sign the agreement)?
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If not, do research to find out why not.
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If yes, do research to find out what your country has already done since the Durban Climate Change Convention in 2011, and what new plans or legislation is coming into play to comply with the new Paris Agreement
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Find out if there are any projects in your town/ city/ school that you can become involved in to reduce your carbon footprint
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What can you do at home to limit or reduce your family’s impact on Climate Change
paris_agreement_- full text
Paris_Agreement_Toolkit-Edit.pdf
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Canada
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 4 
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