Poor nations are hardest hit by extreme weather, but they can lack resources to produce forecasts that can save lives. Now something is being done. (Courtesy of the World Meteorological Organization/Sandro Puncet – Croatia) The science of meteorology focuses on...
Australia has been slow to combat global warming. Now wealthy entrepreneurs are picking up the mantle to drive change. A mannequin depicting a child covered in coal is seen during an Extinction Rebellion Protest in Brisbane, Australia, 22 April 2021. Australia is one...
The Arctic has long been a region of peace. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is jeopardizing cooperation in the vast zone threatened by climate change. An Inuit family in Quinhagak, Alaska, 2015 (Photo by Brian Adams, courtesy of the Inuit Circumpolar Council)...
War in Ukraine has unleashed a tsunami of ink – about geopolitics, military alliances, weaponry, diplomacy, history. A relatively little noticed but hugely important angle is the future of the Arctic, which has eight nations, including two nuclear powers, the United States and Russia, staking a claim to portions of the vast region. Susanne Courtney introduces us to the relatively little known Arctic Council, which is sure to assume more and more importance as global warming opens up new shipping routes and facilitates the extraction of valuable natural resources. It’s never too early to be ahead of the news curve.
Exercise: Ask your students to debate the resolution: “Seven member states of the Arctic Council acted unwisely in boycotting talks with Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine.”
Some consider them a nuisance, but bees are critically important. Our podcast, “Plan Bee,” explains how climate change and humans put bees at risk. News Decoder · There's no Plan Bee if our friends the bees perish Bees are a vital part of our...
Climate change is affecting our planet in so many ways that the disruptions can feel overwhelming. Two students at the European School Brussels II train their sights on bees, which play a critical role in protecting our environment. In their 10-minute podcast, Isabel Fontan Ireland and Oliver Sanchez de Leon Tuomi explain why we all should fret over the fate of bees. Their conversation is an excellent example for students interested in audio as a platform for expression.
Exercise: Divide your students into teams of two and have them record a five-minute conversation about a complicated topic that they have researched. The challenge is to make it simple, understandable and engaging.
Companies are paying greater heed to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters — their social credit score. Does it make a difference? Business investment concept (Elnur/Canva) In 1970, prominent American economist Milton Friedman argued that the social...
Students at my U.S. school played what they thought was a harmless prank. They found out that actions have consequences and biodiversity is fragile. The car full of Styrofoam peanuts parked on campus in October. (Photo by Chris Shiepis) This story was runner-up in...
Humans were once on track to destroy Earth’s ozone shield. Collective action averted disaster. Global warming demands the same global cooperation. We’re all frustrated at the inability of governments to take necessary measures to tackle climate change. Drastic...
The COP26 climate summit offered scant relief to developing nations. If political will for a grand bargain is lacking, can solutions emerge to save Earth? A man wades through a flooded area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 10 August 2020. (EPA-EFE/MONIRUL ALAM) Wildfires, floods...
On a trip to Greenland, we camped on an ice cap, saw towering icebergs and witnessed the effects of climate change on the world’s biggest island. In August, six students from the Herlufsholm School spent 10 days in Greenland to study the effects of climate...
Four students express frustration, anger and disappointment over climate change and urge world leaders to listen to youth before it’s too late. News Decoder · Youth speak out about climate change Frustrated. Angry. Disappointed. Climate change inspires a mix of...