Lessons_Climate_Change

© 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. All Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago materials and publications are protected by copyright. However, we hereby grant to all recipients a license to reproduce all material contained herein for distribution to students, other school site personnel, and district administrators. Global Climate Change—Lesson Plan Student Objectives  Define global climate change and identify its features.  Explain the “greenhouse effect” and the role of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in changing the Earth’s ecosystems.  Understand the cap-and-trade policy option for reducing total carbon emissions and describe its major elements.  Evaluate supporting and opposing arguments for implementing a cap-and-trade system in order to reduce overall carbon emissions.  Decide, individually and as a group, whether the government should adopt a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions; support decisions based on evidence and sound reasoning.  Reflect on the value of deliberation when deciding issues in a democracy. Question for Deliberation Should our democracy adopt a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Materials  Lesson Procedures  Handout 1—Deliberation Guide  Handout 2—Deliberation Worksheet  Handout 3—Student Reflection on Deliberation  Reading  Selected Resources  Deliberation Question with Arguments (optional—use if students have difficulty extracting the arguments or time is limited) © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Portions of this reading were adapted with permission from “Global Warming: What Should We Do About It?” Constitutional Rights Foundation, Bill of Rights in Action (Fall 2002), Vol. 18:4. All Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago materials and publications are protected by copyright. However, we hereby grant to all recipients a license to reproduce all material contained herein for distribution to students, other school site personnel, and district administrators. Global Climate Change—Reading Polar bears can swim up to 100 miles before drowning. They swim to hunt seals—their 1 favorite food—and seals can be found on sea ice. If the ice disappears and polar bears are far 2 from land, they die. Unfortunately, the polar ice cap is melting as temperatures in the Arctic 3 continue to rise. As a result, more polar bears are drowning when they try to catch seals in the 4 ocean but cannot find ice on which to rest. More bears are also staying on land, where they must 5 scavenge for food and travel inland when they cannot find food on the beaches. Sadly, one bear 6 recently wandered into an Alaskan village looking for food and was killed because it threatened 7 people’s safety (Halpin, 2008). Unless changes in the global climate are checked, experts predict 8 that two-thirds of the polar bear population will disappear by 2050 (Revkin, 2007). 9 Polar bears are not the only species that will be affected by global climate change. A 2003 10 U.S. Department of Defense report acknowledged that climate change is occurring and 11 recognized the potential for relatively abrupt change. Such change, the Department said, could 12 result in “skirmishes, battles, and even war” due to food shortages, the loss of freshwater, 13 interruptions in energy supplies, and the migrations of millions of desperate people (Schwartz 14 and Randall, 2003). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said that global climate change 15 poses a threat to humanity and the planet that is as grave as war (Osborne, 2007). Most national 16 leaders now agree that something must be done soon to avert a catastrophe. Countries are 17 particularly interested in reducing the harmful effects of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon 18 dioxide (CO2). Cap-and-trade policies offer one way to do so. 19 Deliberating in a Democracy © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. 2 What Are Greenhouse Gases and the Greenhouse Effect? 20 For more than 100 years, scientists have known about the “greenhouse effect.” Radiation from 21 the sun passes through the atmosphere and strikes the Earth’s surface. Instead of bouncing back 22 into space, the radiation is trapped by the atmosphere and becomes heat. This process keeps the 23 Earth from becoming cold and hostile to life. Over the past few centuries, human activities like 24 farming, heating, and industry have increased the amount of CO2 and other gas emissions that trap 25 the sun’s radiation. Together, these emissions are called “greenhouse gases.” 26 Of course, the Earth can become warmer naturally, but scientists estimate that most 27 emissions that are warming the atmosphere come from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and 28 gasoline. The United States, with less than 5% of the world’s population, is responsible for 22% 29 of greenhouse gases that humans produce; China, with almost 20% of the world’s population, is 30 the next largest producer with 18% (“U.S. Emissions in a Global Perspective,” 2007). The 31 burning of forests—to clear land for farming, roads, and housing and commercial developments—32 accounts for up to 25% of CO2 emissions worldwide (Mitchell et al., 2007). 33 The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that during the past 200 34 years (the era of the Industrial Revolution), levels of CO2 in the atmosphere rose by about 30%. 35 The IPCC’s 2007 report noted that most of the increase in global average temperatures in the past 36 50 years is “very likely due” to human activities. The IPCC forecasts that growing concentrations of 37 greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will dramatically increase the Earth’s temperature, resulting 38 in more droughts, declines in crop yields, and even famine in poorer countries. Insects will thrive 39 and insect-borne diseases like malaria will expand. Increasingly violent storms, gathering 40 additional energy from a warmer ocean, will threaten life. In addition to losing polar bears and 41 Deliberating in a Democracy © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. 3 the Arctic ecosystem, scientists estimate that numerous animal, bird, and fish species will 42 become extinct, as other ecosystems change or disappear. 43 Limiting Carbon: The Kyoto Protocol and Cap-and-Trade Systems 44 Today, countries are using different strategies to limit CO2 emissions. A total of 174 45 countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol, a 1997 agreement that aims to reduce greenhouse gas 46 emissions. Of these, 36 countries are required to reduce their emissions, while 137 developing 47 countries—including China, the second-largest producer of carbon emissions—are required only 48 to monitor and report their emissions. The United States, the world’s largest producer of carbon 49 emissions, originally signed the Kyoto Protocol but never ratified it. Nevertheless, the United 50 States and other non-participants in the Kyoto Protocol are still studying ways to reduce 51 emissions. 52 In addition to using the Kyoto Protocol and other treaties to reduce CO2 emissions, many 53 governments are creating economic incentives. The European Union has developed a specific 54 policy called the Emissions Trading System (ETS). Begun in 2005, ETS is one kind of cap-and-55 trade system. Under cap-and-trade, a country or group of countries sets a limit (or cap) on the 56 amount of a pollutant that can be released into the atmosphere. Companies or specific sectors of 57 the economy—such as energy or manufacturing—are permitted a number of credits that 58 represent just how much pollutant they can emit. 59 In European Union countries, companies or sectors that exceed their CO2 credit limits have 60 two choices: either they can pay a heavy fine for the extra pollution, or they can buy pollution 61 credits from other, less polluting companies and industries that do not require them. Essentially, 62 ETS creates a market in which companies can trade pollutants. This market does several things: 63 (1) it permits companies that produce large quantities of CO2 to remain in business but also 64 Deliberating in a Democracy © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. 4 encourages large emitters to reduce their carbon “footprint”; (2) it rewards companies that emit 65 less CO2 ; (3) it allows governments to limit the overall amount of CO2 emitted into the 66 atmosphere; and (4) it uses economic strategies to achieve specific policy goals. 67 Other countries now use or are considering cap-and-trade systems for regulating CO2 68 emissions. The Russian Federation uses a program similar to ETS, called “joint implementation,” 69 that allows countries with economies-in-transition to create tradeable carbon credits. The United 70 States, which already has a cap-and-trade system for regulating sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas 71 emissions, is now debating whether to adopt a similar system for CO2 emissions. 72 Cap-and-Trade Skeptics and Believers 73 Supporters of cap-and-trade say that this policy helps put global climate change in terms that 74 citizens and consumers can understand. Because climate change is an enormous problem, people 75 often have difficulty seeing how they can make a difference. People respond better to problems 76 that affect them directly and can be addressed by personal decisions. Cap-and-trade puts a price 77 on carbon emissions. Because citizens and consumers understand prices, they can choose to 78 support technologies and products that produce less carbon. Such consumer pressures will help 79 business owners see the benefit of reducing emissions. 80 Supporters also point to the success of similar efforts. Researchers with the Global 81 Environment Program note that the U.S. Clean Air Act in 1990 established a cap-and-trade 82 system for sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) emissions, the primary cause of acid rain. “This system has 83 proven to be such an environmental and economic success—reducing SO2 emissions at a fraction 84 of the expected costs—that the European Union borrowed directly from it to design its cap-and-85 trade system for CO2 emissions” (Mathers and Manion, 2005). 86 Deliberating in a Democracy © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. 5 Opponents of cap-and-trade believe that such a plan cannot work because it is a national 87 response to a worldwide problem. Even if some countries “cap” carbon emissions, other 88 countries will continue to produce them. Thus, countries with caps lose business to countries 89 without caps, and the problem with carbon emissions continues. Many people also oppose cap-90 and-trade because they believe it will cost jobs and other economic benefits. They argue that cap-91 and-trade forces businesses either to produce less carbon or trade for carbon credits. In both 92 cases, the result is fewer jobs (Jordan, 2009). 93 Supporters agree that some carbon economy jobs will be affected by cap-and-trade. On the 94 other hand, they note what happened when the automobile was introduced in the 20th century: 95 while old jobs connected to horses disappeared, new jobs and industries were created. Similarly, 96 they argue, new jobs and industries will be created to meet the needs of a post-carbon economy. 97 Some opposition to cap-and-trade comes from environmentalists who say that some 98 important stakeholders are often left out of the process. They claim that industrial leaders are 99 included in decisions about the CO2 emission “caps,” but environmental groups are excluded 100 from the discussions. A study by Climate Action Network Central and Eastern Europe (CAN-101 CEE) concluded that “Environmental NGOs have often been excluded from the consultation 102 processes and even when given a chance to provide comments, those were not taken into 103 consideration or mentioned” (“Independent NGO Analysis of NAPs of New Member States,” 104 2004). These environmental opponents also worry that concessions made by government in order 105 to gain the support of businesses make the system too weak. In the Czech Republic, for example, 106 the annual CO2 cap was set at almost 21% above historical emission levels. Ironically, a system 107 that is intended to benefit everyone is decided in secret only by a very select and powerful few. 108 Deliberating in a Democracy © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. 6 Many economists and environmentalists oppose giving government-provided emission 109 credits without a cost to major CO2 producers. Instead, they prefer carbon auctions, where major 110 CO2 producers must buy their credits from the government. The government can then use these 111 funds to support other CO2 reduction strategies such as “clean energy” sources (wind, solar, 112 geothermal, tidal). Some environmentalists even prefer a “carbon tax” on all carbon usage to 113 encourage everyone to reduce CO2 quickly to avoid environmental catastrophe. 114 Many business interests oppose taxes as a matter of principle. They believe their primary 115 responsibility is to make money for their owners or investors, and government regulations are 116 often seen as attempts to reduce their profits. Thus, some companies prefer cap-and-trade 117 systems to more direct government mandates because cap-and-trade gives them the flexibility to 118 decide how they will meet their emissions targets. 119 Cap-and-trade supporters also argue that companies can both reduce their carbon emissions 120 and prosper economically without extra costs to their stakeholders. Until recently, industries 121 needed to pay the costs of monitoring and reporting data to the government. Reporting took time, 122 cost money, and depended on the honesty of the businesses that provided it. Today, 123 governments, non-governmental organizations, and even ordinary people can use satellite data 124 and other resources available via the Internet to monitor CO2 emissions. Therefore, businesses 125 may no longer have to bear the cost of data collection and reporting or worry about transparency. 126 Cap-and-trade is but one example of what former Czech president Vaclav Havel has called 127 “the challenge to behave responsibly.” After all, he notes, “Technological measures and 128 regulations are important, but equally important is support for education, ecological training and 129 ethics—a consciousness of the commonality of all living beings and an emphasis on shared 130 responsibility” (Havel, 2007). 131 © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. All Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago materials and publications are protected by copyright. However, we hereby grant to all recipients a license to reproduce all material contained herein for distribution to students, other school site personnel, and district administrators. Global Climate Change—Selected Resources “Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT)” (Washington, DC: World Resources Institute, n.d.), http://cait.wri.org/. “Global Warming: Undo It” (New York: Environmental Defense Action Fund, 2005), http://www.undoit.org/home.cfm. “Global Warming Updates: Science, Politics, Economics” (Washington, DC: Cooler Heads Coalition, 2004), http://www.globalwarming.org/article.php?uid=562. “Global Warming: What Should We Do About It?,” Bill of Rights in Action (Los Angeles, CA: Constitutional Rights Foundation, Fall 2002), Vol. 18: 4, http://www.crf-usa.org/bria/bria18_4b.htm. “Global Warming: Frequently Asked Questions” (Asheville, NC: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [U.S.], National Climatic Data Center, 2005), http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html. “Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections in Europe 2009,” Report No 9/2009 (Copenhagen, Denmark: European Environment Agency, 2009), http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9. “Independent NGO Analysis of National Allocation Plans of Selected New Member States” (Bucharest, Romania: Climate Action Network for Central and Eastern Europe [CAN CEE], October 2004), http://www.climnetcee.org/publications/NAP%20report.pdf. Halpin, James, “Polar Bear’s Village Visit Ends in Its Death,” Anchorage Daily News (January 5, 2008). Havel, Vaclav, “Leaving a Moral Footprint,” New York Times (September 27, 2007). “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” (Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations and World Meteorological Organization, 2005), http://www.ipcc.ch/. Jordan, Rob, “Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Cap and Trade,” FreedomWorks (March 6, 2009), http://www.freedomworks.org/files/Top%2010%20cap%20and%20trade_0.pdf. Mathers, Jason, and Michelle Manion, “How It Works: Cap-and-Trade Systems,” Catalyst (Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists, Spring 2005), Vol 4: 1, http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/catalyst/page.jsp?itemID=27226959. Mitchell, Andrew, et al., “Forests First in the Fight Against Climate Change” (Oxford, UK: Global Canopy Programme, 2007), http://www.globalcanopy.org/themedia/file/PDFs/Forests%20First%20June%202007.pdf. National Center for Public Policy Research, “Global Warming Information Center” (Washington, DC: NCPPR, n.d.), http://www.nationalcenter.org/Kyoto.html. Osborne, Hillary, “Climate Change Is Our Top Priority, Says UN Chief,” Guardian (November 6, 2007). “Research Library: Climate Change” (Washington, DC: Worldwatch Institute, 2005), http://www.worldwatch.org/topics/energy/climate/. Revkin, Andrew C., “Grim Outlook for Polar Bears,” New York Times (October 2, 2007). Schwartz, Peter, and Doug Randall, An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United States National Security, a report prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense (Emeryville, CA: Global Business Network, October 2003), http://www.gbn.com/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=26231. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, http://unfccc.int/2860.php. “U.S. Emissions in a Global Perspective,” Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Report, Report #:DOE/EIA-0573 (Washington, DC: Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government, November 28, 2007), http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/. Weier, John, “Global Warming,” Earth Observatory (Goddard, MD: National Aeronautics and Space Administration [U.S.], Goddard Space Flight Center, April 8, 2002), http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/GlobalWarming/warming2.html. © 2005, 2008, 2009 Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. All Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago materials and publications are protected by copyright. However, we hereby grant to all recipients a license to reproduce all material contained herein for distribution to students, other school site personnel, and district administrators. Global Climate Change—Deliberation Question with Arguments Deliberation Question Should our democracy adopt a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions? YES – Arguments to Support the Deliberation Question 1. Global climate change has already begun, as evidenced by the rise in the Earth’s temperature. Even the U.S. Department of Defense recognizes this change and is considering the consequences. If people wait too long, the climate might reach a threshold of irreversible and catastrophic change. Cap-and-trade is a reasonable plan for getting started before it’s too late. 2. Cap-and-trade policies put a price on carbon emissions. Citizens and consumers understand prices and so can respond to them in ways that benefit the global environment. More specifically, they can use their wallets to support the technologies and pro