ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel MinuteEarth Climate Change: The View From MinuteEarth | #OursToLose
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, invisible gas, which is why we have alarms in our homes to alert us if it’s present. Similarly, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are also invisible gases that have been causing rapid and harmful changes to our climate, oceans, and ecosystems without clear warnings. Let’s explore how these changes affect people around the world, including the MinuteEarth team.
Henry lives in the dry Rocky Mountains, where droughts and wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe. This means more resources are needed to protect homes and businesses, and people spend more time indoors during summer due to thick smoke.
Kate is affected by the droughts in the Rockies, which reduce the water flowing down the Colorado River. This has caused Lake Mead, a crucial water source for her and 20 million others, to reach record low levels.
In Venezuela, Ever faces droughts that threaten the Guri Reservoir and the hydroelectric plants depending on it. This puts over 60% of the country’s electricity generation at risk.
Emily’s main issue in New York City is not a lack of water but too much of it. The city is still recovering from Hurricane Sandy and is working to prepare for more severe storms and larger storm surges in the future.
Omkar in Mumbai, India, deals with increasingly problematic storms, larger ocean surges, and intense rainfall. In 2005, a record-breaking meter of rain fell in 24 hours, destroying homes and causing significant loss of life.
In Cambodia, Alex sees how unpredictable monsoons threaten rice farmers and fishers, who make up half the population. This year, late rains damaged young plants and reduced river productivity, leading to a 50% smaller catch than last year.
Peter in Minnesota notices that warmer weather means less snow and ice for winter sports and tourism. It also threatens the survival of northern forests and many species that live there.
These stories might resonate with you, or you might have your own experiences with climate change. The important question is: how significant will we allow these impacts to become? If we want to make a difference, we must act now to minimize the effects of climate change.
Share your perspective with political representatives, businesses, family, and friends, and encourage them to get involved. Since these gases are invisible, we need to make our voices heard so that leaders know we want legally binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
To help, we’ve included links in the video description to find your representative’s contact information. At the very least, you can add your name to The Mega Climate Petition for a 100% Clean World.
This video is part of the #OursToLose campaign—please share your own climate stories using the #OursToLose hashtag. Let’s raise awareness about these invisible gases!
Research the effects of climate change in different regions around the world. Create a map that highlights these impacts, including droughts, floods, and storms. Use symbols or colors to represent different types of climate events. Share your map with the class and discuss how these changes affect people and ecosystems globally.
Divide into groups and represent different countries or regions affected by climate change, such as the Rocky Mountains, Venezuela, or Mumbai. Prepare a short presentation on how climate change impacts your assigned region and propose solutions. Hold a mock conference where each group presents their findings and negotiates global strategies to combat climate change.
Work in teams to create a campaign that raises awareness about the invisible gases contributing to climate change. Develop posters, social media posts, or a short video that explains the importance of reducing emissions and encourages others to take action. Present your campaign to the class and discuss ways to implement it in your community.
Create a survey to gather information about how climate change is affecting your local community. Include questions about changes in weather patterns, impacts on local wildlife, and personal experiences with extreme weather events. Analyze the results and present your findings to the class, highlighting any surprising trends or common concerns.
Research different types of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Create a presentation or model that explains how one of these energy sources works and its benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Share your findings with the class and discuss how renewable energy can be part of the solution to climate change.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas that is poisonous, which is why we install loud alarms in our homes to alert us to its dangerous presence. Similarly, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are also invisible gases that, without clear warnings, have been allowed to cause rapid and harmful changes to our climate, oceans, and ecosystems. Here’s how this affects us, the MinuteEarth team, in different parts of the world.
I’m Henry, and in the dry Rocky Mountains, drought and wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, leading us to allocate more resources to protect our homes and businesses, and we are spending more days indoors each summer due to thick smoke.
I’m Kate, and the droughts in the Rockies mean that less water flows down the Colorado River, causing Lake Mead— which provides water to me and 20 million others—to reach record low levels.
I’m Ever, and in Venezuela, droughts threaten the Guri Reservoir and the hydroelectric plants that rely on it, putting over 60% of our electricity generation at risk.
I’m Emily, and in New York City, our main issue is not a lack of water but an excess. We are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy while also working to strengthen the city against increasingly severe storms and larger storm surges in the future.
I’m Omkar, and in Mumbai, India, storms are becoming more problematic, with larger ocean surges and more intense rainfall, such as the record-breaking meter of rain that fell in 24 hours in 2005, which destroyed homes and resulted in significant loss of life.
I’m Alex, and in Cambodia, unpredictable monsoons threaten the livelihoods of rice farmers and fishers, who make up half the population. This year, late rains damaged young plants and reduced river productivity, leading to a 50% smaller catch than last year.
I’m Peter, and in Minnesota, warmer weather means less snow and ice for winter sports and tourism, and it threatens the survival of our northern forests and many species that inhabit them.
Some of these experiences may resonate with you, or perhaps you have your own story about what climate change looks like in your area. The question is: how significant will we allow these impacts to become?
If we are going to take action, we must do so now to minimize the effects of climate change. Share your perspective with your political representatives, favorite businesses, family, and friends, and encourage them to get involved. Since these gases are invisible, we need to make our voices heard so that leaders recognize that we, the citizens of Earth, want our nations to agree to legally binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
To assist with this, we have included links in the video description to help you find your representative’s contact information. At the very least, you can add your name to The Mega Climate Petition for a 100% Clean World.
We created this video as part of the #OursToLose campaign—please share your own climate stories using the #OursToLose hashtag. Let’s raise awareness about these invisible gases!
Climate – The typical weather conditions in a particular area over a long period of time. – The climate in tropical regions is generally warm and humid, supporting diverse ecosystems.
Change – A modification or transformation in the state of something. – Scientists study climate change to understand how global temperatures are affecting the planet.
Droughts – Extended periods of unusually low rainfall, leading to water shortages. – Droughts can severely impact agriculture, leading to food shortages and economic challenges.
Water – A vital natural resource that is essential for all forms of life. – Conserving water is crucial to ensure that future generations have access to this essential resource.
Emissions – Substances, especially gases, released into the atmosphere from industrial processes or vehicles. – Reducing carbon emissions is critical to slowing down the effects of global warming.
Storms – Severe weather conditions characterized by strong winds, rain, thunder, and lightning. – Hurricanes are powerful storms that can cause significant damage to coastal areas.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. – Healthy ecosystems provide services such as clean air and water, which are essential for human survival.
Gases – Substances in a state of matter that have no fixed shape and can expand indefinitely. – Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
Pollution – The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. – Air pollution from factories can lead to health problems for people living nearby.
Resources – Natural materials or substances that can be used by humans for various purposes. – Renewable resources, such as solar and wind energy, are important for sustainable development.
