Provided by: The Climate Question |Published on: September 14, 2022
Podcasts
9101112AP
Synopsis
This podcast explores the negative climate impacts of flying and some potential ways to make it more environmentally friendly.
Carbon offsets, one of the most popular solutions, are scrutinized but other possible solutions are discussed including alternative fuel sources, slightly adjusting flight paths to reduce contrails, adjusting flight paths to be more direct, and reducing consumer demand.
The audio is engaging with fun sound effects and dialogue.
Students will be able to activate their critical thinking skills while assessing the challenges and potential solutions to sustainable flying.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and the carbon cycle.
The main content ends at 23 minutes and an advertisement plays at the end of the podcast starting at 26 minutes, 23 seconds.
Differentiation
In social studies classes, discuss or write about the disparity between the emissions of the "Global North" and the "Global South" and the implications for justice and equity issues.
Advanced students can act as a climate disinformation reporter, like the host of the episode, and create their own podcast or article about a climate change question or misconception.
Science or STEM students can choose a solution they find particularly compelling and research it further, presenting their findings to the class or a small group.
Cross-curricular connections can be made with civics classes by considering the role of government in regulating the environmental impacts of the aviation industry.
Economics classes can discuss the economic factors that affect the feasibility of alternative fuels and the potential impact of government subsidies.
Other resources about the climate impacts of flying include this detailed article for high-level students, this longer video by Vox, and this short video by ClimateScience.
Scientist Notes
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Resource Type and Format
Related Teaching Resources
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.