CFR Education: Fires in the Amazon - Sovereignty in a Global Era
Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations|Published on: September 14, 2023|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Science, Economics, Civics, Geography
Authors: CFR Education
Location: Earth, South America
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video examines the economic and ecological importance of the Amazon rainforest to Brazil and to the world, highlighting the devastating fires in 2019 and the international community's response.
- Below the video, teachers will find a linked lesson plan for grades 9-12, a linked discussion guide for higher education classes, and a short description that explains key terms and adds context.
- This is the eighth section of the World 101 Building Blocks: Understanding the International System module.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video has citations from reputable organizations.
- This video has a transcript that can be downloaded as a PDF.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of the sovereignty of nations and international agreements.
- Students need to understand why burning forests can contribute to climate change.
- The lesson plan and discussion questions apply to more than one section of the module.
Differentiation
- Students can watch the video at home to prepare for an in-class discussion about how climate change can impact international relations in the future.
- Teachers can pause the video at certain moments in order to reinforce key concepts.
- This video can supplement a lesson on different types of carbon sinks and why they're important.
- This video can enhance a classroom discussion on the Amazon rainforest's importance to the Indigenous people who live there, global biodiversity, and the global greenhouse gas budget.
This resource video discusses the complexity of sovereignty in an increasingly globalist world, and especially how the actions of one country can affect us all. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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