Global Energy Access
Articles/Websites
Grades11, 12, APPhysics, Civics, Engineering
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 →
Provided by Stanford Understand Energy
What it is
- In this resource, students will read through facts about energy access, clean cooking fuels, and learn about the relationships between equitable energy access, access to clean cooking fuels, global population growth, agriculture, and the environment through a video lecture.
- Students will understand the need to provide energy access for those in developing countries, the health and societal impacts of cooking with biomass, and how providing access to clean energy fits in with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This video can be incredibly eye-opening for students as they realize the complexities of fighting climate change while also fighting for equity.
- The resource includes many charts and figures to aid student comprehension.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Under the Essential heading, there are two videos and three articles students should watch and read to build background knowledge before watching the lecture.
- Students should be fluent in graph and data analysis to comprehend the facts and charts.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After discussing this topic, students and teachers can discuss the relationship between increased rights for women and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. This video can help facilitate learning about the topic.
- Students can further explore the health effects of using biomass for cooking.
- After watching, students and teachers can revisit the portion of the lecture that discusses the Sustainable Development Goals and brainstorm solutions for the lack of funding for developing countries to convert to clean energy.
- To stimulate a solutions-focused discussion or assignment, have students research communities currently using small solar panels or small windmills to generate electricity for agriculture or cooking in off-grid or rural areas.
From the scientist review
Meeting the quality of life needs while combating a climate crisis is a tricky maneuver. This well-cited article explains the intricacies of global energy access. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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