In this Ted Talk, journalist and policy advisor Hongqiao Liu explains China's historical and current rate of carbon emissions, China's recent climate pledges, and the sources of carbon emissions in China that must be addressed.
Students will learn about the feasibility of China meeting the ambitious pledge of becoming a net-zero country by 2060.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video will help students see the nuances of the energy and emissions situations in China.
A full transcript is available in 11 languages.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with China's political, demographic, and economic situation.
Differentiation
Social studies or civics classes could compare China's climate goals to the United States' climate pledges. Students could discuss how the two governments have different ways of monitoring, implementing, or encouraging changes in the energy sector.
As a media literacy activity, students could discuss how Hongqiao Liu, as an independent journalist, gives a balanced report concerning China's emissions goals. In small groups, students could discuss how impartial news reports help people to understand both the positive and the negative elements of news stories.
This 9-minute TED Talk presents an overview of China's climate goals out to 2060. This resource discusses issues related to China's population, energy generation sources, and industries, and China's objectives for carbon neutrality and emission reductions. As many of the topics discussed in this resource are goals and targets, it is not possible to do fact-checking, but this resource could be a good tool for understanding what climate pledges look like and assessing their probability of success. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Social Studies
Personal Finance & Economics
Economics (F1): Students understand the principles and processes of personal economics, the role of markets, the economic system of the United States, other economic systems in the world, and how economics serves to inform decisions in the present and future by analyzing the role of financial institutions, the financial markets, and government including fiscal, monetary, and trade policies.
Global Connections (F2): Students understand economic aspects of unity and diversity in Maine, the United States, and the world, including Maine Native American communities, by analyzing how resource distribution effects wealth, poverty, and other economic factors.
