In this TED Talk, Rose Mutiso, an energy researcher and thought leader from Kenya, explains why Africa's energy needs must be prioritized when using what's left of the world's carbon budget.
She describes the problem of energy inequality and the responsibility that Western countries have to take the lead on decarbonization while allowing developing countries to adapt and prosper.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video highlights how climate change has disproportionately affected people in developing countries, and the responsibility that developed countries have to focus on equity.
The video provides a transcript and subtitles that are available in many languages.
Additional Prerequisites
Before watching the video, consider having students highlight words they do not know or understand on a copy of the transcript and go over any new vocabulary.
Differentiation
Civics or economics classes could use this video as part of an investigation on climate justice and to learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Related resources include this speech by Greta Thunberg and this course about climate equity.
Scientist Notes
This TED talk discusses climate change challenges within Africa, with a particular focus on the historical emissions and climate impacts within Africa and from non-African nations. Issues of development, justice, and fairness are presented and a vision for a fair and just pathway that allows African nations to develop while more developed nations rapidly reduce their carbon emissions is presented. This resource is a good look at the complexity of international climate issues. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Social Studies
Civics & Government
Civics & Government 1 (F2): Students understand the ideals, purposes, principles, structures, and processes of constitutional government in the United States and in the American political system, as well as examples of other forms of government and political systems in the world by explaining how and why democratic institutions and interpretations of democratic ideals and constitutional principles change over time.
Personal Finance & Economics
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.
