How are
people changing
the climate?

Basics

3. How can we hinder
man-made climate change?

Worksheet 2

1. Questions to be answered individually or in groups

a) A high standard of living implies extensive consumption of a number of goods. In what way does our consumption of various goods impact on climate?

b) Imagine that you buy a blue cotton sweater made in China. Make an overview of the various parts of the production, transport, marketing and sale of the sweater and how each part implies the use of energy.

c) Taxes making fuel for trailers, boats and airplanes more expensive may reduce the transport activity and emission of greenhouse gasses. But such taxes may also make goods imported from other countries more expensive. Do you think it is OK if for example imported clothes get more expensive, provided that the emission of greenhouse gases will be reduced?

2. Check your local environment!

Find out how your local community is encouraging (or discouraging?) a "climate-friendly" lifestyle: Does it have well-functioning public transport, bicycle paths, recycling bins, etc.?

3. Discussion in class or in groups

Climate change is related to energy use, and energy use is connected to our daily consumption. A suggested contribution for solving the climate problem is that we consume less. If we consume less, however, every individual will save money. What should we spend this money on? Go for an exotic holiday? Go to theatre? Give them to someone who needs them? Work less and make less money? 

Discuss with your classmates how we can avoid the situation that reduced consumption of certain goods ends up with (some kind of) consumption anyway, leading to emission of greenhouse gases. 

4. Economic growth and standard of living

Do you think the government should try to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases even if it slows down the growth in your country’s standard of living?

a) Which of the following answers do you think is the best one?

1) No, I don’t think the government should make any effort to reduce these emissions
2) No, the government should only take measures to reduce emissions that do not harm business or slow down growth.
3) Yes, measures that leads to a slight reduction in growth is worth it as long as we still get richer year by year
4) Yes, we should do whatever it takes to reduce these emissions even if it costs us quite a bit

b) Write a text (100–300 words) where you give the reasons for your answer in a). What will be the consequences for our way of living?

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Authors: Ellen K. Henriksen and Camilla Schreiner - University of Oslo - Norway. Scientific reviewer: Andreas Tjernshaugen - CICERO (Center for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo) - Norway - 2004-01-20 Educational reviewer: Educational reviewer: Nina Arnesen - Marienlyst school in Oslo - Norway - 2004-03-10. Last update: 2004-03-27.