Prime Time 8. Coursebook plus Semester Self-checks, Schulbuch

2 Climate change Global warming a) Look at the cartoon and the quotes below and explain them in your own words. b) With the help of the word bank and other sources like books, magazines or the internet, write a short paragraph on either some of the causes of global warming or some of the results. Then share your paragraphs in a class poster. “… increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real.” Barack Obama (*1961, former US president) “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.” Donald Trump (*1946, current US president) “We may not suffer the fate of the dinosaurs. But there will be a toll on our environment and on our economy, and the toll will rise higher with each new generation.” Eileen Claussen (*1945, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change) “… we’re ending up with these grotesque affronts – massive heat waves, dying coral reefs, huge floods and so on, popping out across the face of the planet like an alcoholic’s veins. But we’re in denial about the Green- house thing.” Bruce Sterling (*1954, science fiction author) Are they avoidable? Every activity that uses energy sends carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which traps heat and light from the Sun in the Earth’s atmosphere and hence increases the temperature. a) In groups, collect and compare examples of how you use energy in the course of a typical day. Differentiate between appliances that need electricity and activities that burn fuel, petrol or coal. b) Examine your lists and discuss: • Which of these are necessities to organise important aspects in life? • Which of these are luxuries, things that enhance life? • Which items are necessities in the lives of you and your families? • Which items would you be willing or able to give up if it would reduce the rate of global warming? c) Have a look at the energy-related activities listed below and find out if and why they increase or decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Extend the list with your own examples. 1 global warming n., no pl. a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluo­ rocarbons, and other pollutants. (Oxford Dictionary ) Word bank to affect • atmosphere • biodiversity • carbon dioxide • carbon footprint • (man-made) disaster • drought • to emit • ecosystem • energy • exhaust fumes • fossil fuel • glacier • greenhouse effect • habitat • (non)-renewable resources • sea level W 2 recycling aluminum cans planting shade trees around houses turning on the air condition burning leaves in the garden keeping car tires inflated going to school by bus leaving windows open in the winter leaving the TV running when nobody is watching 22 Saving the planet Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv