Climate Change Proposal Project
Introduction:
“According to NASA, planet Earth has warmed up by 1oC in the past 100 years. Extensive research has been
carried out by climatologists on this topic. Today a large majority of climate scientists (97%) agree that humanmade greenhouse gases are responsible for the increase in Earth’s temperature.” J. Cook, et al, "Consensus on consensus: a
synthesis of consensus estimates on human-caused global warming," Environmental Research Letters Vol. 11 No. 4, (13 April 2016); DOI:10.1088/17489326/11/4/048002 Last accessed: April 17, 2017
Purpose:
How can societies take action to both support economic growth and protect the environment?
Your task:
You are a team of two or three junior environmental analysts that are working to create a proposal.
The project consists of 2 separate components:
Part 1: Preliminary Planning & Research
In this section, you will be researching:
a) the scientific concepts surrounding climate change
b) the industries contributing to climate change
c) International organizations and the evidence they are collecting to support human induced climate
change.
Part 2: Proposal
In this section, you will use the information you researched in the brainstorming section to collaboratively
create a proposal to either industry or individuals that will outline an idea to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and make the ecological imprint (specifically related to climate change) of the industry or individual less
damaging. Details will follow when preliminary planning (Part 1) is completed.
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PART 1 Brainstorming:
As an environmental analyst, and before coming up with an idea, you must do your research.
a) Explain and define the following terms:
Term
Definition
Picture/Diagram
natural
greenhouse effect
enhanced
greenhouse effect
major
greenhouse gases
global warming
climate change
carbon source
carbon sink
2
net radiation
budget
b) Analyze the sources of evidence for climate change and how they can be used to measure
impacts on climate change.
Sources of
evidence
(Measurements)
What does the source suggest about
climate?
How does this information provide
evidence for climate change (past &
present)?
Tree Ring
Analysis
Greenhouse
Gas Sensor
(IR Sensor)
Ice Core
Samples
Climatograph
information
Your Choice.
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c) Research 3 of the following industries that contribute to a global rise in temperature:

Petroleum
 Meat Production
 Agriculture
 Electronics
 Automobile
 Fishing
 Airline
 Forestry
 Clothing/Textiles
 Plastics
 Electricity
 Diamonds/gems
 Tourism
 Other – Discuss with your teacher
Industry 1:
Description of Industry:
What are the current ecological impacts (specifically related to climate change) of this
industry?
What are the current societal and political impacts of this industry?
What are the current economic impacts of this industry?
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Industry 2:
Description of Industry:
What are the current ecological impacts (specifically related to climate change) of this
industry?
What are the current societal and political impacts of this industry?
What are the current economic impacts of this industry?
5
Industry 3:
Description of Industry:
What are the current ecological impacts (specifically related to climate change) of this
industry?
What are the current societal and political impacts of this industry?
What are the current economic impacts of this industry?
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d) Below is a list of organizations whose role is to collect evidence supporting human
induced climate change. Choose 2 different organizations, explain their role in
furthering our understanding and reducing the effects of climate change and include at
least three climate facts from the website.
NASA Earth observatory
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/page2.php
IPCC- International panel on climate change
http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.shtml
World Meteorological Organization
https://www.wmo.int/pages/about/index_en.html
Government of Canada
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=F2DB1FBE-1
Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) project
http://www.bonusportal.org/projects/research_projects/sheba
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Mandate of Organization 1 (purpose or goal) and how they plan to achieve it:
Important Climate Facts from Website? (At least 3)
What are they doing to improve ecological sustainability?
Mandate of Organization 2 (purpose or goal) and how they plan to achieve it:
Important Climate Facts from Website? (At least 3)
What are they doing to improve ecological sustainability?
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PART 2 Proposal:
1) Your task:
● Create a proposal to either industry or individuals that will outline an idea to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and make the ecological imprint of the industry or individual less damaging. You
must select whether your proposal targets a specific industry or the individual.
● Your proposal must include:
o Explanation of proposed idea
o Your target audience (industry or individual)
o Specific goals related to reducing ecological footprint:
▪ Which specific greenhouse gas emissions are reduced?
▪ Does it reduce a reliance/use of fossil fuels?
▪ Does it create awareness about global warming and climate change?
▪ How it will combat rising global temperatures?
● Include important definitions if required. For example, if your idea is to use solar panels, include
an explanation about what a photovoltaic (solar) cell is and how it works.
● Who will it impact?
● Does the industry/individual have a responsibility to the land in terms of stewardship and
sustainability?
2) Delivery Medium:
 You and your group will record your proposal in video format. Some examples include screencast,
iMovie, or any other video recording mechanism that you prefer. The completed video will then be
uploaded to a designated D2L discussion board so that it can be shared with the class. However you
choose to record your video is up to you, but your teachers have suggestions if you are stuck.
Table: Preliminary Planning
Idea?
What makes
your idea
unique
compared to
other attempts?
Specific goals
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of the project
Impact on
Ecological
footprint
(ie. greenhouse
effect, global
warming,
usage, effect on
biomes etc)
Teacher Initials to Proceed:________________
Proposal Check List
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Detailed description of idea to industry/individual
How proposed idea will reduce ecological footprint
How proposed idea will combat rising global temperatures
Which specific greenhouse gas emissions are being reduced
Is reliance on or use of fossil fuels being reduced
Awareness about global warming and climate change
How will your idea combat rising global temperatures
Any relevant definitions or explanations
Who will it impact
Responsibility to the land in terms of sustainability and stewardship
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Impacts
Individual
Industry
City
● How will you measure if your idea/project was successful or not in reaching it’s goal?
Ways to measure
success of goal
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2) Sustainability and Feasibility:
Economic Sustainability
(Will individuals/industry
“buy-in” to your idea and
contribute with their own
money?)
Social Feasibility
(Will people carry out or
buy into your idea on a
social level? Will people
believe in what you’re
trying to do?)
Political Feasibility
(Will governments sign off
on your proposal once all
the pros and cons have been
considered?)
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3) References:
● Include a list of references used to create proposal (ideally most should come from the websites
provided). Please see the APA Citation guide from Mount Royal found on D2L.
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4) Evaluation: Unit D GO4 - Investigate and interpret the role of environmental factors on global energy transfer and climate change
Preliminary Planning
K4.1 - investigate and identify human actions affecting biomes that have a potential to change climate and critically examine the evidence that these
factors play a role in climate change
0-5 (25%)
5-10 (25%-50%)
10-15 (50%-75%)
15-20 (75-100%)
None three industries were complete with
relevant information.
One of the three industries were complete with
relevant information.
Two of the three industries were complete with
relevant information.
All three industries were complete with relevant
information.
No demonstration of deep connections between
human actions in industry & their effect on
climate change.
Demonstrated one connection between human
actions in industry & their effect on climate
change.
Demonstrated two connections between human
actions in industry & their effect on climate
change.
Demonstrated three deep connections between
human actions in industry & their effect on
climate change.
No perspectives were not explored for
industrial/human impacts
One perspective was explored for
industrial/human impacts
Two perspectives were explored for
industrial/human impacts
Multiple perspectives were explored for
industrial/human impacts
Total on k4.1 (20)
K4.2 - identify evidence to investigate past changes in Earth’s climate (e.g., ice core samples, tree ring analysis)
K 4.4- describe the role of technology in measuring, modelling and interpreting climate and climate change
0-5 (0-25%)
5-10 (25%-50%)
10-15 (50%-75%)
Accurate exploration of 0-1 given sources
evidence was evident and a connection to climate
change was demonstrated in the example.
Accurate exploration of at least two pieces of
evidence was evident and a connection to climate
change was demonstrated in those examples
15-20 (75-100%)
Accurate exploration of given sources of evidence
was evident and a connection to climate change
was demonstrated in the examples
Accurate exploration of given sources of evidence
and your own sources of evidence was evident
and a connection to climate change was
demonstrated in the examples.
Total on k4.2 (20)
Total on k4.4 (20)
K4.3 - describe and evaluate the role of science in furthering the understanding of climate and climate change through international programs
0-5 (0-25%)
5-10 (25%-50%)
10-15 (50%-75%)
15-20 (75-100%)
Accurate exploration of at most 1
international organization detailing their
mandate, no factual information pieces were
complete and an below standard
explanation of their role in ecological
sustainability
Accurate exploration of at least 1
international organizations detailing their
mandate, at least 2 factual information
pieces and an acceptable explanation of
their role in ecological sustainability
Accurate exploration of two international
organizations detailing their mandate, at
least 2 factual information pieces and an
acceptable explanation of their role in
ecological sustainability
Accurate exploration of two international
organizations detailing their mandate, at
least three factual information pieces and
detailed, in depth explanation of their role in
ecological sustainability
Presentation
Total on k4.3 (20)
K 4.6 - Assess, from a variety of perspectives, the risks and benefits of human activity, and its impact on the biosphere and the climate
0-5 (0-25%)
5-10 (25%-50%)
10-15 (50%-75%)
15-20 (75-100%)
Analyzes multiple perspectives in an
incomplete, minimal, or inaccurate manner.
Analysis is disjointed, irrelevant, and
demonstrates little understanding of the
assigned task.
Analyzes multiple perspectives in a confused,
vague and simplistic manner. Analysis is
underdeveloped, superficial, and imprecise.
Discussion of the significance of the issue is
superficial.
Analyzes multiple perspectives in an
adequate, straightforward, and conventional
manner. Analysis is relevant and developed
in a generalized fashion. Discussion of the
significance of the issue is adequate.
Analyzes multiple perspectives in an
insightful and precise manner. Analysis is
accurate, perceptive, and comprehensively
developed. Discussion of the significance of
the issue is sophisticated and purposeful.
Total on k4.6 (20)
Total for GO4 (100)
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Social Studies/ Science Rubric:
Grade
Exemplary
(100%)
Skill 6 (SK1)
Skill 7(SK2/SK3)
Social Participation as a democratic process
Research for Deliberative Inquiry
Develops strategies to make decisions and solve problems in
a perceptive and comprehensive manner.
Always initiates and demonstrates leadership qualities.
Skilled (85%)
Develops strategies to make decisions and solve problems in
a precise and logical manner.
Research is comprehensive and the evidence
selected precisely supports the proposal. Research
shows an insightful evaluation and analysis of the
topic.
Video speaks to express information in a sophisticated
and deliberate manner.
Research is purposeful and the evidence selected
logically supports the proposal. Research shows a
consistent evaluation and analysis of the topic.
Video speaks to express information in a logical and
purposeful manner.
Consistently initiates and demonstrates leadership qualities.
Competent
(70%)
Develops strategies to make decisions and solve problems in
an appropriate, though general, manner.
Periodically demonstrates leadership qualities.
Basic (55%)
Develops strategies to make decisions and solve problems in
a questionable or inappropriate manner.
Leadership qualities are demonstrated on an inconsistent
basis.
Developing
(45%)
Develops strategies to make decisions and solve problems in
an undeveloped or trivial manner.
Leadership qualities hinder rather than help problem solving.
Skill 8,9 (SK4) Communication-Oral, written, visual
and media literacies
Effectively presents an insightful, well-informed, and
persuasive proposal.
Effectively presents a purposeful, well-informed, and
persuasive proposal.
Research is adequate and the evidence selected
appropriately supports the proposal. Research
shows a general evaluation and analysis of the
topic.
Video speaks to express information in an adequate
manner.
Presents a general, informed, and somewhat persuasive
proposal.
Research is vague and the evidence selected
inconsistently supports the proposal. Research
shows a superficial evaluation and analysis of the
topic.
Video speaks to express information in a vague and
inconsistent manner.
Research is incomplete and the evidence selected
does not support the proposal. Research shows an
incomplete evaluation and analysis of the topic.
Video speaks to express information in an incomplete
manner.
Ineffectively presents an informed and persuasive
proposal.
Does not demonstrate an informed proposal.
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