Across the Nation school will back in full swing within the next several weeks. One of the opportunities teachers have is to use the current climate/energy bill in their/your classrooms.
What do I mean…?
For starters – H.R.2454 – American Clean Energy And Security Act of 2009 - can be discussed as a first – the first time one of the two parts of the legislative branch of our government (The House of Representatives) has passed a bill pertaining to Climate Change. Next – you can discuss the process yet to come in the Senate – it seems like the bill is tailor made for civics or social studies – at a Middle School to College level. Will it pass – will it fail – who in your state supports it – who does not support it….great interesting discussions.
Next – What is Cap and Trade? This is the term that from an economic perspective gets the most discussion. Again – to varying degrees this is a great topic for economics students – from Middle School on up. What is Cap and Trade? Where has it worked? Where has it failed? Will it work in this case? And – by the way – it is an excellent way to discuss consumption tax as well.
Next – Energy production and generation…what are the sources of energy in our nation? What is the true break down of fuel – coal, oil, hydro, nuclear, and renewable energy. What is “best” vs what we have today. How do other nations play into the total – global energy picture?
Do students know about the IPCC? Do they understand the so called Road to Copenhagen – and what it will mean for their world?
Finally Climate Change itself – what is it? How should students act to help solve the challenge?
It seems that the way in which we can use this bill for climate education and discussion is almost endless….
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