3 Rules for a Zero Carbon World

Videos

Grades9, 10, 11, 12Economics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by TED

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What it is

In this TED video, Nigel Topping, the UN's High-Level Climate Action Champion, outlines three key rules that will help the global economy achieve a zero-carbon future.
Students will learn that each industry will have to harness ambition loops, set exponential goals, and create shared action pathways to eliminate greenhouse emissions.

Teaching tips

Positives

Nigel Topping shares his pathway to becoming involved in climate action, which could inspire students to consider similar careers.
The video emphasizes the importance of telling positive stories about the future of our planet.

Additional Prerequisites

The video is best for advanced students as it is dense and uses business language.
Students should have a strong understanding of climate change.
Subtitles and transcripts are available in 12 languages; however, the transcript is not available in English.

Differentiation

Teachers could pause the video throughout to debrief and help students understand the language.
Economics, business, politics, and government classes could discuss the way that Nigel Topping sees systems as sets of repeating patterns.
Other resources on this topic include this video on using economic tools to achieve environmental goals and this timeline on the UN climate talks.

From the scientist review

This 12-minute TED talk is a presentation of three rules that can help drive collaborative action and innovation within industries and the economy. It's a business language-heavy video that might be difficult to follow for students unfamiliar with business language but is otherwise a good way to learn about how economic and business innovation geared towards climate action takes place. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Economics
Format: Downloadable MP4/M4V
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: TED
Authors: Nigel Topping
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MW.Civ.14.a. + 8 more

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Standards

MW.Civ.14.a.Analyze means of protecting or limiting human rights in the 20th century (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations Resolution 181, Partition of India, Dirty War in Argentina, Cultural Revolution in China, Khmer Rouge, Stolen Generations in Australia).
MW.Geo.11.a.Evaluatehow economic globalization and the expanding use of scarce resources has led to conflict and cooperation within and among nations and international organizations (e.g., Role of International Monetary Fund austerity policy in Jamaica, 2003 invasion of Iraq, Annexation of Crimea, African Union, Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, International Group of Seven).

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.12.9-12Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.
D2.Eco.1.9-12Analyze how incentives influence choices that may result in policies with a range of costs and benefits for different groups.
D2.Eco.15.9-12Explain how current globalization trends and policies affect economic growth, labor markets, rights of citizens, the environment, and resource and income distribution in different nations.
D2.Eco.3.9-12Analyze the ways in which incentives influence what is produced and distributed in a market system.
D2.Eco.4.9-12Evaluate the extent to which competition among sellers and among buyers exists in specific markets.
D2.Eco.7.9-12Use benefits and costs to evaluate the effectiveness of government policies to improve market outcomes.
D2.Geo.12.9-12Evaluate the consequences of human-made and natural catastrophes on global trade, politics, and human migration.

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