How Can We Respond to Climate Change?

Videos

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Rutgers Climate Institute

Open Resource

What it is

This video discusses the actions that can be taken to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and some possible actions to adapt to the effects of climate change.
The video highlights the need for mitigation and adaptation in the state of New Jersey and around the world.

Teaching tips

Positives

This video provides students with ideas about how they can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation.
It also identifies many nature-based and engineering solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Prerequisites

Students should have a basic understanding of the causes of climate change and should be familiar with terms such as climate change, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, mitigation, and adaptation.

Differentiation & Implementation

The video can be included in a choice board as an option for students to complete as an extension activity.
Students can use this interactive household energy resource along with this video to come up with daily actions that their families can take to reduce their individual emissions and ecological footprint on the environment.
This video can be used in conjunction with this course by Climate Science on adaptation and this other video about what's at stake in New Jersey.

From the scientist review

The video highlights the importance of climate adaptation and the mitigation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by adopting biodiversity conservation, tree planting (to sink CO2), transitioning to clean and renewable energy, etc. These solutions appear to be a concrete response to climate change and the resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
Format: YouTube Video
Language: English
Location: North America > United States > New Jersey
Provider: Rutgers Climate Institute
Authors: Rutgers Climate Institute
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-ESS3-3. + 13 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-ESS3-3.MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
HS-ETS1-1.HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
MS-ESS3-D.MS-ESS3-D. Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)
HS-ESS3-D.1.HS-ESS3-D.1. Though the magnitudes of human impacts are greater than they have ever been, so too are human abilities to model, predict, and manage current and future impacts. (HS-ESS3-5)

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
MS-ESS3-3.MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
MS-ESS3-D.MS-ESS3-D. Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)
HS-ESS3-D.1.HS-ESS3-D.1. Though the magnitudes of human impacts are greater than they have ever been, so too are human abilities to model, predict, and manage current and future impacts. (HS-ESS3-5)
HS-ETS1-1.HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.

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