International Climate Goals

Lesson Plans

Grades9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Civics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by OER Project

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What it is

In this OER Project: Climate lesson, students investigate the effectiveness of international climate goals by working with global emissions data, exploring policy case studies, and comparing the outcomes of agreements like the Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol, and Kyoto Protocol.
Activities, videos, and discussion prompts guide students in linking climate targets to practical actions, examining fairness in climate responsibility, and suggesting strategies for stronger international cooperation.
The lesson includes a document-based writing task that functions as an assessment for the entire unit, enabling students to draw on evidence from multiple lessons to construct and defend their arguments.
This is one of many lessons in the online Climate course by OER Project.

Teaching tips

Positives

The skill of breaking down goals into actionable steps is an important one that students can use in their daily lives.
This module provides a variety of resources to help students dig deep into their research.

Prerequisites

To access the Teacher Guide and other teaching materials, teachers will need to create a free account. The module itself can be accessed without an account.
Students should have a basic understanding of climate change.
Teachers will need to have students check the box below the video for it to pause for the Key Ideas.

Differentiation & Implementation

In this module, social studies and language arts teachers can collaborate, with students learning about and evaluating the policies and measures during social studies class time and covering the research and writing portion in their language arts classes.
Teachers may want to introduce the vocabulary listed in the teaching guide ahead of time, especially for English language learners.
This video may be useful in helping students evaluate effective practices for international collaboration to solve a problem.

From the scientist review

This resource introduces students to the history and challenges of international climate goals. Throughout, focus is placed on linking policy with sound climate science, and every major international climate agreement is discussed. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Civics
Other types: Articles/Websites, Videos, Data, Graphs, and Maps, Activity - Classroom, Worksheets
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: OER Project
Authors: OER Project: Climate
Published: July 24, 2025
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4 + 12 more

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.2Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.7Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Standards

MW.Civ.12.a.Analyze how individuals and groups advocate for economic, political, and social change in international contexts (e.g., legislation, courts, resistance, protest, boycott, conscious consumerism).
CG.Inq.3.b.Organize and prioritize evidence directly and substantively from multiple sources in order to develop or strengthen claims (e.g., detect inconsistencies).

Connecticut Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

HS-ESS3-2.Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
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)

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.11.9-12Evaluate multiple procedures for making governmental decisions at the local, state, national, and international levels in terms of the civic purposes achieved.
D2.Civ.12.9-12Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.
D2.Civ.13.9-12Evaluate public policies in terms of intended and unintended outcomes, and related consequences.