Climate change issues have become far more complex and better studied over the last few years. Making sense of how the causes and effects of climate change create a coherent framework can empower learners to engage in productive discourse and to ask deeper questions. Historical contexts, current approaches to mitigate climate change, and future demands are all a part of the ongoing research and efforts. This global, social justice issue will only become more pressing, and we need to support students in making informed decisions about their actions going forward. It is for this reason that we (a physics instructor and an energy consultant) have joined together to create a list of topics that all students should consider as they move through our educational programs.
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Climate targets generally refer to a plan to reduce annual additional emissions rates versus a pre-defined baseline. In many cases, climate targets are set at the country level; however, many states, jurisdictions, and even companies have set their own climate targets, while the European countries in the EU-27 have put forward climate targets and policies collectively.
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Here, we are showing the 100 year equivalency values, which are commonly used in the United States, as reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The 20 year equivalency values, GWP20, are higher for shorter-lived gases such as methane at 81–83 vs the GWP100 value of 27–30.
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2023
Author(s)
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