NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Eighty percent of all global trade travels by sea, and the ships carrying those goods account for 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Now, some shipping companies are taking a new tack as they try to navigate the industry to sustainability on the high seas.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who is Yann Jourdan?
- What was the maximum speed of the Grain de Sail 2?
- Where did the Grain de Sail 2 travel from?
- When (in how many years) will the quantity of goods transported decrease?
- How much cargo can the Grain de Sail 2 hold?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Do you think more cargo ships should travel using sail-powered energy? Explain. What other questions does this story raise about carbon emissions?
Media literacy: Who might you talk to to find out whether or not sail-powered cargo ships might become a standard way to transport cargo?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Watch the two videos on carbon emissions and discuss what stuck out to you the most with a partner, neighbor or family member. Talk to them about the story you watched above about the cargo ships. Which story did they relate to more? Why? If you could follow-up with someone from any of the stories, what questions would you ask them.
Keep in mind: Contact information for many non-profit organizations and individuals you see in news stories can be found online on their website's About pages, LinkedIn, etc. Do you know that many of these individuals and organizations would love to hear from young people with questions and concerns they have — perhaps you could ask them to Zoom with your class! You don't know until you ask!
Transcript: What Africa’s climate summit means for investment in the continent’s future
Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change, despite being responsible for just 2 to 3 percent of global carbon emissions and receiving only 3 percent of funding committed to climate mitigation and adaptation.
Transcript: Food waste is contributing to climate change. What’s being done about it?
This lesson was written by Payton Alfieri, a junior at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and intern with News Hour Classroom, with editing by News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.
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