Adaptation and Mitigation
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by: PBS Wisconsin Education|Published on: October 10, 2023
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
6-AP
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This short video and the article that follows both define and give examples of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures specific to Wisconsin's landscape and economy.
- The video describes how individual climate mitigation actions can be helpful, but action at every level such as individual, business, community, state, country, and global is necessary to combat climate change.
- The article below the video describes more examples of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in more general terms, not as specific to Wisconsin.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: PBS Wisconsin Education
Region: North America, USA - Midwest, United States, Wisconsin
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video uses fun, cartoonish graphics to demonstrate adaptation and mitigation measures and may inspire students to create their own art related to the topic.
- The examples of climate change consequences effectively describe economic reasons climate change is harmful for Wisconsin, which may be an important angle to garner attention from certain stakeholders.
- The article and links provide additional context describing the need for large-scale action to combat climate change and the need for adaptation measures because of the continuing effects of global warming.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the link between fossil fuel use for energy and climate change.
- Students should be familiar with some basic agricultural and environmental concepts such as growing seasons, pest management, and flood prevention.
Differentiation
- A graphic organizer in which students separate mitigation and adaptation strategies into two different columns may help them understand the different types of climate actions.
- As an extension activity, consider having students engage in a debate where they argue whether individual or governmental actions are necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change.
- Have students discover adaptation strategies in place in their community by interviewing local farmers, city planners, or landscapers.
This resource provided by PBS Wisconsin provides a ~2.5-minute long video that discusses how climate change will impact various aspects of our lives, and our responses fall into two categories: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions through measures like regulations and individual actions to slow down climate change. Adaptation involves preparing for and responding to climate change impacts like flooding and heat waves by implementing strategies such as updating infrastructure and conserving natural resources. Both mitigation and adaptation are essential for building resilience in the face of climate change, as even with aggressive mitigation, some changes are already inevitable due to the existing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This resource would be a great addition to a classroom discussion on the responses to climate change.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
