The Real Problem with Palm Oil
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Provided by: Our Changing Climate|Published on: April 27, 2021
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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 informative video from Our Changing Climate explores how palm oil production is linked to environmentally damaging practices such as clear-cutting rainforests and burning peatlands.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Economics
Authors: Our Changing Climate
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This informative video contains reliable sources, statistics, facts, and studies that show the pros and cons of the palm oil industry and the associated environmental costs.
- It is an interdisciplinary resource that offers a combination of economics, geography, science, and sustainability.
- The video not only highlights the issues but also provides suggestions for environment-friendly best practices for palm oil producers.
Prerequisites
- Students need to be familiar with the idea that certain commodities may have an associated environmental cost.
- The teacher may need to wait through a commercial to view the video on YouTube and can stop the video at 7:54, as the remainder of the video is an ad.
Differentiation & Implementation
- In addition to the environmental degradation discussed in science or biology classes, cross-curricular connections can be made to social studies and economics.
- Students can discuss how to minimize global consumption of palm oil and what best practices could be put in place for palm oil producers.
- Support Group: The teacher can pause the video after each chapter to help students understand the information and check their understanding.
- Students could explore this interactive map from Global Forest Watch showing real-time deforestation around the world.
- Students can discuss the connection between unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change. Teachers can pause the video after the burning segment to discuss the damage caused by releasing mass amounts of carbon dioxide.
This resource examines the environmental costs of the increasing global demand for palm oil. It utilizes reliable sources to explore the pros and cons of this industry. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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 →
