Hello, my name is Mr. March, and I'm here today to teach you all about climate change in China.

So grab everything that you need for today's lesson and let's get going.

So by the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain why some people and countries contribute more to climate change than others, and describe some ways in which China is acting to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

We have four key terms for today's lesson, and those are climate change, greenhouse gases, renewable energy, and hydropower.

Climate change refers to a large scale and long-term change in the planet's climate, including weather patterns and average temperatures.

Greenhouse gases refers to those gases in earth's atmosphere that trap heat.

Renewable energy refers to sources of energy that can be reused and will not be used up or run out.

And finally, hydropower refers to energy that comes from moving water, such as fast flowing rivers, waterfalls, and waves at sea.

We have two learning cycles for today's lesson, and we're gonna start with the first learning cycle, which is how much does China contribute to climate change? So the issue of who is responsible for climate change is a real thorny issue.

And as Izzy and Sam are having a discussion about this too, Sam says everyone is equally responsible for climate change.

Izzy, on the other hand, says, I think that some people are contributing to climate change more than others.

Now look at the question here.

It says, who do you agree with, Sam or Izzy? And why? What I'd like you to do maybe is pause the video here whilst you consider your own answer to that question, or even better, perhaps have a discussion with someone near you.

Now without doubt, it is human activity, which is increasing the amounts of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere.

And this is causing the earth to get hotter and for our climate to change as a result.

Now, greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are happening globally all around the world, but some places and people are contributing more to climate change than others.

Now, one way that we can measure a person or a country or an industry's contribution towards climate change is through something called a carbon footprint.

It is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases, something or someone releases into the atmosphere.

Carbon footprints then can be calculated for people, products, activities, and even whole countries.

And carbon footprints are usually measured in tonnes.

For example, one tonne of greenhouse gases is roughly equal to a 500 metre cube hot air balloon, as Aisha correctly says.

So a quick learning check, it says, what is a carbon footprint? And you need to select just one answer.

So what I'd like you to do then is pause the video here whilst you read through those three options, and then you consider and select your answer.

And the correct answer was C, measure of the amount of greenhouse gases something releases into the atmosphere.

Really, really well done if you're able to get the correct answer.

So with this carbon footprint then, we can then compare countries according to that total carbon footprint.

And we've got that displayed on a map in front of you.

Now, the map comes from 2023.

It is a map which is showing the amount of greenhouse gases different countries emitted in 2023.

The darker the shade of red, the higher the emissions.

So if we just really try and break down this map for a moment, we can see that China emits more greenhouse gases than any other country in the world.

It is the main polluter or the main emitter of greenhouse gases.

If we compare that with other regions around the world, we can see that there is a difference and some countries have less contribution in terms of their carbon footprint towards climate change than others.

For example, many many countries within the continent of Africa seem to have a very light shade of red, thereby indicating a very small carbon footprint.

So we can see when we look at this map that whilst some countries have a higher contribution such as China, other countries have a much lower contribution.

So what might be a problem though in comparing countries in this way? As Sam says, the size of a country's population will undoubtedly affect its total carbon footprint.

Some countries have a much larger population than others.

Meanwhile, Izzy says, some of the country's emissions will be from making things that are used by people in other countries.

A lot of the things we buy in the UK are actually made in other parts of the world, and both Sam and Izzy are absolutely correct.

What we know about China, for example, is that it is a very populous country.

1.

4 billion people live there as of 2025.

Also, a lot of the products that we consume and buy here in the UK, and more generally in the Western world, are made where? In China.

So is it therefore reliable to be saying that China has a very large carbon footprint when actually, most of the products that they make for us are made there? Finally, Lucas says that some countries might have emitted more greenhouse gases in the past than others.

And again, if we look back to the UK's Industrial Revolution beginning in the late 1700s and 1800s, well, he's absolutely right.

Historically, the UK has been responsible for an enormous amount of greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere.

So surely, the UK is also just as responsible for the climate change crisis that we're currently facing due to the release of greenhouse gases.

This is very debatable, and as you can see, Sam, Lucas and Izzy are all bringing their own different perspective to this debate.

Let's try and delve deep on Lucas's argument just a moment ago about historic greenhouse gases.

Because he's absolutely right.

Some countries have emitted more greenhouse gases in the past than other countries.

And the graph below does a great job in actually demonstrating that because it is showing the cumulative emissions of the UK and China.

If we look at the blue line, first of all, this is representing the United Kingdom.

And what do we notice? Well, we notice that the blue line begins earlier in history than China.

This is to do with the UK's earlier Industrial Revolution.

So the UK began releasing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases much, much earlier than China.

China's Industrial Revolution, as you can see from the graph in front of you, only began just after 1900.

That is when it began releasing significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

And whilst it's true now, you can see that China's has escalated rapidly.

Well, you can also see that if we follow the UK's line, you can see that has been doing it consistently through history for a longer period of time.

So the UK has burned fossil fuels for hundreds of years, and this has really helped it to grow its economy and wealth.

China has high emissions now, but this hasn't always been the case as the graph very nicely shows.

Now, many things are made in China and exported to other countries such as textiles, as you can see through the image in front of you.

All of these things then have their own carbon footprint.

What I'd like you to do then is perhaps have a look at the labels on the clothing you're wearing right now and find out what countries they were made in.

Remember, a piece of clothing which was made many, many, many miles away, will have a larger carbon footprint.

Remember, it has not only been manufactured and produced in another country, but it has then been transported to the UK where doubtless you bought it.

So therefore, it would maybe have had a larger carbon footprint than a piece of clothing which was made here locally in the UK.

So we can compare the average carbon footprint per person in different countries, and this is calculated by dividing the country's total carbon footprint by its total population.

So some countries have a much higher carbon footprint per person than others.

So my question to you is why do you think this is? What'd like you to do then is maybe pause the video here whilst you consider your own answer to that question, or perhaps even have a discussion with someone near you.

So time now for a learning check in.

It says, how is the average carbon footprint per person in a country calculated? Now you can see on the screen in front of you, I've given you that dividing line right there.

You need to try to remember the equation to try and work out the average carbon footprint per person.

So pause the video here whilst you attempt this learning check.

Best of luck.

And the correct answer was country's total carbon footprint divided by the country's total population.

So really, really well done if you're able to recall that piece of information.

Now, using that same equation, I wonder are you able now to try ordering these countries on the bar chart by the size of their carbon footprint per person? So on the left then you can see you've got five different countries, China, India, Malawi, United Kingdom, and United States.

On the right hand side in that graph, you can see you've got that average carbon footprint per person in tonnes.

Now what I'd like you to do is pause a video here whilst you have a go at trying to match the bar based on that carbon footprint per person to the country on the left.

Don't worry if you get it wrong, just have a look and see if you can guess which match with which.

So perhaps pause the video here whilst you attempt this little task, or even have a discussion with someone near you, perhaps even do it together.

So pause the video here whilst you have a go at this little task.

So what did you think? Well, let's start from lowest to highest, beginning with Malawi at 0.

1.

It's a country located in Africa.

and As we saw earlier on that map, typically, countries within the entire continent of Africa seem to have a much lower carbon footprint.

Next, we have India at 1.

8.

Next, we have China at 7.

2.

Next, we have the UK at 7.

2 as well.

And finally, the biggest, is the USA at 16.

5.

But remember, if we cast our minds back to an earlier slide, I showed you a map, didn't I? And it showed China as being the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

But when we use this equation, we find a different result, don't we? We find the USA as being the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, whilst China ranks much, much lower, and this is on account, of course, of its total population, the fact that it has 1.

4 billion people living there really brings down its average carbon or greenhouse gas emission per person.

Not only are there differences in carbon footprints between different countries, but there are also huge differences in carbon footprints among the population of a single country.

So having a look at the two images in front of you, how do you think the carbon footprints of the families living in these two respective homes in China might be different? You may like to pause the video here whilst you study those two photographs and consider your own answer, or perhaps even discuss it with someone near you.

The global population can be divided into different income groups, each of which is responsible for a share of the world's carbon footprint.

The diagram on the left is a breakdown in terms of percentage of the world's population based on their income from top to bottom in terms of wealth, from richest to poorest.

On the right hand side then, it corresponds with the amount of carbon in terms of their carbon footprint that they're responsible for.

So let's have a look at that right now.

So we can see that the richest 10% of people around the world are responsible for a incredible 50% of the world's carbon footprint.

So they're producing more than they are realistically supposed to be responsible for.

The middle 40% are responsible for 43% of a global carbon footprint, whilst the poorest 50% of the entire world's population are responsible for just 8% of the global carbon footprint.

So you can see how wealthier nations and wealthier people are more responsible for a higher carbon footprint than the poorer elements or the poorer countries around the world.

The richest 10% of the global population living countries all around the world, including China.

But as shown on this map, the average income per person is much higher in some countries than others.

And the average carbon footprint per person in these higher income countries is usually much larger as well.

What I'm trying to get across to you is that there is a definite relationship between income, wealth, and carbon footprint.

Typically, the higher your income, the bigger your carbon footprint because you are able to afford technology and different products which all carry their own carbon footprint.

So time now for a learning check in.

It says true or false, most people living in China will have the same size carbon footprint.

So what I need you to do right now then is pause the video whilst you consider and then select your answer.

And the correct answer was false.

Now, once again, I'd like you to pause the video whilst you consider as to why the statement is false.

And it's false because there will be huge differences in carbon footprint among China's population.

Perhaps some people are rich, perhaps some people are poor within the country of China.

And really, wealth is a big determining factor about how large someone's carbon footprint will be.

So really, really well done if you're able to get those two answers correct.

On now to our three practise questions for the first learning cycle.

And it says, some people are contributing to climate change more than others.

And you can see you've got a spectrum there from disagree all the way up to agree.

Now the first practise task says, place across on the line representing your opinion.

The second task says, state your opinion.

Do you agree, disagree, or partly agree with the statement? And the third and final task says you need to justify your opinion, and by giving reasons for why you think this.

So what I'd like you to do then right now is pause the video whilst you attempt these three practise tasks.

Best of luck.

And now, in terms of feedback, here is a possible answer.

It says, I agree with this statement.

Although everyone has a carbon footprint, some people have a much larger carbon footprint than others.

There are big differences between countries and within the same country.

People with a higher incomes or the highest incomes usually contribute far more to climate change than those with the lowest incomes.

So remember, this question was opinion based.

So you may have decided something slightly different to me.

Nevertheless, really, really well done for attempting this practise question and for including perhaps anything that I've written in front of you.

On now to our second and final learning cycle.

And this is all about how is China taking climate action? Tackling climate change needs a huge reduction in the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but where are those greenhouse gas emissions coming from? We've got a question on the screen here.

It says, what are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions? And I've given you six picture clues.

What you may like to do right now is pause the video whilst you study those six photographs and try to work out what the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions actually are.

So how did you get on then? These are the six main different sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

We've got energy production, burning coal, burning oil to produce different types of energy.

We have building and industry, we have agriculture for both pastoral and arable farming.

We have transport.

And finally, we have deforestation.

But it is energy production which is by far the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Countries around the world then are taking action in different ways to actually reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

And actions include using renewable energy sources.

So if one of the largest or the largest emitter of greenhouse gases is energy production, we therefore need to tackle how or where we get our energy.

And using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind and wave and tidal is a great clean way of being able to get our energy.

Second, we've got reducing transport emissions, perhaps by using electric vehicles.

And finally, increasing forest cover or through afforestation.

By planting trees, which is what afforestation refers to, this can really reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, because trees absorb carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide is one of those greenhouse gases.

A lot of action is being taken, but much, much more is needed to really combat climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

The chart below shows the different sources of the world's energy consumption.

And it's really, really interesting once we break it down.

Along the bottom, along the X-axis, then it's showing years going across, starting at 1965 all the way up to 2023.

along the Y1 axis, we can see then percentages all the way from 0 up to 100%.

And then finally, on the right hand side, we see the different types of energy sources such as oil, coal, gas, nuclear, and many, many different types of renewable energy.

So let's try and break this down.

Well, we can see that much of the world's energy is still produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

Look at oil for example.

We still get about 30% of our total energy from oil, something similar as well for coal, around 20 to 30%, likewise gas.

But what's really interesting is that over time, we can see that the percentage of energy that comes from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, wave, and other biofuels and other renewables, is slowly, slowly increasing through time.

China, like so many other countries around the world, is increasing its use of renewable energy.

The chart on the right hand side is really interesting.

It shows how China's use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity is changing and increasing over time.

Look at 1965.

Barely any of China's energy was created from renewable energy.

Yet fast forward to 2023, and we can see a huge variety, first of all, of different renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind, solar, and other renewables.

But what's most interesting is seeing that steep curve, that steep escalation in terms of the amount of electricity in China that is actually generated by those different renewable energy sources.

So hydropower, using water to create electricity, is one renewable energy source that China is really beginning to take advantage of.

Using hydropower, as we can see in the image in front of you, helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it can impact the environment and people in other ways.

So yes, whilst it doesn't release greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, it does unfortunately impact people and the environment in other ways.

For example, building dams may mean that people living nearby are forced to move somewhere else.

Yes, by building dams, it means that the area upstream from the river is flooded, which may cause people to move away from that area and destroy habitats for animals as well living there.

Thanks to China's economic might, China is building a solar great wall, which is designed to generate enough energy to power the entire city of Beijing.

Now remember, 22 million people live in Beijing as of 2025.

The wall is expected to be finished in 2030 and will be 400 kilometres long and five kilometres wide.

The satellite image we can see on the screen in front of you is part of the wall in Kubuqi desert in northwest and China.

Can you spot the solar panels? You may like to pause the video here whilst you study that satellite image and try your best to identify those solar panels.

It's time for a learning check, and it says, what is China's largest source of renewable energy? What you need to do then is pause the video here whilst you consider and then select your answer.

Best of luck.

And the correct answer was A, hydropower through the building of many, many dams along China's many, many rivers.

So really, really well done if you are able to get that answer correct.

Because transportation is such a large contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles are important in reducing those greenhouse gas emissions.

More than half of the electric vehicles on the world's roads are actually in China.

And China is the world's largest producer of electric vehicles.

So you can see through these two points how China's really taken a proactive approach to trying to reduce those greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by transportation.

But a lot of the electricity used to power electric vehicles still comes from burning fossil fuels, and manufacturing electric vehicles has other impacts on people and the environment, particularly with the production of the batteries which are used to power electric vehicles.

So another step that can be taken to try to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation is the use of public transport.

And this can really help reduce those emissions, as I said.

Cycleways, pavements, and bicycle rental are some of the ways in which cities in China are really trying to encourage this active transportation.

Furthermore, Shenzen in China was the first city in the world to make all of its public buses electric.

Another way China is taking climate action is by increasing forest cover, so by afforestation, through planting trees.

Forests are called carbon sinks as they store carbon.

This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

And carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.

So China again has taken a real proactive approach in the problem of climate change and its greenhouse gas emissions.

They feel that by planting trees through afforestation programmes, they're able to absorb the greenhouse gas emissions that they're responsible for, and thereby tackle the problem of climate change.

Billions of trees are being planted in China to increase forest cover.

In fact, one such programme is the great green wall of trees that will stretch almost 5,000 kilometres along the southern border of the Gobi Desert.

The country has a national tree-planting day each and every single year to encourage people to plant trees.

So once again, you can see how China is approaching this from a very top down approach using government policies, but also trying to educate its people about the benefits of planting trees in terms of its climate.

It's on now to our final practise task for the final learning cycle.

And it says to complete the poster on the following slide, to describe some of the ways in which China is reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For each example, try to explain how it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, as Jun says, you could even draw pictures to support your explanations.

And here is that poster.

And you can see you've got four different boxes.

And what you need to do is try to identify four different strategies that China is taking to try to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and thereby tackle climate change.

So what I'd like you to do right now is pause the video whilst you attempt this practise task.

Best of luck.

In terms of feedback then, here is an example of a partially completed poster.

Here is just one strategy which I identified, and it was increasing forest cover.

And it says, China is planting trees to increase forest cover.

Forest store carbon, and this reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Now, I'm sure you've got many other answers as well, different strategies that you've answered, but if you're able to include anything like what I've shown you right here, really, really well done.

Now, as Izzy says, tackling climate change needs action by countries and people all around the world.

Lots of action is being taken, but much, much more is needed.

And as Sam, she says, perhaps you could create a positive climate news board with examples of ways in which people are actually taking climate action.

It's time now for our learning summary.

And what do you need to know from today's lesson? Well, a carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases something releases into the atmosphere.

Some people and countries contribute more to climate change than others.

China is though taking action in different ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

And finally, tackling climate change needs a huge reduction in the world's greenhouse gases.

So really, really well done during today's lesson.

It was a pleasure teaching you.

And I will see you again on the next lesson.

Goodbye.