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Bitcoin Mining in China Threatens Climate Goals, Study Says

Provided by: CNBC |Published on: April 27, 2021

Articles/Websites Grades 6-8, 9-12

Synopsis

In this article, students will learn about cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and the huge amount of energy required to verify cryptocurrency transactions worldwide.
The article also discusses the vast amount of energy that China's cryptocurrency "mining" operations use and the actions China is taking to address this issue.

Subjects: Physics, Economics

Authors: Sustainable Future, Sam Shead

Region: Asia

Languages: English

Positives

This article highlights the unintentional side effects of technological innovations that require significantly more energy or resources.

Additional Prerequisites

The article is easy to follow and includes hyperlinks to provide additional information.

Differentiation

This resource could be incorporated into science classes discussing climate change, energy consumption, or technological innovation.
Economics classes could use this resource when learning about unintended consequences of economic decisions and the globalization of economies.
Civics classes could research and propose policies or regulations to reduce the climate impact of cryptocurrencies.
Advanced students could read the scientific report that the article is based on (hyperlinked in the first sentence). Students could assess how accurately the article represents the true findings.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.