Current Energy Landscape
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Provided by: Stanford Understand Energy|Published on: August 15, 2024
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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 resource includes several graphs, charts, and infographics depicting energy use globally and in the United States and how energy systems impact the atmosphere and climate change.
- Students will learn how much energy comes from clean sources, how emissions reductions and carbon sinks need to work together to fight climate change, and how the United States energy system compares to that of the world.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Stanford Understand Energy
Region: United States
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The interactive quality of some of the graphs makes them easy to engage with.
- Many students may find the bathtub model helpful in understanding the effect of emissions in the atmosphere with varying residence times.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand the greenhouse effect and the basics of the carbon cycle.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To learn more about energy and its relation to climate change, students can check out the Energy Basics lecture and additional resources.
- Students in math and statistics classes can interpret the many graphs to analyze the text.
- After looking at the data, students can view data art, like this example from Jill Pelto Gallery, for inspiration to create similar data art with these graphs and charts.
This resource provides an introduction to energy systems as well as data on both worldwide and US energy use. The figures are clear, and all sources are cited. Climate change is not directly addressed, but the data presented could provide a baseline for discussion about increasing sustainable energy production to mitigate climate change. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Stanford Understand Energy
Stanford University’s Understand Energy Learning Hub provides free access to Stanford course content on energy resources from fossil fuels like oil and coal to renewable resources like the wind, the sun, and efficiency; energy currencies like electricity and hydrogen; and energy services such as transportation and buildings. Explore the Hub and build your energy literacy to address climate change and sustainability issues, engage on equity and human development challenges, participate in energy industry markets and technology innovations, and make informed energy decisions.
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 →
