A Hot Topic: Global Warming -

The Kyoto Protocol

A WebQuest

by

Mrs. Debbie Scheinberg

Cherokee High School South, Marlton, NJ

2002 went on record as the warmest year-this for the third straight year. We have had severe droughts in the North Eastern United States, record flooding in Europe, sea levels are rising, and we have seen the melting of glaciers and the Antarctic ice sheets. There is scientific evidence of wildlife migration directed by shifting climate regions. Many scientists agree that there will be persistent changes in the world climate due to an increase in carbon dioxide concentrations and other 'greenhouse gases' in the atmosphere. Are the climatic models correct? The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro expressed concern about the effects of climatic changes. At the Kyoto Climate Summit in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was to become the first legally binding international treaty to commit the principal countries to the first legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Although Al Gore, then Vice President, signed the treaty, George W. Bush rejected the treaty and it was rejected by the United States Senate.  President Bush contends that some of the articles of the treaty are unfair and would cause an undue strain on the U.S. Economy. He has developed a strategy for lowering emissions and getting a cleaner environment.  Other nations of the world point a finger at the United States, which has a dubious position of being the largest consumer of resources and CO₂ producer in the world.  

With the convening of a new crop of U.S. legislators for 2003, there has been a call to review our participation in the Kyoto Protocol. In light of this controversy, the Congress of the United States is conducting hearings on the issue of Global Warming.  You have been invited to speak at the convening of the "Congressional Hearings on the Global Warming Issue, and the Kyoto Protocol" to be held in Washington.  You will represent one of the following interests on this issue and make recommendations to the committee along with your team members who represent the other interests on the list. Remember, look at the issue from the point of view of one of the following experts.  Use a PowerPoint presentation to convince Congress that they should or should not support the international treaty to reduce greenhouse gases called the Kyoto Protocol. 

• -Is the earth in fact heating up?  If so  how is it affecting our weather patterns?  Is global warming affecting the worlds oceans?  What problems might this cause?
• - Do emissions from the burning of fossil fuels contribute to global warming? What alternative energy sources can we use?
• - Do emissions from cars and trucks affect global warming?
• - Are climate changes affecting food production?  How?

• Use the internet resources provided in the resources page or some of your own searches to complete this project. Be sure to read information from all categories in your group and answer the questions so that you are sure to get all sides of the issue before you take your own stand.   

• You are required to complete a bibliography for the internet sources you use.

• Use Microsoft PowerPoint to create a slide show (6 slides per person not including title page) outlining your argument regarding whether or not international mandates to reduce greenhouse gases are necessary and how they will effect the industry or interest group that you represent.   Be prepared to defend your position and answer questions from the "Congressional Committee."

• Read each web site, record the Internet URL address, and take accurate notes.
• Make a sheet of talking points that will help you during the "hearing" phase of the project when your team will be asked questions.
• Coordinate the making of the PowerPoint with your team members
• Copy your PowerPoint work to the H-drive or floppy disk

• Quality Indicators	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
  Research Process Completion of questions in fact finding section, note taking,  bibliography, organization of notes, accuracy of information using specific examples and details.) 40	Relevant, accurate, and thorough information using several examples and details from sources. 40	Relevant and accurate information using some example and details from text. 30	Relevant and accurate information BUT no examples or details from text. 20	Irrelevant and inaccurate information with no example or details from text. 10
  Content of Slide Show Presentation (clear statement of position, support details and examples from their research process.) 30	Presenter establishes a clear position and insightful connections to the pros and cons of their decision.   30	Presenter establishes a position and makes a connection to the pros and cons of their decision. 20	Presenter establishes a position, but only writes about either the pros or cons of their position. 10	Presenter does not establish a position AND does not discuss pros or cons. 5
  Organization (complete sentences, intro, supporting and concluding fact, logical order and unity. 20	Maintains the focus of their position, shows logical and unified structure through the good use of factual information. 20	Maintains the focus of their position, shows some logical and unified structure but does not make good use of factual information. 15	Maintains the focus of their position, BUT does have logical or unified structure and make little use factual information. 10	Does not maintain a focus of their position, AND does not have logical and unified structure throughout piece 5
  Conventions (spelling, punctuation, paragraphing, capitalization, grammar, and usage) 10	There are no grammatical errors and no spelling errors. 10	There are few grammatical errors, but meaning is still clear OR there are a few spelling errors, but they do not make understanding the presentation confusing or difficult. 8	There are a few grammatical errors, but meaning is still clear AND there are a few spelling errors, but they do not make understanding the presentation confusing or difficult. 6	There are numerous grammatical errors, which make the piece difficult to understand AND/OR there are numerous spelling errors, which make understanding the presentation confusing or difficult. 4

If we, as a nation, want to take the lead in the world to help protect the planet, we must first understand the issues and the stakes involved in our decisions and policies. We must open a dialogue with all sectors of society that would be affected by new laws and treaties. You have taken a big step to grasp the issues and concerns with global warming.  

EPA Global Warming Site

Global Warming Information Page

NOAA Global Warming

CNN Evidence of Global Warming

CNN Antarctic Ice Sheets

CNN Impacts of Global Warming

CNN Ice Bore Holes

CNN Global Warming Warnings

The Harmful Effects of Global Warming

The Warming of the Earth

Companies Take The Lead on Global Warming

ENN Special Report On Climate change

Global Warming Information Fact sheet

Issues and Controversies: Global Warming

Center for Technologies

CO2 Science Magazine

Health Issues Monthly: Global Warming

Global Warming and the Arctic

Blair Issues Global Warming Warning

Union of Concerned Scientists

Goddard Space Studies: Global Warming

Water World?  Warnings from the ice

Envirolink

Climate Change Information Kit

Business Responds to Climate Change 

World Wildlife Federation: Go For Kyoto Campaign

Global Warming Worsening

The Kyoto Protocol

Is Global Warming Harmful to health?

Science and Technology Sources on the Internet

Kyoto Protocol-US Drops Out

Kyoto and Canada

Effects of Global Warming

Discovery Channel: Effects of Global Warming on Living Things

Scientists Warn of Climate Devastation

Conflicts over global warming theory

Nuclear Industry Web Page

Alternative Energy Site

Friends of the Earth Page

Global Warming and Agriculture

Agriculture VS Global Warming

Impact of global warming on U.S. agriculture larger and more negative than expected

Global Warming and Extreme Weather on Agriculture

CREDITS

Credits:  Based on the WebQuest: Global Warming: A Problem Solving WebQuest Earth Science by Mrs. Ann Hayes and Mr. LaSalvia, 2000. New Lebanon Central School District.  West Lebanon, NY 12195-0039.

http://www.newlebanonsd.k12.ny.us/gwwebquest.htm

This page last updated January 8, 2003