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The Basics of Climate Change and Carbon Footprints

An overview of the science and political context of climate change.

On this page:

  • Cultural and political landscape: A 20-minute video clip from Alice Vodden on the political and cultural landscape of the environmental movement,
  • Introduction to carbon footprints: A 11-minute video clip from Anni Sander on an introduction to climate change and carbon footprints,
  • Slides & Quiz: The slides from these two recordings as well as a short climate change quiz,
  • Further resources: A list of further resources including articles, guides, websites, blogs or video clips help build knowledge of the topic. Note these resources are external pages not moderated or managed by Cambridge Carbon Footprint.
Back to the Net Zero Now Resource Hub

The Cultural and Political Landscape of Climate Change

An Introduction to Carbon Footprints

Slides

Cultural and Political Context slides

Introduction to Carbon Footprints slides

Climate Change Quiz

Further resources

12 Important Moments in the History of Climate Action: In Photos
A concise overview of the history of the climate change movement

Carbon Footprint Calculator
A link to Cambridge Carbon Footprint’s calculator

Climate Basics: Your carbon footprint explained
A short video from BBC Reality Check

Explainer: How to read an IPCC report
A short article on interpreting reports produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Learn: Cambridge Carbon Footprint
CCF’s ‘Learn’ page with content on climate change, carbon footprints, case studies and more…

The Footprint Calculator Report
Analysis of data from WWF-UK’s environmental footprint calculator between Feb 2019 and Jun 2022

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The IPCC’s reports on climate change. Dense, highly technical text for those wanting to delve deeply into climate change research

The Sixth Carbon Budget
Report produced by The Climate Change Committee to provide ministers with advice on the volume of greenhouse gases the UK can emit during the period 2033-2037

UNFCCC – 25 years of effort and achievement
Timeline produced by United National Framework Convention on Climate Change 1988-2020

Back to the Net Zero Now Resource Hub

The Basics of Climate Change and Carbon Footprints

This session provides a broad overview of the context of climate change today. The session covers:

  • the cultural and political landscape and how climate change has been tackled internationally over the last few decades;
  • the basic science of climate change;
  • and an introduction to carbon footprints.
Note: there are no worksheets for this session.

The Cultural and Political Landscape of Climate Change

An Introduction to Carbon Footprints

Resources

Essential reading

ThemeTitleTypeTimeDetails
Net Zero NowNet Zero NowWebpage0:05:00What is Net Zero Now and what can you expect over the next couple of months.
Net Zero NowCourse outlineDocument0:10:00Find out more details of Net Zero Now and what we will cover in the different sessions.
Carbon FootprintsCambridge Climate Change CharterCalculator0:15:00Calculate your carbon footprint and find out about potential actions to reduce your personal emissions.
Carbon FootprintsClimate Basics: Your carbon footprint explainedVideo clip0:03:00A short explanation of how carbon footprints are calculated.
Political LandscapeThe Climate Emergency in CambridgeArticle0:10:00Find out more about the climate emergency declared by Cambridge City Council and what the local authority is doing.
Political Landscape12 Important Moments in the History of Climate Action: In PhotosArticle0:10:00A conscise overview of the history of the climate change movement.
Course toolQuick introduction to SlackDocument0:03:00A brief introduction to the Slack tool we will be using as part of this programme

 

Further reading

ThemeTitleTypeTimeDetails
Carbon FootprintsLearnArticles0:15:00More background information on carbon footprints and climate change.
Carbon FootprintsActArticles0:15:00More detailed information on the actions that you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.
Carbon FootprintsCarbon Footprint: Exploring the UK's contribution to climate changeReport1:00:00An examination of the UK's carbon footprint, and how it has changed between1990 and 2016.
Climate ChangePlastic pollution: how humans are turning the world to plasticVideo clip0:10:00Why plastic turned into a problem and what do we know about its dangers.
Climate ChangeWe asked scientists to help answer your most pressing climate questionsArticle0:10:00Expert answers in simple english to a range of climate questions.
Climate ChangeMet Office Climate GlossaryGlossary0:05:00A glossary of climate related terms.
Climate ChangeExplainer: how to read an IPCC reportArticle0:05:00An explainer on what an IPCC report is and how to understand it.
Climate ChangeIntergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeReport1:00:00The IPCC's reports on climate change. Dense, highly technical text for those wanting to delve very deeply into climate change research.
Climate ChangeCosting the EarthPodcast0:30:00BBC Radio programme exploring a range of environmental problems and solutions.
Climate ChangeNet Zero – The UK’s contribution to stopping global warmingReport1:00:00The Committee on Climate Change's report on how the UK can get to Net Zero.
Political LandscapeUnited Nations SDGsWebpage0:05:00An overview of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with links to further information and publications.
Political LandscapeWho is responsible for climate change?Video clip0:10:00Looks at which countries emit the most CO2 now and historically and explores who can and should take the lead in reducing emissions.
Political LandscapeWhat is the Paris AgreementArticle and Video0:10:00An explainer on what the Paris Climate Agreement is and why it's important.
Political LandscapeGlossary of Climate Change Acronyms and Terms, UNFCCCGlossary0:05:00A glossary of climate related terms courtesy of the United Nations Framework Convenetion on Climate Change.
Political LandscapeKey Milestones in the Evolution of International Climate PolicyTimeline0:10:00An interactive timeline of key milestones and achievements in international climate policy.

Slides

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