Upon starting the Sustainable Development module I was unaware of the environment around me. Whenever I heard the word “environment” in school I assumed negative connotations followed it so immediately switched off. The first two inputs and directed study tasks from this module has encouraged me to take an interest and learn as a student as well as a teacher the impact which we have on the environment and how we can reduce global problems.
From the clip “Antarctica on the Edge” I discovered that the changes taking place in Antarctica because of global warming has an impact on the rest of the world. As Antarctica’s ice melts we are seeing global sea levels rise and unpredictable weather worldwide. This causes problems for people who live in countries which are low lying and live on the coast. In 2010 an enormous chunk of a glacier at Antarctica broke off. This changed the flow of ice and opened large areas of ocean floor. Scientists discovered that sea water is warmer than expected and there is unusual evidence of melt, by the end of the century Antarctica will contribute to more than an metre of global sea rise. This provides evidence that global warming is occurring and can have a huge impact on people around the world.
My Footprint
My Carbon Footprint is extremely high, 158%. The biggest contribution to my footprint is travel as I commute by car which releases harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere. To help reduce this I could walk or cycle to work as I only work five minutes away from my home. When commuting to university me and two other friends car-pool together which not only saves money but it reduces emissions which are causing climate change. Every year wasted and left over food in the UK represents a huge amount of carbon dioxide emissions. A tip to reduce this is only buy what you need and portion control meals so there isn’t any left over and if there are left overs making the most of your local recycling options. For example, in my local area we have food waste bins so ensuring any food waste gets put into these bins and not just the general bin can help reduce my footprint. Another way to reduce my carbon footprint is making my home more efficient. Wasting less energy by using energy saving lightbulbs, as well as remembering to turn off lights and electrical appliances instead of leaving them on or on standby. Also ensuring every window in my house is double glazed, this will help reduce heat loss in the winter.
From these activities and further reading, I am aware of the importance of teaching climate change and both the positive and mainly negative impacts which our actions can have on the world. As student teachers it is important to understand the importance and encourage the teachings about the difference younger people could make to the environment and take an interest in how they can have an impact on their own future.
