Free (mostly) Resources for an Introduction to Climate Change Science:

Causes, Effects and Solutions with a Health Emphasis

There is an urgent need for a pro-active response to the climate change crisis.

Figure 8.1, Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health - Injury Prevention and Environmental Health - NCBI BookshelfAn understanding of the causes, effects and mitigation methods of climate change is essential if we hope to minimize the damage that will be caused by rising sea levels, wild fires, floods, drought and excessive heat episodes each with accompanying serious health effects.  The probability of severe consequences predicted by science has been increasing as our understanding of climate change has increased.  According to climatologists, there is about a 98% chance that many people, animals and the environment will experience a significant degree of suffering.  The extent of the suffering depends on how quickly and appropriately we respond to this real and huge existential threat.

Climate change is already impacting both personal and societal health.  If we continue with our current dependence on fossil fuels, the negative outcomes will continue to increase in severity until we recognize and respond to the crisis.  Unfortunately, unlike most crisis, the fixes occur slowly and it will take decades before the results of our responses are noticeable.  It is our responsibility to protect the quality of life for our youth and their children by doing the right thing starting immediately. 

A collection of printed materials, videos and PowerPoint presentations is included below that cover the causes, effects and mitigation methods of climate change.  Most of these materials are free.  The two outlines below are organized according to different principles.  The first contains selections from the longer second list that are suggested for a 3 - 5 hour module.  They are divided into two categories:  reading materials and videos.  Every individual will undoubtedly have preferences that are better suited to their teaching styles and the second list contains a somewhat more extensive list of materials.  In this case, the materials are categorized into introductory materials, causes, effects, health effects and mitigation methods for climate change.  Within each category, the materials are classed by presentation type.  If you are aware of additional useful resources, we will be glad to add them to the list.  If you find some of the materials to not be at the appropriate level, please tell us about this and it is possible we will remove them from the list.

These materials have been selected with a one week or so (3 to 5 hours of class time) period of study in mind but the materials could also be integrated into various topics throughout a health course.  At Modesto Junior College, HE110 is taken by a significant number of MJC students.  Since climate change impacts both personal and societal health in substantial ways, we hope that by providing an awareness of not just the causes and effects of climate change but also mitigation methods, more members of society will want to join the urgent efforts to decrease its negative impacts.

 

Suggestions for a climate module of about 3 to 5 hours.

The subjective suggestions immediately below were taken from the extensive list of free materials available on the Internet.  The module suggestions and the list are provided to save time but it is undoubtedly true that some instructors will find other sites to also be educationally beneficial.  Some of these might be included in the second list.  Please send any suggestions for such sites to murovs@yosemite.edu .  The suggestions are divided into reading material and videos with very approximate estimates of student time needed to read the materials or watch the videos.  Within the reading materials and videos, the suggestions are arranged according to introductory material, causes, effects, health effects and mitigation approaches to climate change.  Please notice that there are some notes that qualify some of the suggestions. 

An alternative approach is to develop and present your own materials.  The second outline provides a larger selection of materials.  Noah Hughes has many excellent climate related presentations available on Canvas.  Also, four sets of PowerPoint slides covering some aspects of introductory material, causes, effects and health effects are included among the links.

 

    I.  Reading materials    (Estimated reading time is 5 hours.  If this is too much for out of class time, some materials can be eliminated).  

        A.  Introductory materials

            (1- 2 hour reading time) Free downloadable 28 page summary but science is mildly compromised (the discussion of the greenhouse gases could have been improved)
           Climate Change & Global Warming: The Ultimate Guide | Goodside (joingoodside.com) -
           https://www.joingoodside.com/guides/climate-change-education?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eeuJQwmyKnW0DWET63CB47xvoENcxv7C-ei8Q281bFaF3qAK7bIV-1waAqWbEALw_wcB

     B.   Causes   

            1.  (15 minutes reading time) Causes | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet (nasa.gov) - https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/        

    C.  Effects

           1.  (10 minutes reading time) https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

       D.  Health Effects

          1.  (1- 2 hour reading time) https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/climate-change-in-SJValley.pdf

          2.  (1 hour reading time) https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm

      E.  Mitigation methods (solutions)

          1.  (30 minutes reading time) Seven solutions to climate change that need to happen now - Positive News -
               https://www.positive.news/environment/solutions-to-climate-change/ 

      F.  Workbook for high school and college students and information about climate science -
            http://scifun.org/ClimateWorkbook/home.html

     II.  Videos  (estimated watching time is 78 minutes unless longer Hayhoe video is used instead of short one. 
        Even with the longer video, the time should not exceed 3 hours).

        A.  Introductory materials

            1.  a.  (17 minutes watching time) Katharine Hayhoe: The most important thing you can do to fight climate change:
                talk about it | TED Talk - It is possible that some might perceive that religion or politics are included in this video but climate change and the method Hayhoe uses are not religious or political.  Although some have politicized climate change, the issues addressed in this video are totally in the field of science.
      https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_hayhoe_the_most_important_thing_you_can_do_to_fight_climate_change_talk_about_it?language=en

                b.  Alternatively there is also a 1.25 hour version available

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWO2fbsEyvg

                c.  Supriya Patel (Sacremento High School student 12 minute video
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak_SmZY5IBo

        2.   (10 to 20 minutes watching time depending on video selections.  There are several short videos in this collection. 

                    Consider selecting some based on your evaluation of the videos -
               https://www.udemy.com/course/extreme-weather-101/

     B.   Causes   

         1.   (see A -2) Extreme Weather 101 free on the Internet but registration required. 
              There are several short videos in this collection. 
                    Consider selecting some based on your evaluation of the videos -
               https://www.udemy.com/course/extreme-weather-101/

       C.  Effects

           1.   (3 minute watching time)  Water table effect.  Short video recorded by Richard Anderson and Bill Anelli
                on the water table in the Calif. Central Valley. 
                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3td9f-DFrA

       D.  Health Effects    

         1.  (20 minute watching time) This TED talk focuses on the Midwest of the U.S. but should be informative for everyone. 
         https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_patz_climate_change_is_affecting_our_health_is_there_a_cure

     2.   (5 minute watching time)Asthma video on MJC campus recorded by Richard Anderson of
               MJC Institute Day Speaker, Gina Solomon (Jan. 2020)
                https://youtu.be/8tIYVLNgmEk

      E.  Mitigation methods (solutions)

         1.   (17 minute watching time)
                     https://www.ted.com/talks/chad_frischmann_100_solutions_to_reverse_global_warming?language=en

 

        

Table of Contents

I.  Introduction and Summaries   

     A. Reading Materials

     B.  Videos

II. CAUSES

     A. Reading Materials

     B.  Videos

     C.  Slides

III.  General Effects

     A.  Reading Materials

     B. Videos

     C. Slides

IV.  Health Effects

     A. Reading Materials

     B. Videos

     C. Slides

V.  Mitigation Methods (Solutions)

     A. Reading Materials

     B.  Videos

     C.  Slides

************************************************************************************************

I.  Introduction and Summaries   

     A.  Reading Materials

           1.  Free downloadable 28 page summary but science is mildly compromised

        Climate Change & Global Warming: The Ultimate Guide | Goodside (joingoodside.com)  or 

https://www.joingoodside.com/guides/climate-change-education?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-
                     ARIsAMZ0eeuJQwmyKnW0DWET63CB47xvoENcxv7C-ei8Q281bFaF3qAK7bIV-1waAqWbEALw_wcB

                 2.   
                    Scroll down to image and click on Evidence, Causes,
                     Effects or Solutions at https://climate.nasa.gov/ or click on:

                       https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/       https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/      
                        https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/       https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/

                 3.  Search Canvas Commons using “Noah Hughes” to get access to pre-made Canvas modules, many of which  

                               (including lecture slides about the science behind climate change.

                 4.     Downloadable textbook that covers the subject but appropriate for a 2 or 3 unit course

                        Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions (escholarship.org)  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6kr8p5rq

                  5.  For a book (2 hour reading time) with case studies about climate change, please consider:

                       Humans of Climate Change: A Cultural Journey to Explore Climate-Change Impacts, Solutions,
                       and Hope by Kaden Hogan,

                       ASIN‏: ‎ B09BB8DLWP  Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2021  185 pages, paperback $7.99

              6.  Workbook for high school and college students and information about climate science -
                         http://scifun.org/ClimateWorkbook/home.html

   

     B.  Videos

        1.  Katharine Hayhoe
             a. This 1.25 hour talk was zoomed live on 9/10/21 by the Renaissance Society at CSUSacramento.  
                    The presentation is worth the time and everyone should watch this video.  
                     Particularly disturbing are her graphs on the political divide.   

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWO2fbsEyvg

               b.  For a 3 year old short version of the above talk (17 minutes), go to:

                    Katharine Hayhoe: The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it | TED Talk 

https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_hayhoe_the_most_important_thing_you_can_do_to_fight_climate_change_talk_about_it?language=en  

                c.  Supriya Patel (Sacremento High School student 12 minute video
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak_SmZY5IBo  

             2.   Extreme Weather 101 free on the Internet but registration required
https://www.udemy.com/course/extreme-weather-101/  

     C.  Slides

                 PowerPoint  -   http://murov.info/climintro.pptx  or  http://murov.info/climintro/climintro.html 

                Images with explanations:   https://explainingclimatechange.ca/

II. CAUSES

     A. Reading Materials

        1. NASA    https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/ 

        2.  For a basic and understandable book (2 hour reading time) on the science of climate change that is
            especially appropriate fot instructors teaching

             an introduction to climate change, please consider:

             This Is Climate Change: A Visual Guide to the Facts―See for Yourself How the Planet Is Warming
              and What It Means for Us,

                 David  Nelles and Christian Serrer | Sep 14, 2021, Hardcover, $14.95, 128 pages,
                ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1615198261, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615198269

     B.  Videos

       1.  Extreme Weather 101 free on the Internet but registration required 

https://www.udemy.com/course/extreme-weather-101/  

     C.  Slides

          PowerPoint  - http://murov.info/climcauses.pptx  or   http://murov.info/climcauses/climcauses.html

 

III.  General Effects

     A.  Reading Materials

              1.  NASA    https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/     https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/  

              2.   California

                a.  http://climate.calcommons.org/article/central-valley-change

                b.  https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/climate-change-in-SJValley.pdf

               c.  https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-003_SanJoaquinValley_Preview_ADA.pdf

     B. Videos

                 Water table effect.  Short video recorded by Richard Anderson and Bill Anelli
                   on the water table in the Calif. Central Valley.   
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3td9f-DFrA

     C. Slides

        PowerPoint  -  http://murov.info/climeffects.pptx  or  http://murov.info/climeffects/climeffects.html

IV.  Health Effects

     A.  Reading Materials

       1.   a.  https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/14/

             b.  https://www.globalchange.gov/browse/educators

              c.  https://unccelearn.org/course/view.php?id=127&page=overview

        2.  California (especially Central Valley)

                    a.  https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/climate-change-in-SJValley.pdf

            b.  https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm

             c.  https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/Southwest.htm

     B. Videos

           1.  https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_patz_climate_change_is_affecting_our_health_is_there_a_cure

          2.   Short asthma video on MJC campus recorded by Richard Anderson of MJC Institute Day Speaker, Gina Solomon
                    https://youtu.be/8tIYVLNgmEk

     C. Slides

       PowerPoint  - http://murov.info/climeffectshealth.pptx  or  http://murov.info/climeffectshealth/climeffectshealth.html

V.  Mitigation Methods (Solutions)

     A. Reading Materials

1.   https://www.greenamerica.org/climate-change-100-reasons-hope/top-10-solutions-reverse-climate-change
 
2.   https://www.positive.news/environment/solutions-to-climate-change/

           3.  https://www.ucsusa.org/climate/solutions

          4.  https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/

        

     B.  Videos

                 https://www.ted.com/talks/chad_frischmann_100_solutions_to_reverse_global_warming?language=en

     C.  Slides

 

****************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

VI.  New Texts (not free).  The first two are short and can be read in 1 or 2 hours.  The science in the first one appears to be accurate.  The second one contains case studies.  The third, Hayhoe's book, is excellent especially for learning how to have an impact when educating people about climate change.  I have not read or looked at the last three.

a.     This Is Climate Change: A Visual Guide to the Facts―See for Yourself How the Planet Is Warming and What It Means for Us, David  Nelles and Christian Serrer | Sep 14, 2021, Hardcover, $14.95, 128 pages, ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1615198261, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615198269

b.     Humans of Climate Change: A Cultural Journey to Explore Climate-Change Impacts, Solutions, and Hope by Kaden Hogan, ASIN‏: ‎       B09BB8DLWP  Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2021  185 pages, paperback $7.99

c.    Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World

by Katharine Hayhoe | Sep 21, 2021

d.   All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, Paperback – July 20, 2021 by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (Editor),  Katharine K. Wilkinson (Editor), Publisher ‏ : ‎ One World (July 20, 2021) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages, ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593237080, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593237083, paperback $15.19

e.     Carbon Choices: Common-sense Solutions to our Climate and Nature Crises

  by Neil Kitching | Sep 23, 2020, Paperback, $13.99, 322 pages, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8687505741

f.     Global Warming: CAUSE EFFECT MITIGATION, by Edvard Julius Solnes | Jan 8, 2020, $35.95, 253 pages

 ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1657555224, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1657555228, kindle $7.95

 

 

 VII.  Miseclleneous

      A.  Directory of climate change resources -  http://murov.info/climatechange.htm

     

    B.  Climate change introductions http://murov.info/climatechangeprimer.htm
  http://murov.info/climatechangecriticality.pdf
 

    C.   documentaries from places like PBS    

           https://mashable.com/article/best-climate-change-documentaries

      D.  A climate Change tool Kit.

            https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1033&context=pdxopen

 

Site posted by Steven Murov ( http://murov.info , http://murov.info/resume.htm )  For suggestions and comments, murovs@yosemite.edu , last changes, 11/11/21

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