Climatologists and scientists in general are in overwhelming agreement: the planet is heating and that heating is caused by greenhouse gas emissions as a direct result of human activity. There is widespread acceptance of the threat of the mounting climate crisis. According to a 2021 Yale study, 72% of American adults agree that global warming is happening, but only 35% discuss global warming at least occasionally. Today, the awareness is widespread, and with this kit, the Colorado State Library provides you with the tools needed to help make this necessary conversation easier to have, as well as ways that you can help protect the planet in your everyday actions.
The main purposes of the kit
This kit can be used for programming activities or can function as a interactive table exhibit for passive programming.
- To provide libraries and other cultural heritage institutions across the state of Colorado with tools to facilitate community dialog on the climate crisis.
- To provide educational resources containing the scientific facts of what is happening to the global climate, what the root causes are, and what present-day conditions are contributing to human-made global heating.
- To combat feelings of powerlessness and “doom and gloom thinking” by providing positive guidance for making changes for the good of the environment and the ways in which institutions and individuals can take action by working together toward practicable solutions.
Contents
- Clipboard
- Quick start guide
- Evaluation form
- Green Climate Crisis Kit binder
- Red Further Reading binder
- ‘Escape the Climate Crisis!’ escape room challenge in blue strongbox
- UV flashlight for escape room
- Timer for escape room
- Sample books
- All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katherine K. Wilkinson
- The Atlas of a Changing Climate by Brian Buma
- Can I Recycle This? by Jennifer Romer
- The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not Too Late
- The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions by Greta Thunberg
- Climate Change is Racist by Jeremy Williams
- Drawdown ed. by Paul Hawken
- A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet by Sarah Jaquette Ray
- Field Notes from a Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert
- Not for me, please! I choose to act green by Maria Godsey and Christoph J Kellner
- Our Planet by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey
- On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein
- The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution by Mary DeMocker
- Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future with 20 Projects by Joshua Sneideman and Erin Twamley
- The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
- Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use It by Jamie Margolin
- Metal stamp kit in black zip pouch
- Bubble bag containing macramé craft supplies and book
- Bubble bag containing art craft supplies
- Bubble bag containing cardstock/craft paper
- Solar Charger power bank charger
- Electricity Usage Monitor
- The Mindfulness Game cards in bubble bag
- ‘Global Warning’ board game
- Giveaways in bubble bag
Audience
This kit is intended for people of all ages, and has resources for library staff as well as patrons. It includes activities for:
Youth learning about the climate crisis
Younger people are the key audience for this kit as the burden of the climate crisis will undoubtedly be heaviest on our youngest generations and the generations to come. You will encounter age-appropriate information on the climate crisis and suggestions of how the youth of today and tomorrow can become leaders who make a difference in their own sphere of influence.
Adults learning about the climate crisis
This kit includes suggested readings that are intended to reflect the full scope of the climate problem. The activities and information in this binder will also give suggestions for making an impact as we go about our day-to-day lives.
Library staff
We’ve included materials to help library staff from all areas of the library to help bring climate education into the library and make your library a model organization in the fight for climate justice. The books included in this kit are intended to be browsed by kit users, and serve as recommendations for titles to include in public library collections and displays or other programming.
More Resources
Solutions
- Drawdown – Table of Solutions (also see the physical book included in the kit) https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/table-of-solutions
- United Nations Environment Programme – 10 ways you can help fight the climate crisis https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/10-ways-you-can-help-fight-climate-crisis
- Individual Solutions to Climate Change – The Years Project https://theyearsproject.com/latest/individual-solutions-to-climate-change
- 9 things you can do about climate change – Imperial College London https://www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/climate-action/
- United Nations – Start with these ten actions! – https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions
- What are the solutions to climate change? – Greenpeace https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/climate-change/solutions-climate-change/
- 10 Solutions for Climate Change – Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-solutions-for-climate-change/
- What You Can Do About Climate Change – United States Environmental Protection https://www.epa.gov/climate-change/what-you-can-do-about-climate-change
- Could new technology solve climate change? – London School of Economics https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/could-new-technology-solve-climate-change/
- Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
- Home Improvement – https://www.c2es.org/content/home-improvement/
- Reducing carbon footprint – https://www.c2es.org/category/climate-solutions/reducing-your-carbon-footprint/
Organizations
- A list of environmental groups in Colorado: https://www.environmentalgroups.us/colorado/
- https://350colorado.org/ – “The largest Colorado-based grassroots network focused on taking action to stop climate change.”
- https://www.sunrisemovement.org/ – “The Sunrise Movement is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. We’re building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people.”
- https://www.ran.org/ – “Rainforest Action Network preserves forests, protects the climate and upholds human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through frontline partnerships and strategic campaigns.”
- https://www.dosomething.org – “Young people have ignited a global movement to solve our climate crisis, and you can join them. Whether it’s marching, recycling, planting trees, or conserving water, we’ve got easy and actionable ways to Do Something for the environment. Join a campaign below to get started. Let’s Do This!”
- https://ourkidsclimate.org/ – “Our Kids’ Climate was started in 2015, by Swedish parent group Vara Barns Klimat to bring the perspective of concerned parents to the Paris Climate Summit.”
- https://juliesbicycle.com/ – “Julie’s Bicycle is a pioneering not-for-profit, mobilizing the arts and culture to take action on the climate and ecological crisis.”
- https://www.ienearth.org/ – “Established in 1990 within the United States, IEN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues (EJ). IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.”
- https://www.epa.gov/ – “The mission of [the United States Environmental Protection Agency] is to protect human health and the environment.“
- https://www.c40.org/ – “A global network of mayors taking urgent action to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone can thrive.”
- https://citizensclimatelobby.org/about-ccl/chapters/# – “Citizens’ Climate Lobby organizes by establishing local chapters in congressional districts. If you don’t live near a CCL chapter, we will connect you with other CCL volunteers in your state. Working as a team, in your chapter or in your state, you’ll experience the profound difference people can make by empowering and inspiring their elected representatives, local media, and community.”
- https://climatenetwork.org/ – “Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network of more than 1,900 civil society organisations in over 130 countries driving collective and sustainable action to fight the climate crisis and to achieve social and racial justice. CAN convenes and coordinates civil society at the UN climate talks and other international fora.”
- https://www.eldersclimateaction.org/ – “We are elders, including grandparents, great aunts and great uncles who care about the future for all children. As Elders Climate Action members, we are determined to do all we can to leave a sustainable planet for future generations.”
- https://www.foei.org/ – “Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 73 national member groups and millions of members and supporters around the world.”
- https://www.climatecardinals.org/ – “Climate Cardinals is an international youth-led nonprofit working to make the climate movement more accessible to those who don’t speak English. We aim to educate and empower a diverse coalition of people to tackle the climate crisis.”
- https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/ – “Greenpeace is a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.”
- https://rebellion.global/ – “Life on Earth is in crisis. Our climate is changing faster than scientists predicted and the stakes are high. Biodiversity loss. Crop failure. Social and ecological collapse. Mass extinction. We are running out of time, and our governments have failed to act. Extinction Rebellion was formed to fix this.”
- https://fridaysforfuture.org/ – “We are fighting for our future and our lives because they are directly threatened by the climate crisis and the ecological breakdown. We are taking action against it because we want to protect the beauty of the earth, the diversity of species and the lives of all beings. Our goal is to overcome the climate crisis and to create a society that lives in harmony with its fellow beings and its environment. “
- https://www.edf.org/ – Environmental Defence Fund – “We began in 1967, as a scrappy group of scientists and a lawyer on Long Island, New York, fighting to save osprey from the toxic pesticide DDT. Using scientific evidence, our founders got DDT banned nationwide. Today, we’re one of the world’s leading environmental organizations. In the U.S., Fortune magazine called our board one of the country’s most influential nonprofit boards. And science still guides everything we do.”
- https://earthjustice.org/ – “Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit public interest environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change.”
- https://ecocycle.org/ – “A mission-driven, nonprofit social enterprise spreading Zero Waste solutions in Boulder County and beyond.”
- https://www.ourclimatevoices.org/ – “Our mission is to humanize the climate disaster through storytelling, contribute to a shift in the climate change dialogue that puts the voices of those most impacted at the forefront of the conversation, and to connect people with ways to support the community-based climate solution-making work that frontline and vulnerable communities are already doing to combat climate impacts.”
- https://www.wlrv.org/– “Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) is a Colorado nonprofit 501(c)(3) that organizes thousands of volunteers each year to complete more than 150 conservation projects throughout Colorado.” Their mission is, “Building diverse communities that care for the land.” Volunteering with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers is a great way to gain hands-on experience with natural resource conservation and connect to your community.
- https://resourcecentral.org/– Resource Central is “an award-winning nonprofit in Boulder, Colorado determined to make conservation so simple that you don’t even realize you’re doing it.” Resource Central provides programs to help front range community members save water, conserve energy, and reduce waste.
- https://www.clientearth.org/ – “We are a team of over 250 people across eight offices, dedicated to protecting life on Earth. We work in over 50 countries, ingeniously using the law to create systemic change. We focus on the most pressing environmental challenges, because a future in which people and planet thrive together isn’t just possible – it’s essential.”
- https://womeninsustainability.org/ – “Women in Sustainability is an inclusive organization that brings together women and allies who are passionate about environmental sustainability to connect, learn, and collaborate to fight climate change and social injustice through education and advocacy.”
- https://coloradowaterwise.org/ – “Colorado WaterWise represents the Colorado water conservation community. We connect stakeholders that are invested in water efficiency in the State of Colorado in order to foster innovation and dissemination of education and technology.”
- https://ecocycle.org/ – “Eco-Cycle is one of the oldest mission-based recyclers and Zero Waste organizations in the US, and an innovator in resource conservation. We perform mission-based business activities, such as operating the Boulder County Recycling Center, providing Zero Waste business services, and creating the nation’s first Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM).”
Colorado Specific
- Colorado State University extension provides extensive, quality resources on a variety of topics including agriculture, drought, energy and natural resources in Colorado. https://extension.colostate.edu/
- ‘How Colorado’s Changing Climate is Putting Children’s Health at Risk’ https://collective.coloradotrust.org/stories/how-colorados-changing-climate-is-putting-childrens-health-at-risk/
- ‘Q&A: Colorado State climatologist on record heat, wildfire outlook and climate change’ https://source.colostate.edu/record-heat-colorado-uk-forecasts-wildfires/
- ‘In Colorado, climate change presents a broad range of challenges’ – Colorado Water Board Conservation Board https://cwcb.colorado.gov/focus-areas/hazards/climate
- ‘Building on Success: Colorado Makes Big Additional Investments in Climate. What’s Next?’ https://rmi.org/colorado-makes-big-additional-investments-in-climate/
- Recycle Colorado – Search for a recycling organization near you https://www.recyclecolorado.org/index.php?option=com_mcdirectorysearch&view=search&id=2000400#/
- Conservation in a Changing Climate https://climatechange.lta.org/region-west/colorado/
- ‘New Report: Are Colorado’s Communities Prepared for Climate Change’s Impacts on Human Health?’ – The Denver Foundation- https://denverfoundation.org/2022/06/new-report-are-colorados-communities-prepared-for-climate-changes-impacts-on-human-health/
- Colorado’s climate policy profile by Climate XChange https://climate-xchange.org/network/map/colorado/
- Colorado recycling yearly totals from Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment – https://cdphe.colorado.gov/colorado-recycling-totals
- Colorado Climate Center – Providing information and expertise on Colorado’s complex climate https://climate.colostate.edu/
- ‘Charting Colorado’s Vulnerability to Climate Change’ https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/charting-colorado%E2%80%99s-vulnerability-climate-change
- Climate risks in Colorado – https://statesatrisk.org/colorado/all
- Impacts in Colorado – CU Boulder Environmental Center https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/energy-climate-justice/general-energy-climate-info/climate-change/impacts-colorado
- ‘Taking Action on Climate Change in Colorado’ https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/colorado/stories-in-colorado/climate-change-action/
Learning
- A list of the best available student and educators resources related to global climate change, including NASA products. https://climate.nasa.gov/for-educators/
- ‘What is climate change? A really simple guide’ – BBC – https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24021772
- https://climatescience.org
- Does Personal Action Matter? https://climatescience.org/advanced-personal-action
- Ecological Footprints
- ‘Reliable scientific sources on the environment and climate change’ – Humanist Climate Action –
- https://humanists.uk/humanist-climate-action/reliable-scientific-sources-on-the-environment-and-climate-change/
- Online Climate Resources to Explore With Your Grandchildren – Elders Climate Action – https://www.eldersclimateaction.org/with-your-grandchildren-kidswebsites/
- INFOGRAPHIC: Five Fast Facts about Nuclear Energy (2020) – https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-five-fast-facts-about-nuclear-energy-2020
- https://www.energystar.gov/ – “ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.”
- Find Energy Star certified products https://www.energystar.gov/productfinder
- Essential Wikimedia pages (for use as an introduction and not as a definitive source)
- Climate crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_crisis
- Climate change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
- Climate change denial https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_denial
- Holocene extinction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction
- Anthropocene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocene
- Quotes about global warming from Wikiquote (includes quotes from a lot of different sources, including climate deniers): https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Global_warming
- Quotes about sustainability https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sustainability
- Online facts sheets by Earth Day https://www.earthday.org/factsheets/
- How Climate Change Affects the LGBTQ+ Community – Earth Day – https://www.earthday.org/how-climate-change-affects-the-lgbtq-community/
Stories/Reporting
- Our Climate Voices is an anthology of stories that amplifies first-person climate change narratives – https://www.ourclimatevoices.org/
- Colorado stories from the Nature Conservancy – https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/colorado/stories-in-colorado
- Climate reporting from Colorado Public Radio – https://www.cpr.org/category/environment/climate-change/
- Digital Storytelling Toolkit for the Climate Movement – 350 – https://trainings.350.org/storytelling-toolkit/
- The New York Times Climate Hub – https://climatehub.nytimes.com/
- How climate storytelling helps people navigate complexity and find solutions – The Conversation – https://theconversation.com/how-climate-storytelling-helps-people-navigate-complexity-and-find-solutions-185354
- How Storytelling Can Help the Climate Cause – New York Times Events – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rTkLRcvjU4&ab_channel=NewYorkTimesEvents
- Rich Americans Have Higher Carbon Footprints Than Other Wealthy People – Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rich-americans-have-higher-carbon-footprints-than-other-wealthy-people/
- Investments of 125 billionaires have the same carbon footprint as France, study finds https://www.npr.org/2022/11/09/1135446721/billionaires-carbon-dioxide-emissions
- ‘Carbon footprint gap’ between rich and poor expanding, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/04/carbon-footprint-gap-between-rich-poor-expanding-study
- This is what we need to invent to fight climate change – Vox https://www.vox.com/23042818/climate-change-ipcc-wind-solar-battery-technology-breakthrough
- “An educational and artistic forum for sharing personal stories about the changing climate.” https://www.climatestoriesproject.org/
- ‘This Woman Wants to Destroy Your Lawn’ … And replace it with something better. Why Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project want us all to think differently about what we plant https://downeast.com/land-wildlife/this-woman-wants-to-destroy-your-lawn/?utm_source=pocket-newtab
- ‘This Maine home can stay 70 degrees without a furnace, even when it’s freezing outside’ https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2023-01-25/this-maine-home-can-stay-70-degrees-without-a-furnace-even-when-its-freezing-outside
- ‘The enormous heat pumps warming cities’ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230131-can-city-dwellers-ever-have-heat-pumps
- ‘Is Peak Climate Alarmism Behind Us?’ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/opinion/climate-alarmism.html
- ‘Colorado River crisis is so bad, lakes Mead and Powell are unlikely to refill in our Lifetimes‘ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-05/colorado-river-reservoirs-unlikely-to-refill-experts-say
Film lists
- Museums & Climate Change Network film list, including some links to streams: https://mccnetwork.org/film
- ‘10 Climate Change Movies To Watch in 2022’ https://earth.org/climate-change-movies/
- ‘6 Must-See Environmental Films and TV Shows of 2023’ https://www.ecowatch.com/environmental-films-tv-shows-2023.html
- Best Movies About Climate Change, Ranked https://movieweb.com/best-movies-about-climate-change-ranked/#2040-2019
- ‘Movies That Teach Kids About Climate Change’ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/movies-that-teach-kids-about-climate-change
- ‘31 Must-Watch Climate Change Documentaries’
- https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/best-climate-change-documentaries/
Conversations
- https://livingroomconversations.org/
- Speak up for the planet: Your guide to having climate change conversations – ClientEarth https://www.clientearth.org/media/jhifo1e2/clientearth-guide-to-having-climate-conversations.pdf
- Talk to children about the climate crisis – Our Kids’ Climate https://media.ourkidsclimate.org/2021/06/Talk-about-climate-guide-for-parents-2021-06-01.pdf
- A Guide to Talking About Climate Change – nature.org https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/idaho/stories-in-idaho/guide-to-talk-about-climate-change/
Climate Conversation Guide – Climate for Change
Starting The Conversation – Five Tips On How To Talk To Climate Deniers In Your Family https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/starting-conversation-five-tips-how-talk-climate-deniers-your-family
https://rebellion.global/blog/2020/12/04/conversation-with-climate-sceptic/ ‘How To Have a Conversation with a Climate Change Sceptic’ – Extinction Rebellion
https://climate-xchange.org/communicating-the-climate-crisis/ Communicating the Climate Crisis is a report by Maria Virginia Olano, Communications Director at Climate XChange. Includes resources and discussion on the challenges in climate communication & lessons on communicating the climate crisis.
https://climatechangeconversationsinlibraries.org/resources/ – Ideas for climate change events; Material for reading, watching, listening; Solidarity, emotional support and inspiration; World Cafe (in a Box) –
Libraries
- “Library Leaders of the World Unite! The Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) provides library leaders with a proven path forward to co-create libraries and communities that will thrive in the coming years.” https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/
- Green Libraries: Sustainable Libraries – Resources to help libraries go green. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/green-libraries/overview/library-specific
- “Resilient Communities: Libraries Respond to Climate Change, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA), helps libraries engage their communities in programs and conversations that address the climate crisis.” https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/climatechange
- ‘A Call to Action on Climate Change for Libraries‘ https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2022/06/call-action-climate-change-libraries
- ‘Climate Change and Sustainability – Library programs focus on critical components of 21st-century science’ https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/10/09/climate-change-sustainability/
- ‘The Library’s Role in Climate Literacy’ https://www.urbanlibraries.org/blog/the-librarys-role-in-climate-literacy
- Supporting sustainability: what can librarians do? https://www.springernature.com/gp/librarians/the-link/blog/blogposts-news-initiatives/what-librarians-can-do-to-support-sustainability/23146572
- Advocacy and Action: How Libraries Across the Globe are Addressing Climate Change https://worldlibraries.dom.edu/index.php/worldlib/article/view/594
- WEBINAR: SUSTAINABLE THINKING FOR THE FUTURE OF LIBRARIES – Niche Academy https://www.nicheacademy.com/blog/sustainable-thinking-for-the-future-of-libraries
Toolkits and other resources
- TURN IT AROUND! is a toolkit to help us radically reimagine education in response to the climate and ecological emergency. https://turnitaroundcards.org/
- https://www.theclimateinitiative.org/toolkits/
- https://climatechangeresources.org/resources/ https://www.pinterest.com/tcktcktck/climate-change-infographics/
- https://www.earthday.org/our-toolkits/
- Digital Storytelling Toolkit for the Climate Movement – 350 – https://trainings.350.org/storytelling-toolkit/
- Create your own ecological footprint https://www.overshootday.org/kids-and-teachers-corner/classroom-activities/
- Free create your own jeopardy game https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1N_5IbXUY3y2PCuhFQ0YA7ZuREwC7ew1Q3fyILBnEBQA/edit#slide=id.p
- Create/print posters:
- https://www.canva.com/posters/templates/climate-change/
- https://www.eldersclimateaction.org/action-tool-kit-2/posters-banners/
- https://www.dearclimate.net/posters
- https://www.raisingglobalkidizens.com/united-nations-sustainable-development-goals-coloring-poster/
- https://www.printmag.com/illustration-design/posters-in-the-war-against-climate-change/
- https://www.vecteezy.com/free-vector/climate-change-poster
Glossaries
- https://www.unicef.org/lac/media/19321/file/climate-glossary-for-young-people.pdf
- https://greenecofriend.co.uk/eco-friendly-terminology/
- Child Friendly Glossary Of Environmental Words https://www.itsourplanettoo.co.uk/blog/child-friendly-environmental-glossary
- ClimateChangeResources.org Glossary – https://climatechangeresources.org/resources/glossary/
Games
- Games for a new climate: “In recent years the Climate Centre and its partners have designed at least 45 games about humanitarian issues like disaster preparedness, gender, food security, health, migration. Across five continents, Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers, government officials, farmers, schoolchildren, meteorologists, students and climate-policy negotiators have used our games.” https://www.climatecentre.org/priority_areas/innovation/climate-games/
- “The Cranky Uncle game uses cartoons and critical thinking to fight misinformation.” https://crankyuncle.com/
- “The Cloud Institute uses The Fish Game to start the conversation about education for sustainability w/ students and stakeholders.: https://cloudinstitute.org/fish-game
- NASA Climate Kids includes games, resources, and activities that entertainingly teach important ecological concepts https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/play/
- Games for Change: “PLAY THESE GAMES ABOUT ‘CLIMATE CHANGE’ AND GET INSPIRED TO CREATE AN ORIGINAL GAME ON THE TOPIC!” https://gamesforchange.org/studentchallenge/nyc/climate-change/
- Museums & CLimate Change Network list of games: https://mccnetwork.org/games
- The Climate Game — Can you reach net zero? – Financial Times https://ig.ft.com/climate-game/
Articles
- ‘Can board games teach us about the climate crisis? Game creators say yes‘ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/28/board-games-climate-crisis-daybreak
- ‘Can video games change people’s minds about the climate crisis?’https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/jan/26/can-video-games-change-peoples-minds-about-the-climate-crisis
- ‘Play Your Way to a Better World? 9 Video Games That Can Help Solve Environmental Issues’ https://www.ecowatch.com/video-games-climate-change.html
Free Online Videos
Lists
- Museums & Climate Change Network film list, including some links to streams: https://mccnetwork.org/film
- ‘10 Climate Change Movies To Watch in 2022’ https://earth.org/climate-change-movies/
- ‘6 Must-See Environmental Films and TV Shows of 2023’ https://www.ecowatch.com/environmental-films-tv-shows-2023.html
- Best Movies About Climate Change, Ranked https://movieweb.com/best-movies-about-climate-change-ranked/#2040-2019
- ‘Movies That Teach Kids About Climate Change’ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/movies-that-teach-kids-about-climate-change
- ‘31 Must-Watch Climate Change Documentaries’ https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/best-climate-change-documentaries/
Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story, 2020 (runtime: 1:13:20)
We all love food. As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines and foodie blogs. So how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50% of it in the trash? Filmmakers and food lovers Jen and Grant dive into the issue of waste from farm, through retail, all the way to the back of their own fridge. After catching a glimpse of the billions of dollars of good food that is tossed each year in North America, they pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on discarded food. What they find is truly shocking.
Colorado Voices: Climate Change, 2022, Rocky Mountain PBS (runtime: 26:40)
Coloradans face climate change effects first-hand throughout all the seasons. From record high-temperatures to changes in water systems, the impacts are not going unnoticed. Many Coloradans are now coming up with big and small ways to do their part to help the environment.
Single-Stream Recycling — Leading the Way to Zero Waste, 2011 (runtime: 15:16)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YaTpL8nl7c
Get an in-depth look at the single-stream recycling process at the Boulder County Recycling Center. The 15-minute tour begins at the curbside recycling bin and follows the single-stream materials to the tipping floor of the Boulder County Recycling Center.
Plastic Bag by Ramin Bahrani, 2009 (runtime: 18:02)
In a not too distant future, a Plastic Bag (voice of Werner Herzog) goes on an epic journey in search of its lost Maker, wondering if there is any point to life without her. (Wikipedia)
Climate Scientist Answers Earth Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED, 2022 (runtime: 15:07)
Climate scientist Dr. Peter Kalmus answers the internet’s burning questions about our planet. Are there any other planets we can live on yet? Why is the coral reef dying? How does the carbon cycle work? How much longer until Florida is underwater? Dr. Kalmus answers all these questions and much more.
Causes and Effects of Climate Change | National Geographic (runtime: 3:04)
What causes climate change (also known as global warming)? And what are the effects of climate change? Learn the human impact and consequences of climate change for the environment, and our lives.
Ted Talks (runtime generally less than 20 minutes)
Climate change: It’s real, and our response will take two forms: slowing it down if we can … and learning to live with the change we can’t stop anymore. Watch these TED Talks for a primer on the issue of our times.
https://www.ted.com/topics/climate+change
Michael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans | Full Documentary | Directed by Jeff Gibbs (runtime: 1:39:56)
Michael Moore presents Planet of the Humans, a documentary that dares to say what no one else will — that we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road — selling out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America. This film is the wake-up call to the reality we are afraid to face: that in the midst of a human-caused extinction event, the environmental movement’s answer is to push for techno-fixes and band-aids. It’s too little, too late. Featuring: Al Gore, Bill McKibben, Richard Branson, Robert F Kennedy Jr., Michael Bloomberg, Van Jones, Vinod Khosla, Koch Brothers, Vandana Shiva, General Motors, 350.org, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Nature Conservancy, Elon Musk, Tesla.
Greta Thunberg to world leaders: ‘How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood’ (runtime: 4:34)
‘You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,’ climate activist Greta Thunberg has told world leaders at the 2019 UN climate action summit in New York.
Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye | National Geographic (runtime 4:09)
Climate Change is a real and serious issue. In this video Bill Nye, the Science Guy, explains what causes climate change, how it affects our planet, why we need to act promptly to mitigate its effects, and how each of us can contribute to a solution.
Our Changing Climate, playlist of climate topic videos by PBD Terra (runtime varies)
Earth currently experiencing a sixth mass extinction, according to scientists | 60 Minutes segment (runtime: 13:16)
Leading biologist tells Scott Pelley humans would need “five more Earths” to maintain our current way of life.
Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox (runtime varies)
Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the videos explore the surprising elements of our lives that contribute to climate change and the groundbreaking work being done to fight back. Featuring conversations with experts, scientists, thought leaders and activists, the series takes what can seem like an overwhelming problem and breaks it down into manageable parts: from clean energy to food waste, religion to smartphones.
Podcasts
A Matter of Degrees
“Join Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson as they tell stories about the powerful forces behind climate change — and the tools we have to fix it.”
How to Save a Planet
https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet
“Climate change. We know. It can feel too overwhelming. But what if there was a show about climate change that left you feeling… energized? One so filled with possibility that you actually wanted to listen? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and a crew of climate nerds, as we bring you smart, inspiring stories about the mess we’re in and how we can get ourselves out of it.”
The Climate Pod
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-climate-pod/id1469270123
“The Climate Pod is a wide-ranging conversation with leading experts on the politics, economics, activism, culture, science, and social justice issues at the heart of the climate crisis.”
Reversing Climate Change
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reversing-climate-change/id1321759767
“A podcast about the different people, technologies, and organizations that are coming together to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reverse climate change.”
Rising Tide
https://inlandoceancoalition.org/rising_tide_podcast/
“Hosted by Blue Frontier’s Executive Director, David Helvarg and Inland Ocean Coalition’s Executive Director, Vicki Nichols Goldstein. You will meet today’s ocean champions, including senators, scientists, surfers, and youth activists. We will cover a range of issues, including climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution. This podcast aims to give you information, inspiration, and motivation (along with a few laughs) to help understand our ocean world and make it better. The ocean is rising, so are we!”
The Big Switch
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-switch/id1571177675
“To slow climate change, we need to transform our homes, buildings, cars, and economy quickly. “The Big Switch” explains how to rebuild the energy systems all around us. Dr. Melissa Lott of Columbia University brings together historical examples, current events, and incisive analysis to give listeners a deep understanding of the solutions to climate change.”
This American Life segment, ‘You Bet Your Planet’s Life!’
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/786/its-a-game-show/act-two-9
“Is it possible for the U.S. to reach the goals set by the Paris Agreement? What steps would we have to take to cut emissions by 50% by 2030? We challenge climate researcher Melissa Lott to get us to that number. (11 minutes)”
Additional Resources
Contact KitSupport@coloradovirtuallibrary.org if you are looking for something specific.