Deploy Waste to Energy
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Provided by: Project Drawdown|Published on: May 28, 2025
Scientific ReportsScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this article from Project Drawdown, students will learn about waste-to-energy conversions as a temporary solution as we transition to cleaner energy sources and a reduction of waste materials.
- Students will understand the economic and health costs associated with this solution, as well as its potential for reducing waste.
Subjects: Health, Engineering
Authors: Project Drawdown
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The article for this solution provides a great example of the interconnected elements that need to be considered when evaluating solutions, such as cost, emissions reductions, and human health outcomes.
- The article contains a helpful chart readers can use to quickly understand why this is not a reccomended solution.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand climate change and how burning fossil fuels contributes to it.
- Some students may need some vocabulary terms defined for them before reading.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students who already have background knowledge of environmental justice and sacrifice zones can discuss the environmental justice implications of implementing a solution with harmful health impacts. This article can help give a personal account of the problems that may arise.
- After reading the article, students can look at and discuss solutions related to reducing waste, rather than waste disposal. Students can also talk about how they can reduce waste in their personal lives.
- Students can read more about electricity and its related emissions with this article or compare this solution with others from the Drawdown Explorer.
This resource underscores the significance of converting waste to energy, through proper handling of waste, combustion to produce energy. This waste-energy solution has been widely adopted in China and other OECD member states and it has helped to reduce the amount of waste in municipals and landfills. This resource presents a good read and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Project Drawdown
Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. Project Drawdown resources for educators include the database of Drawdown Solutions, educational video series Climate Solutions 101, the Drawdown Stories initiative, and more.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
