How Much Clean Electricity Do We Really Need?
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
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 →
Provided by TED
What it is
- In this TED video, climate author Solomon Goldstein-Rose explains that we need to produce twelve times more clean electricity to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Students will learn that the global energy system must be rebuilt to fulfill increased energy demands, provide electricity access to developing nations, and compensate for things that cannot be electrified.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Although we need to produce twelve times the amount of clean electricity we produce today, the video's message remains hopeful.
- The video explains that reliable electricity access can lift people out of poverty.
- The transcript is available in nine languages and contains a read-along feature for students who need support.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand how fossil fuel production contributes to climate change and what will happen if current fossil fuel use continues.
- Students should understand the terms net-zero emissions and net-negative emissions.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Math classes can compare the units of petawatts to kilowatts, megawatts, gigawatts, and terawatts.
- Geography classes can use the Electricity Energy Infrastructure and Resources Interactive Map to locate renewable and nonrenewable energy plants.
- Teachers can follow this resource with this course on clean energy sources.
From the scientist review
This 10-minute TED talk describes the current and future needs for energy generation from non-fossil fuel sources. It presents current demand and walks through projections of potential future demand for the global population. This resource focuses primarily on technological innovations (new energy sources, new plants, etc.) and doesn't address behavior or efficiency changes, but otherwise is a good resource. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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