U.S. Pledge to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In his early days in office, President Biden has made fighting climate change a top priority. He has pledged to invest heavily in green technologies and restore the U.S. to its role as a world leader in the fight against global warming. While many consider the issue to be a high priority, the president also faces resistance to his efforts. Listen to former Secretary of State John Kerry, appointed by Biden as a special climate envoy, discuss the president’s plan and why he considers climate change to be such an urgent issue.
Read MoreJapanese Tradition Inspires Clothing Upcycling Trend
Mending, or repairing, torn and stained clothing can be good for the environment. The practice of visible mending, which emphasizes rather than hides the repair, adds creativity to the clothing’s sustainability. The visible mending trend has its history in the ancient Japanese tradition of sashiko, stitching geometric patterns into fabric in order to strengthen it. Listen to hear more about visible mending and the process of sashiko.
Read MoreTeens on Coping with Climate Change
Many teens feel that their future has been greatly impacted by climate change, which can cause them stress and anxiety. In this audio story, two high school students from Colorado discuss their feelings about climate change and their experiences advocating for sustainability in their school district, and a psychologist gives advice on how to cope with climate anxiety. Listen to hear more about the impact of climate change on young people, and find out what can be done to ease their anxiety.
Read MoreGreta Thunberg on Climate Change Action
Climate activist Greta Thunberg first made headlines at age 15 when she skipped school and protested outside the Swedish Parliament in an effort to influence her government to take stronger action on climate change. In this interview, Thunberg discusses her new book detailing the effects of a changing climate, the United States’ progress toward addressing climate change, and her growing fame. Listen to hear from a passionate young climate activist, and learn why she likely will never seek a career in politics.
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | March 12, 2024
Social media influencers often push people to buy more. Now, though, some of them are putting their powers of persuasion to work with a different goal in mind. In this audio story, a sustainability expert discusses de-influencers – people using their platforms to discourage overconsumption in an effort to protect natural resources and curb climate change. She explains how deinfluencing can be done well and how followers are responding. Listen to learn more about deinfluencing and the positive impact that changes in consumer behavior can have on the planet.
Story Length: 7:30
© 2024 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
02/25/2024
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/2605-social-media-influencers-urge-followers-not-to-buy
Classroom Discussion Themes