Lesson video

Hello, my name's Miss Gilyeat, and I'm your geography teacher for today.

In today's lesson, we are going to be learning about phasing out fossil fuels.

Let's get going.

So our lesson outcome for today is that you can explain why fossil fuels are being phased out and what challenges this creates.

So we've got four keywords for today's lesson.

The first one is fossil fuel, which are natural substances that were formed over millions of years ago from the buried remains of ancient organisms. They include coal, oil, and gas.

And non-renewable energy are energy sources, such as fossil fuels, that cannot be replaced and will eventually run out.

Renewable energy is sources of energy that can be reused and will not be used up or run out.

And decarbonization is reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from processes such as burning fossil fuels.

Okay, we've got two learning cycles.

So the first one, we're gonna learn about the use of fossil fuels, and then we're gonna learn about phasing them out.

So in the Anthropocene, humans are the main force changing Earth's systems. One of the biggest signs of this is how we've changed the atmosphere is by burning fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago from the remains of plants and animals.

They are non-renewable energy sources and include coal, oil, and natural gas.

So let's just check what we've learned.

Which of the following is not a fossil fuel? That is nuclear.

Well done if you got that right.

Fossil fuels, like oil, coal, and gas, are a major source of energy, and these fuels are used to power homes, industry, transport, and electricity, okay? So we burn them, and when we burn them, it creates energy, and we use that energy for lots of the different things.

Now, when we burn fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, they release a gas called carbon dioxide, or CO2, into the atmosphere.

CO2 is a greenhouse gas, and it traps heat in Earth's atmosphere.

This is known as the greenhouse effect.

So if you look at the slide here, we can see a diagram of this.

So we've got the sun, the Earth, and the atmosphere surrounding it.

Within the Earth's atmosphere, we've got lots of different types of gases, one of which is carbon dioxide, and there are other greenhouse gases as well.

Now, some of that incoming solar radiation is absorbed by Earth, some of it is radiated back out to space.

Some of it is reflected off Earth, but then the Earth's atmosphere traps that heat.

And it's the greenhouse gases which trap the heat, okay? Now the greenhouse effect is a natural effect.

And if we didn't have this greenhouse effect, Earth would be -18 degrees C, so it'd be actually too cold for life really to exist on Earth.

So we do need it.

However, as we are putting more CO2 into the atmosphere, it is making the planet hotter.

Now, this is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect.

So this is what humans are doing.

We're enhancing the effect of the greenhouse, which is making it too warm.

Now if we have a look at the slide here, the graph shows that CO2 levels in the atmosphere are rising.

So it's a bit of a complicated graph, so we'll explain some of the different parts to it.

So you've got years along the bottom, from 1880 to 2000, okay? And on the the Y-axis on the left, you've got global temperature.

Now it's actually the bar chart which shows global temperature, okay? So we can see here that the Earth's global temperature overall has increased.

On the Y-axis on the right, we can see the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.

And that's measured in parts per million.

And the black line on the graph shows what CO2 concentration is doing, which is rising, okay? Now this evidence supports the idea that we are living in the Anthropocene, okay? Because we are having a major impact on the Earth's atmosphere, we're putting more CO2 in it, which is leading to increased temperatures.

Okay, let's check our understanding.

So looking at that diagram, can you explain what it shows to your partner? Okay, here's my explanation.

When we burn fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and gas, they release a gas called carbon dioxide into the air.

CO2 is a greenhouse gas.

It traps heat in Earth's atmosphere.

This makes the planet warmer over time.

Well done if you've got something along those lines.

Now over 80% of global energy still comes from fossil fuels.

Now I want you to think.

Why do you think humans still rely on them so much even though we know that they are contributing to climate change? Have a quick chat with your partner why are we still so reliant on them.

Okay, so these are some of the reasons.

First of all, they are still quite widely available even though they are a non-renewable resource.

They can be quite cheap in some countries.

They can be powerful and easy to transport.

And there's the lack of a simple alternative.

So even though we know about different renewable energy sources now, it's proving difficult for countries to transition towards this.

Okay, so having a look here, there's a map which shows fossil fuel consumption.

So this is a choropleth map.

So the darker colour represents the higher levels of consumption, and you can look at the key at the bottom of the map there to figure out how much they are using.

So looking at that, which countries are consuming the most fossil fuels? And this was in 2023.

So the answer to this is USA and China are consuming, or were consuming the most in 2023.

Now, some countries make money by selling fossil fuels, so it's hard for them to stop.

For example, in Saudi Arabia, the oil and gas sector makes up 37 to 46% of GDP.

That's gross domestic products, so that's how much money the country makes.

Oil exports account for 90% of all of their exports and nearly 75% of government revenue in Saudi Arabia.

So they can use the money that they get from selling oil to improve the people's lives that live there.

They can spend that money on hospitals, education, schools, okay? However, around the world, we are trying to move away from using fossil fuels.

So countries which are very reliant on this are going to have to start thinking of other ways that they can make money.

So Saudi Arabia is now looking into other ways it can make money.

So, for example, they've got the Vision 2030 project.

And in that, you might have heard of something called The Line in Saudi Arabia, where they're building a linear city across the desert.

So if you've not heard of that, it's quite an interesting project, so it might be worth researching.

But fossil fuels remain important to its economy.

Okay, let's check our understanding.

So true or false, 80% of the planet's energy comes from renewable energy sources.

That is false.

And can you tell me why? Over 80% of global energy still comes from coal, oil, and gas.

Okay, we're on to our first task for this lesson.

So first of all, I'd like you to name three fossil fuels.

Second, you're gonna read an account of Aisha's morning and highlight where energy has been used.

Okay, the third task for this section is there's a diagram there of the greenhouse effect.

I'd like you to place those labels in the correct part of the diagram.

Okay, let's have a look at some answers.

So three fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas.

So here are parts of Aisha's day where she did use energy.

So she has a bedside alarm that went off, okay? She took a hot shower.

She made toast and tea using the kettle and toaster.

She dried her hair with the hair dryer.

Her mum drove her to school in the car.

And when she got home, she played on her game console.

So Aisha has used lots of energy in her morning.

Okay, and on the slide there, you've got the correct labels in the correct part of the diagram.

So pause the video and just check that you've got the same answers.

Okay, we're moving on to the second learning cycle, which is learning about phasing out fossil fuels.

Now many countries are working to phase out fossil fuel use and switch to renewable energy instead.

Examples of renewable energy include hydropower, wind power, bioenergy, and solar power.

Okay, which of the following are renewable energy? And I'd like you to tick all that apply.

Okay, so that's solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

Coal is an example of a fossil fuel.

Now moving away from using fossil fuels towards renewable energy is important but takes time, investment, and new technology.

This move is called the energy transition, or decarbonization.

So here we've got an image of burning fossil fuels.

And in the future, what we're aiming towards is using more renewables such as wind power.

It will help protect the planet and create new jobs in green energy industries.

Switching to renewable energy needs major investments.

That's money to be spent on it.

New technology is required to make renewable energy reliable, efficient, and affordable.

Now, because we use energy in our day-to-day lives all the time, if we are going to move those sources towards being renewable energy, they have to be reliable, okay? A large amount of money is needed to build new power plants and infrastructure as well.

So if we're thinking about how we live, it's not just about us using that renewable energy, but it's also about having the infrastructure in place for it to work.

So, for example, yes, it'd be great if we could all drive an electric car.

However, we need the infrastructure to have lots of charging points around towns, and cities, and where people live, otherwise we're not all going to be able to charge them.

Transitioning fairly will mean supporting workers and communities affected by the changes involved, okay? So a lot of people that, for example, work for fossil fuel industries, they need support in how their job will change or if they lose their job, that they will be able to get another one, okay? So it's making sure that nobody is left behind.

Okay, let's check our understanding.

What are some of the difficulties of transitioning to renewable energy? New technology is required to make renewable energy reliable and affordable.

And a large amount of money is needed to build new power plants and infrastructure.

Well done if you got that right.

Now scientists agree we need to reduce fossil fuel use to stop climate change, but there is a disagreement about how fast this should happen.

Some people want a fast phase out to limit global warming and avoid extreme weather, to switch to renewable energy and protect the planet, and to create new green jobs in the green energy sector.

Some people want a slower phase out.

Some countries rely on fossil fuels for money and jobs, such as Saudi Arabia.

Renewables may not yet fully meet energy needs everywhere.

And changing quickly can be expensive and disruptive.

Have a quick chat with your partner.

How fast do you think we should transition? Now the UK has promised to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Net zero means the UK will remove as much carbon dioxide from the air as it puts in.

How do you think the UK could do this? So these are the different ways we are planning to reach net zero.

So green homes, better insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels.

So if we insulate our homes better, we won't have to use as much energy to keep them warm.

By 2035, a hundred percent of new cars sold in the UK may be required to be zero emissions, okay? So that means that they aren't burning petrol or diesel to run, and instead they'll be using electric charging hookups.

Hopefully we'll be using more renewable energy, like wind and solar, cleaner industries and less waste, and planting trees and protecting nature as well.

So one way that we can take carbon from the atmosphere is actually planting trees because they absorb CO2.

Now, that's not a reason that we should just carry on pumping CO2 in the atmosphere, but it can help mitigate some of the effects.

Okay, let's check what we've learned so far.

What are some of the ways the UK aims to reach net zero by 2050? Have a quick chat with your partner.

Okay, here are some of them.

So green homes, more renewable energy like wind and solar, cleaner industries and less waste, electric cars, and planting trees and protecting nature.

Well done if you got those right.

Now there are some issues around achieving net zero in the UK.

Now here are some of them but not all.

So when should the ban on petrol and diesel cars be introduced? So initially the the date for this was 2030.

It's now been put back to 2035.

Who knows, it could change again.

Is a ban on gas boilers and a switch to heat pumps affordable and fair for everybody? Who pays for the green homes and renewable energy? Should it be the government, should it be house builders, or should it be the individuals, or people such as ourselves? Should the UK still drill for North Sea oil and gas? Okay, so in the North Sea, the east coast of the UK, we are still drilling for North Sea oil, which we use for our own energy sources, and we do actually sell some to other countries of the world.

That gives the UK a reliable energy source and it also creates us a little bit of money.

However, many people thinks that we should be stopping drilling for that oil, okay? However, some people think, well, it's making us money and it's providing jobs as well, so there's an issue there.

Okay, we're on to our final task for this lesson.

So first of all, I'd like you to answer these three questions.

What is decarbonization? Explain the main goal of Net Zero 2050.

And finally, give three ways the UK aims to achieve net zero by 2050.

So pause the video and have a go at those questions.

Okay, finally, I'd like you to read these two opinions on how fast we should try, or we should be trying, to reach net zero from two different politicians.

What I would like you to do is read the two opinions from the politicians and explain who you agree with and why.

So pauses the video, have a read, and write who you agree with and why.

Okay, here are some answers.

So for question one, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

Question two, net zero means the UK will remove at least as much carbon dioxide from the air as it puts in.

The UK has promised to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

And the way that we're trying to achieve this is more renewable energy, green homes, and more electric cars.

Well done if you've got those correct.

Okay, here's my answer for this, but you might have agreed with the other politician with your own different reasons, and that is absolutely fine.

So I agree with politician A.

I think that we need to move as quick as we can to reach net zero.

We are already seeing the effects of climate change on the planet.

If we wait any longer, it is only going to get worse.

If we are going to invest money into energy, it should be renewable, not North Sea oil.

However, I also think that the government should help and support people and communities who may be affected by the transition, making sure everyone can afford it and people don't lose their jobs.

So we've got a summary for today's lesson.

Fossil fuels release large amounts of carbon dioxide when burned.

Fossil fuels are non-renewable and contribute to climate change.

Some countries rely heavily on fossil fuels for energy and income.

Moving away from fossil fuels requires investment and new technology.

And there is a disagreement about how quickly fossil fuels should be phased out.

Okay, that's it for today's lesson.

So fantastic job.

And I'll see you next time.

Bye.