New
New
Climate justice and environmental inequality
I can explain how climate change impacts are felt unequally and why this leads many people to call for climate justice.
Lesson 10 of 12
New
New
- Year 8
Climate justice and environmental inequality
I can explain how climate change impacts are felt unequally and why this leads many people to call for climate justice.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Historically, high income countries have produced more greenhouse gases than low income countries.
- Low income countries are often more vulnerable to climate change as they have fewer resources to adapt to its impacts.
- Many people call for climate justice, so that poorer and more vulnerable people are not unfairly affected.
Keywords
Greenhouse gases - gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide
Climate change - long-term changes in the climate and weather patterns
Anthropogenic - caused by human activity
Common misconception
China produces the most greenhouse gases per capita in the world.
China produces the most greenhouse gases in the world, but with a population of over 1.4 billion people, their per capita emissions are significantly lower than many other countries.
An extension of the final activity can be to hold a debate on the topic of climate justice. A good way to manage this is to give pupils different roles and ask them to argue from their perspective.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Pupils may want to use atlases in this lesson.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the term 'development' describe in geography?
What does the term 'development' describe in geography?
How people vote
How technology is used
How roads are built
Q2.What is one common indicator used to measure development?
What is one common indicator used to measure development?
Number of shops
Birthdays per year
Favourite sports
Q3.Which of these is an example of inequality?
Which of these is an example of inequality?
Everyone earning the same
Equal healthcare for all
Free education for everyone
Q4.What does 'life expectancy' measure?
What does 'life expectancy' measure?
How long school lasts
The number of babies born
How long a work shift is
Q5.Which of these best shows global inequality?
Which of these best shows global inequality?
A world map
Everyone having equal access to the internet
Countries sharing the same time zone
Q6.What tool can show inequality on a map?
What tool can show inequality on a map?
A recipe
A mobile phone
A timetable
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What are greenhouse gases?
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that cool Earth's surface
Gases found in greenhouses only
Gases that cause rainfall
Q2.What does the term 'climate change' describe?
What does the term 'climate change' describe?
Short-term changes in weather
One-off natural disasters
Seasonal weather differences
Q3.Which country produces the most greenhouse gases per capita?
Which country produces the most greenhouse gases per capita?
India
China
Brazil
Q4.What makes climate change an issue of inequality?
What makes climate change an issue of inequality?
Everyone is affected equally
Richer countries are the only ones affected
Climate change doesn’t affect anyone seriously
