Climate change and Russia
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the impact of climate change on Russia's environment, economy and population.
Key learning points
- Russia is warming at more than twice the global average, especially in the Arctic.
- The melting permafrost is causing infrastructure damage and releasing greenhouse gases.
- Agriculture in Russia is impacted by changing rainfall patterns, affecting crop yields.
- The Russian government has started to acknowledge climate change but actions to mitigate it have been limited.
- Climate change is also influencing migration patterns with some regions becoming less habitable.
Keywords
Mitigation - taking action to reduce the negative effects of something
Permafrost - ground that stays frozen for two or more years in a row
Infrastructure - all the basic systems in a country such as transport and power supply
Common misconception
Russia will benefit from climate change because it will make the country warmer, allowing for more agriculture and economic opportunities.
While warming may open up some land for agriculture, the negative impacts will outweigh potential benefits. For example, flooding and unpredictable weather patterns will harm crops and water supplies.
Teacher tip
Ask students to read this article on climate change and Russia in their own time: https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools/climate-change-a-russian-perspective
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
goods sent to another country
natural fuel like oil, coal or gas
structure for moving oil or gas
Q2.What is Russia’s most important export?
Q3.Which part of Russia has the most fossil fuel resources?
Q4.Why are Russia’s natural resources sometimes hard to access?
Q5.How does geography give Russia global influence?
Q6.What is a disadvantage of relying heavily on fossil fuels?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their correct meanings.
action to reduce negative effects
ground that stays frozen for 2+ years
basic systems like transport and power supply
Q2.Which physical process in Russia is damaging infrastructure and releasing greenhouse gases?
Q3.What’s one impact of climate change on Russian migration patterns?
Q4.Why is it incorrect to say climate change will be good for Russia overall?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Climate change and Russia, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Climate change and Russia, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Russia: How does geography shape the country? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.