General Resources
General Resources - Ontario Provincial Resources - Resources by Topic
Students: The resources and experts listed here will help you conduct your Inquiry
- provide you with basic background information on climate change;
- help you pick the focus of your Inquiry and shape your Inquiry question or questions;
- provide the information to answer your Inquiry question or hypothesis.
Your teacher may arrange for an expert or mentor to visit your class. You can prepare a question or questions for an expert, and email them to the expert who will provide you with an answer. It is important to carefully prepare your question, one that is clear and will help you get the information you need (these might be developed in class or you could test your question on other students to see if it is clear before you send it).
Climate Change, General Information
- Climate Resilience for Communities: This factsheet addresses two key questions that your City or community — any community — needs to address: The first: What are the impacts of existing and future climate for our citizens? AND, the second: How can we take steps to build resilience and adapt to a changing climate? (Although it focuses on Calgary, the information beginning on Page 3 applies to any municipality.)
http://www.tigurl.org/images/tiged/docs/activities/1631.pdf
- Decarbonize, Mobilization of Youth Perspectives on Climate Change: 12 high schools from around the world worked collaboratively to write a youth climate action plan and present it at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris in 2015, known as COP21. Similar to the work you are doing to present your climate action ideas to the Premier of Ontario.
http://decarbonize.tigweb.org/
Climate Change in Ontario
- Climate Change in Ontario: this backgrounder was written for students preparing to dialogue with the Premier. It describes some of the ways climate change will impact us in Ontario; provides a pie chart showing the sources of greenhouse gas emissions; and then describes the issue and possible actions for different sectors (e.g., transportation and buildings).
http://cool.greenlearning.ca/database/view.html?ItemID=2599
- Ontario's Climate Change Strategy, 2015 — is a comprehensive summary of the impacts and the challenges — by sector (such as transportation, buildings, etc.) — as well as the actions required to reduce Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. Actions include adaptations and mitigation measures. This report also addresses the opportunities.
http://cool.greenlearning.ca/database/view.html?ItemID=2603
- Ontario is moving toward a Cap-and-Trade system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The "cap" puts a limit on how many tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution that businesses, institutions and households can emit. The "trade" refers to a market where companies can buy or sell carbon credits, also known as allowances. These credits are linked to every tonne of greenhouse gas they emit (or do not emit). The Government of Ontario website has a video and information on cap-and-trade:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/cap-and-trade
- Climate Change, Government of Ontario website (rich in things for the students to inquiry about ... carbon footprint, cap and trade, investment fund, green diesel, transportation, emission targets…)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/climate-change
Climate Change, By Topic
- A short video on how climate change is affecting maple syrup production — it’s about Wisconsin but very applicable for the maple syrup regions of Ontario:
https://vimeo.com/17604920
- Human Health in a Changing Climate: Have you noticed that summers are getting hotter and winters are getting even colder? Has your community been struck by a severe ice storm or heat wave? Ever wonder what impact this might have on your health, and the health of those around you? Read this factsheet published by Climate Ontario to determine what climate change might mean for human health.
http://www.climateontario.ca/doc/factsheets/Health%20Factsheet-FINAL.pdf
- Forests and Forestry in a Changing Climate: In this factsheet published by the Ontario Climate, the impacts of climate change on Ontario’s forests and the forestry industry are outlined. This factsheet will give you a deeper understanding of what climate change means for Ontario’s various tree species and how forestry management practices can help Ontario’s forest adapt to these changes.
http://www.climateontario.ca/doc/factsheets/Forestry%20Factsheet3.pdf
- Mining in a Changing Climate: Mining is a large part of Ontario’s economy, and it will be greatly affected by climate change. What are these effects and has this sector taken the steps needed to adapt to these changes? Read this factsheet by Climate Ontario to find out more:
http://www.climateontario.ca/doc/factsheets/Forestry%20Factsheet3.pdf
- Tourism and Recreation in a Changing Climate: Ski season getting shorter and shorter? Skating on Ottawa’s Canal becoming less and less possible throughout the winter? A lot of Ontario’s most loved outdoor recreational activities are affected by climate change. As is Ontario’s tourism industry which depends on these activities to drive people to visit Ontario. In Ontario Climate’s factsheet on tourism and recreation, you will learn how climate change is affecting the outdoor activities we know and love and what this means for Ontario’s tourism industry.
http://www.climateontario.ca/doc/factsheets/TourismFactsheet-final.pdf
