"The world needs to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2050. That means that developed countries like Scotland should reduce their emissions by 80%". WWF March 2008
Team Challenge
As a team, your task is to create a 4 page e-update* for The Path is Green website. The main aim of the e-update is to inform the general public of the need to take action now to cut greenhouse emissions but more importantly to highlight the job opportunities that can arise from these actions. For example, individuals can develop their interest in the environment while still enjoying all the benefits of diverse and interesting careers, including:
- Interesting and challenging work with excellent training
- Long-term careers that make a difference to the environment
- Careers offering good salaries and good progression opportunities
- The opportunity to travel as more countries seek the expertise being developed in Scotland
*See e-update guidelines below for further information.
Background Information
- Your carbon footprint is the direct effect of your actions and lifestyle has on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.
- Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) to generate electricity and run our automobiles, heat houses and power factories, is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
- Climate change is increasingly recognised as one of the planet’s major challenges with greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans having a negative impact on the environment.
Check out your carbon footprint at:
Here are a few of the current headlines and reports.
- Winter storms have doubled in frequency in the UK over the last 50 years, and many experts believe that by the end of this century Scotland will have warmer, wetter winters, less snowfall and an increased risk of flooding.
- We can expect more extreme weather, sea level rises of up to 600 mm threatening coastal areas and up to 90% less snowfall. Skiing in Scotland could become a thing of the past. Find out more at Scotland Climate Change Programme.
- There has never been a more exciting time to be deciding what path your career will take. The Scottish Government has set a target to meet 50% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020. This is just part of the reason why in the next 10-15 years Scotland will see the creation of up to an additional 50,000 Green Jobs – giving you an incredible range of choice for the type of career you would like to pursue. At present, there are around 80,000 Green Jobs in Scotland. Find out more at WWF welcomes Scotland's Green Jobs consultation
- Scotland’s natural resources, including water, farmland, lochs and woodlands, are already worth £17 billion per annum to the economy.
- At the heart of Scotland’s global environmental impact are our lifestyles. Three-quarters of Scotland’s footprint, and its consumption emissions (8.57tons of CO2/per person) are triggered by the choices of Scottish households in their everyday activities. Find out more from Towards a low footprint Scotland (PDF format 6MB)
PDF files require you to have Adobe Reader, which is free to download from the Adobe website. Download Acrobat reader.
E-update guidelines
The e-update must contain the following:
- Features/articles on the impact of carbon emissions. (maximum one page)
- Public advice on how to reduce emissions. (maximum one page)
- Advertisement/features on new products currently on the market that would help to alleviate or reduce carbon emissions. (maximum one page)
- Features/articles on green job companies currently operating within Scotland (find out if there any in your area) producing goods/services that would reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Also create adverts for green jobs that may be available now and in the future in this area of work (there is scope to use your imagination!). The green job adverts must include details such as: job title, skills and qualities, qualifications, salary and career opportunities available. (maximum one page)
For further guidance please refer to Tips for Teachers.