How the Senate's latest bill would boost clean energy and combat global warming
Ask students: Which house of Congress still needs to pass the bill for it to become a law? How much could the bill reduce the country’s carbon emissions?
Summary
If the House passes the Inflation Reduction Act in the coming days it will lead to by far the biggest investment the federal government has made on tackling climate change. Several estimates have indicated the initiative may mean a 40 percent reduction in America’s carbon emissions by 2030 from 2005 figures. For a transcript, click here.
Five Facts
- Which house of Congress still needs to pass the bill for it to become a law?
- How much could the bill reduce the country’s carbon emissions?
- What percent of global emissions come from the U.S.?
- Why have Democrats chosen subsidies (incentives giving people money or discounts if they do something) instead of taxes, according to Paul Bledsoe?
- What pollutant other than CO2 does this bill target?
Focus Questions
Why do you think that this is the first time that the United States Congress has passed a major spending bill to address climate change? What do you think might have prevented it in the past?
Media literacy: What kind of political views do you think Paul Bledsoe holds? How does that affect how you understand his analysis of the bill?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
Lesson Plans on Climate Change
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
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