The Underlying Reasons for the European Heatwave
Ask Students: Who is Emily Shuckburgh and what is her job title and subject matter expertise? What natural disasters are caused by climate change?
Understanding the Historic European Heatwave
A heat wave that’s been searing southern Europe moved north into Britain this week, with temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat also fueled wildfires in France and Spain, displacing thousands of people with hundreds of heat-related deaths. For a transcript of this story, click here.
Discussion Questions: Climate Change and Rising Temperatures
- Who is Emily Shuckburgh and what is her job title and subject matter expertise?
- What natural disasters are caused by climate change?
- Where were the heat waves that Shuckburgh discussed?
- How has some infrastructure in the United States been adapted for hotter temperatures?
- What is the target date for reaching net zero emissions in the United Kingdom?
Focus Questions
Shuckburgh mentioned a couple of the effects of the heat wave. What are some other negative effects for Europeans that you can think of? How can Europe better prepare for future heat waves?
Media Literacy: The video begins with a quick summary of the heat wave by Stephanie Sy. Why is it important for videos to assume a viewer has no background knowledge?
Deepen your Understanding
Read this New York Post article on the similarities between the hit movie “Don’t Look Up” and an interview about the summer 2022 heat wave to answer the questions below.
- What are the similarities between the two clips?
- How could this type of reporting be misleading?
Additional Resources
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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