Based on the Politico article: Deal or ‘meh’ deal? Climate summit ends on a deflating note
Summary of the Article
Nearly 200 countries met in Belém, Brazil, for the COP30 climate summit to discuss how to slow climate change. After almost two weeks of negotiations, they reached a deal, but many people felt it was disappointing.
Countries agreed to try harder to limit global warming and to support poorer nations dealing with climate impacts. However:
- They did NOT agree to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal, something many nations (especially in the EU and Latin America) pushed for.
- Funding for developing countries will roll out more slowly than hoped.
- Strong disagreements broke out between groups of countries, especially over fossil fuels.
The United States didn’t attend at all because the U.S. administration had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement again, leaving the EU and others without major political backing.
Despite small steps forward – including plans to create “roadmaps” for ending deforestation and reducing fossil fuel use – the final deal was weak and non-binding. Many nations warned that the world is still far off track from preventing dangerous levels of warming.
Lesson: Climate at a Crossroads: Science, Fossil Fuels, and Global Decisions
Topic: Climate Change, Fossil Fuels, and Global Decision-Making
Grade Level: 9–12
Time: 60–75 minutes
Themes: Greenhouse gases, global systems, energy science, human impacts, climate policy, environmental justice
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain how fossil fuels contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.
- Describe the role of international agreements (like COP summits) in global climate action.
- Analyze why countries disagree on climate policies, especially around fossil fuels and funding.
- Evaluate how scientific evidence influences (or fails to influence) political decisions.
Instructions
1. Warm-Up
Ask students: Imagine every country in the world had to agree on one giant science project that affects the entire planet. What might be difficult about that?
Have students discuss this question in pairs or a small group, then share the main points with the rest of the class.
2. Teacher Presentation: The Science That Drives Climate Negotiations
(teachers – see talking points)
Key points to cover:
- Fossil fuels → CO₂ → enhanced greenhouse effect
- Why reducing emissions matters for global temperature limits (1.5°C or 2°C)
- Why developing countries ask for financial support (unequal impacts, different levels of responsibility)
- Role of the Paris Agreement and COP summits
3. Article Analysis Activity
Students can work in small groups with the article and the summary.
Tasks:
- Identify the scientific issues (greenhouse gases, warming, fossil fuels).
- Identify the political issues (funding, disagreements, U.S. absence).
- Highlight which parts show progress and which show barriers.
Groups will share this as a class and teachers can chart the main themes.
4. Simulation Activity: Design a Fair Climate Deal
Assign roles (2–3 students per role):
- High-income countries
- Fossil-fuel-producing countries
- Small island or climate-vulnerable nations (think flooding, severe weather, etc.)
- Emerging economies
- Science advisors
Task:
Each group must create a small climate deal that:
- Reduces fossil fuel emissions
- Provides some form of climate financing
- Sets a timeline or target
- Reflects their group’s priorities
Debrief:
Discuss why it was difficult to reach agreements, connecting the discussion back to the article.
5. Reflection
Students discuss: What is one scientific fact that should guide global climate decisions, and one political challenge that makes acting on that science difficult?
Extensions
- Math/Data: Graph recent CO₂ trends and predict future outcomes under different policies.
- Geography: Map climate-vulnerable regions.
- Civics: Explore how global cooperation works (UNFCCC, Paris Agreement).
- Engineering: Research renewable energy technologies and their potential.