Our Shared Climate Future

Polar Bear Project, CIRES

This peer-reviewed educational video explains human-caused climate change including the greenhouse effect. The role that greenhouse gases play in absorbing and re-emitting longwave radiation is illustrated. Information on how scientists know that the observed global warming is a result of human activities that burn fossil fuels is concisely explained.

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Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

This video can be used to introduce or reinforce the concept of the greenhouse effect and how greenhouse gases function. It offers the opportunity to tie into other climate topics including human-caused climate change, ecosystem impacts of climate change, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This video provides a simple and visually-appealing explanation of the greenhouse effect and climate change. It describes how greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit longwave radiation. It includes a discussion of how scientists know that climate change is mostly caused by the of burning fossil fuels. It also considers how these changes affect our planet globally. Comments from expert scientist: Scientific strengths: Excellent work! - Recognition that everything emits radiation - Difference between short wave and long wave radiation - Clearly and visually describes how the greenhouse effect works and the benefit to having greenhouse gases in our atmosphere - Explanation of carbon isotopes - Impacts of warming world (hotter days, more dependence on water resources, more forest fires, less skiing days, warmer Arctic)
The explanation and illustrations of the greenhouse effect and the function of greenhouse gases are presented in a coherent, logical manner. There are opportunities to stop the video and further explain concepts or explore them in more detail. This video can be used in a larger lesson or unit plan to help students gain understanding of these concepts.