Parents
10 reasons why energy should be taught in school
1. Energy has an effect on everyone: fuel bills, fossil fuel extraction, transport, pollution, waste, security (nuclear waste), etc. We rely on energy for so many tasks that to consider a time when we cannot just refuel our cars or plug in a hairdryer without thought beyond payment is almost inconceivable.
2. Fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas will run out, they are nonrenewable.
3. Burning fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Levels of CO2 have increased by about 25% in the last 200 years (NERC – Climate Change, scientific certainties and uncertainties).
4. CO2 and Methane (CH4) as well as a few other gases form a layer around the Earth that is essential for life on Earth, HOWEVER, burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation, transport and from agricultural practices this layer is increasing and trapping heat around the Earth – this is the enhanced greenhouse effect. This enhanced effect has and will continue to alter global climates.
5. 10 years ago (1995) the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated:
‘ the balance of evidence suggests a discernable human influence on global climate.’
6. Under the Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect on 16th February 2005 the UK must reduce its baseline emissions of 6 greenhouse gases by 12.5% from a target set in 1990.
7. Burning fossil fuels also releases chemicals into the air that damage the environment (acid rain) and pose a risk to people’s health.
8. More extreme weather events are likely consequences of climate change; severe heat, cold, flooding and drought all affect humans and biodiversity. People’s insurance premiums will be so high properties will be uninsured; conflicts may occur over access to water; sea levels will rise when glaciers and the Antarctica ice melts; people will move from areas that are too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold – 6.5 billion people need to live somewhere
9. The population and the economically important tourist industry in Wales are concentrated on the coast and as much is less than one metre above sea level the likelihood of flooding due to sea level rise and destruction from storms is high. Mountain environments will lose rare alpine plants. Crops could be destroyed by pests able to survive warmer winters…… (Energy Saving Trust – Forecasting the Future, 2004)
10. Once pupils are energy aware they will be more conscientious about wasting energy through simple efficiency measures that will save money as well as conserving natural resources.
By educating pupils about energy use, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of renewable technologies enables them to take informed decisions. The Government has a target to produce 10% of all UK electricity from renewable sources by 2010 (currently about 3%).
