The year 2023 is expected to break global heat records, with October experiencing exceptionally high temperatures, leading to a prediction that it will be the warmest year on record. This trend is driven by carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event, resulting in the fifth consecutive month of record warmth. Researchers anticipate that extreme global temperatures will persist into 2024.
The year has already seen numerous global heat records being broken, with the number of days surpassing the politically significant 1.5C warming threshold reaching a new high. July was potentially the hottest month in 120,000 years, and September’s average temperatures exceeded the previous record by 0.5C. October, while not as unusually hot as September, still broke the record for the month by an exceptional margin.
The unprecedented warmth experienced throughout the year makes it highly likely that 2023 will surpass 2016 as the warmest year on record. This has real-world consequences, leading to extreme heatwaves, droughts, and human suffering. The main driver of this heat is ongoing carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbated by the El Niño event, which has been gaining strength.
The global context of rising temperatures sets the stage for the UN’s COP28 summit, emphasizing the urgent need for ambitious climate action. October temperatures were significantly higher than average globally, leading to extreme conditions in various parts of the world, including the UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa. As high temperatures continue into November, concerns about further extreme events, such as wildfires in Australia, are growing.
The ongoing trend of record-breaking temperatures and its impact on the environment and human well-being underscores the pressing need for global action to address climate change.
Original news source: Global heat: Extreme autumn sets up 2023 to break records (BBC)
Listen
Slow
Normal
Fast
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be divided into small groups. Each group will be tasked with summarizing the article in under 100 words, focusing on the main points such as the record-breaking heat, the role of carbon emissions and El Niño, and the implications for the UN’s COP28 summit. Afterward, each group will present their summary to the class, and the class will discuss the differences and similarities between each summary.
– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Place a line of tape on the floor to represent an ‘opinion spectrum’ about the urgency of climate action. One end signifies ‘immediate action is necessary,’ while the other end signifies ‘no action is required.’ Read statements from the article related to climate change, and have students physically position themselves along the spectrum to indicate their opinion. After each statement, select students from different points on the spectrum to explain their position, encouraging a class discussion.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students use information from the article to make predictions about the future effects of global warming and the outcomes of the COP28 summit. They should consider different scenarios based on potential decisions made at the summit. Each group will then share their predictions, and the class will vote on which they believe are the most likely to occur, fostering a discussion on the possible paths of climate action.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key terms from the article (e.g., carbon emissions, El Niño, heatwave, drought, COP28, climate change) on slips of paper. Students take turns drawing a term from a hat and then sketching it on the board without using words or gestures. Their team has a minute to guess the term. This activity helps reinforce new vocabulary in a fun and engaging way.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Students work in pairs to list the pros and cons of various responses to global warming mentioned in the article, such as reducing carbon emissions or implementing new policies at the COP28 summit. They should consider the environmental, economic, and social implications of each action. After compiling their lists, pairs will join another pair to compare and discuss their findings, encouraging critical thinking about complex global issues.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the predicted status of the year 2023 in terms of global heat records?
2. What are the two main factors contributing to the high temperatures experienced in 2023?
3. How many consecutive months of record warmth have been experienced leading up to the prediction for 2023?
4. What significant warming threshold has been surpassed more frequently in terms of the number of days, and what is the political significance of this threshold?
5. By how much did September’s average temperatures exceed the previous record?
6. What are some of the real-world consequences mentioned as a result of the warmest year on record?
7. What global event is mentioned in the context of emphasizing the urgent need for climate action?
8. Which regions of the world are mentioned as experiencing extreme conditions due to the higher than average October temperatures?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The year 2023 is expected to break global heat (1)______s, with October experiencing exceptionally high temperatures, leading to a prediction that it will be the warmest year on record. This trend is driven by carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event, (2)______ in the fifth consecutive month of record (3)______. (4)______ anticipate that extreme global temperatures will persist into 2024.
The year has already seen numerous global heat records being broken, with the (5)______ of days surpassing the politically significant 1.5C warming threshold reaching a new high. July was potentially the hottest month in 120,000 years, and September’s average temperatures (6)______ the (7)______ record by 0.5C. October, while not as unusually hot as September, still broke the record for the month by an exceptional margin.
The (8)______ warmth experienced throughout the year makes it highly likely that 2023 will surpass 2016 as the warmest year on record. This has real-world consequences, leading to extreme heatwaves, droughts, and human suffering. The main driver of this heat is ongoing carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbated by the El Niño event, which has been gaining strength.
The (9)______ context of rising temperatures sets the stage for the UN’s COP28 summit, emphasizing the urgent need for (10)______ climate (11)______. October temperatures were significantly (12)______ than average globally, leading to extreme conditions in various parts of the world, including the UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa. As high temperatures (13)______ into November, concerns about further extreme (14)______, such as wildfires in Australia, are growing.
The ongoing (15)______ of record-breaking temperatures and its (16)______ on the environment and human well-being underscores the pressing need for global action to address climate change.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What are your thoughts on the continuous rise in global temperatures year after year?
2. How would you feel if your local area was affected by an extreme heatwave?
3. Do you think that the record-breaking temperatures in 2023 will have a significant impact on your country? Why or why not?
4. What actions do you believe individuals can take to help reduce carbon emissions?
5. How do you perceive the role of international summits like the UN’s COP28 in combating climate change?
6. Do you think enough is being done by world leaders to address the urgent need for climate action? Why or why not?
7. What is your opinion on the potential link between El Niño events and global warming?
8. How would you explain the concept of the 1.5C warming threshold to someone who is not familiar with climate change terminology?
9. Have you or someone you know experienced any direct consequences of extreme weather events? If so, what happened?
10. Do you believe that the media is giving sufficient coverage to issues related to climate change and extreme temperatures? Why or why not?
11. What is your stance on the debate between economic development and environmental protection?
12. How do you feel about the possibility of experiencing the warmest year on record?
13. Do you think that the predictions about extreme global temperatures persisting into 2024 are accurate? Why or why not?
14. In what ways do you think extreme heat and weather events could affect global agriculture and food supply?
15. Do you like the idea of moving towards renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. temperatures
2. October
3. carbon
4. El Niño
5. records
6. global
7. trend
8. environment
Meanings:
(a) A chemical element
(b) A weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean
(c) Relating to the whole world
(d) Measurement of heat or cold
(e) The tenth month of the year
(f) The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
(g) A general direction in which something is developing or changing
(h) Information about the past
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is driving the trend of record-breaking temperatures in 2023?
(a) Solar flares and volcanic eruptions
(b) Deforestation and ocean acidification
(c) Industrial pollution and nuclear accidents
(d) Carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event
2. What is the main consequence of the record-breaking temperatures in 2023?
(a) Increased snowfall and colder winters
(b) Extreme heatwaves, droughts, and human suffering
(c) Reduced sea levels and milder weather
(d) More moderate temperatures and increased agricultural productivity
3. What is the main driver of the unprecedented warmth experienced in 2023?
(a) Decreasing levels of greenhouse gases
(b) Reduced industrial activity
(c) Ongoing carbon dioxide emissions
(d) Natural climate cycles
4. What event is exacerbating the ongoing carbon dioxide emissions in 2023?
(a) La Niña event
(b) El Niño event
(c) Monsoon season
(d) Polar vortex
5. What is the main focus of the UN’s COP28 summit in the context of rising temperatures in 2023?
(a) Promoting fossil fuel consumption
(b) Expanding industrial production
(c) Urgent need for ambitious climate action
(d) Encouraging deforestation
6. In which month was potentially the hottest in 120,000 years in 2023?
(a) April
(b) November
(c) March
(d) July
7. Which region experienced extreme conditions due to significantly higher temperatures in October 2023?
(a) UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa
(b) Canada, Russia, China, and Brazil
(c) Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea
(d) USA, Mexico, Argentina, and South Africa
8. What is growing as a concern due to the ongoing high temperatures in November 2023?
(a) Wildfires in Australia
(b) Heavy snowfall in Antarctica
(c) Flooding in the Amazon
(d) Tornadoes in the Midwest
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. The main driver of the heat in 2023 is ongoing carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbated by the El Niño event, which has been gaining strength.
2. The global context of declining temperatures sets the stage for the UN’s COP28 summit, emphasizing the lack of urgency for ambitious climate action.
3. The trend of record warmth in 2023 is driven by carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event, resulting in the fifth consecutive month of record warmth.
4. October temperatures were significantly lower than average globally, leading to mild conditions in various parts of the world, including the UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa.
5. The year 2023 is expected to break global heat records, with October experiencing exceptionally high temperatures, leading to a prediction that it will be the warmest year on record.
6. The ongoing trend of stable temperatures and its lack of impact on the environment and human well-being undermines the pressing need for global action to address climate change.
7. The unprecedented coolness experienced throughout the year makes it highly unlikely that 2023 will surpass 2016 as the warmest year on record.
8. July was potentially the hottest month in 120,000 years, and September’s average temperatures exceeded the previous record by 0.5C.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What is the primary cause of the record-breaking global heat in 2023, according to the article?
2. How does the El Niño weather event contribute to the current global warming trend?
3. What significant temperature threshold has been surpassed more frequently in 2023, and why is it politically significant?
4. What are the potential real-world consequences of the warmest year on record, as mentioned in the article?
5. In the context of the article, why is the COP28 summit considered crucial for addressing climate change?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the predicted status of the year 2023 in terms of global heat records?
The year 2023 is expected to be the warmest year on record.
2. What are the two main factors contributing to the high temperatures experienced in 2023?
The two main factors are carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event.
3. How many consecutive months of record warmth have been experienced leading up to the prediction for 2023?
There have been five consecutive months of record warmth.
4. What significant warming threshold has been surpassed more frequently in terms of the number of days, and what is the political significance of this threshold?
The 1.5C warming threshold has been surpassed more frequently, and it is politically significant as it is a target limit to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
5. By how much did September’s average temperatures exceed the previous record?
September’s average temperatures exceeded the previous record by 0.5C.
6. What are some of the real-world consequences mentioned as a result of the warmest year on record?
The consequences include extreme heatwaves, droughts, and human suffering.
7. What global event is mentioned in the context of emphasizing the urgent need for climate action?
The UN’s COP28 summit is mentioned in the context of emphasizing the urgent need for climate action.
8. Which regions of the world are mentioned as experiencing extreme conditions due to the higher than average October temperatures?
Regions mentioned include the UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) record
(2) resulting
(3) warmth
(4) Researchers
(5) number
(6) exceeded
(7) previous
(8) unprecedented
(9) global
(10) ambitious
(11) action
(12) higher
(13) continue
(14) events
(15) trend
(16) impact
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. temperatures
Answer: (d) Measurement of heat or cold
2. October
Answer: (e) The tenth month of the year
3. carbon
Answer: (a) A chemical element
4. El Niño
Answer: (b) A weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean
5. records
Answer: (h) Information about the past
6. global
Answer: (c) Relating to the whole world
7. trend
Answer: (g) A general direction in which something is developing or changing
8. environment
Answer: (f) The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is driving the trend of record-breaking temperatures in 2023?
Answer: (d) Carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event
2. What is the main consequence of the record-breaking temperatures in 2023?
Answer: (b) Extreme heatwaves, droughts, and human suffering
3. What is the main driver of the unprecedented warmth experienced in 2023?
Answer: (c) Ongoing carbon dioxide emissions
4. What event is exacerbating the ongoing carbon dioxide emissions in 2023?
Answer: (b) El Niño event
5. What is the main focus of the UN’s COP28 summit in the context of rising temperatures in 2023?
Answer: (c) Urgent need for ambitious climate action
6. In which month was potentially the hottest in 120,000 years in 2023?
Answer: (d) July
7. Which region experienced extreme conditions due to significantly higher temperatures in October 2023?
Answer: (a) UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa
8. What is growing as a concern due to the ongoing high temperatures in November 2023?
Answer: (a) Wildfires in Australia
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The main driver of the heat in 2023 is ongoing carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbated by the El Niño event, which has been gaining strength. (Answer: True)
2. The global context of declining temperatures sets the stage for the UN’s COP28 summit, emphasizing the lack of urgency for ambitious climate action. (Answer: False)
3. The trend of record warmth in 2023 is driven by carbon emissions and an El Niño weather event, resulting in the fifth consecutive month of record warmth. (Answer: True)
4. October temperatures were significantly lower than average globally, leading to mild conditions in various parts of the world, including the UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa. (Answer: False)
5. The year 2023 is expected to break global heat records, with October experiencing exceptionally high temperatures, leading to a prediction that it will be the warmest year on record. (Answer: True)
6. The ongoing trend of stable temperatures and its lack of impact on the environment and human well-being undermines the pressing need for global action to address climate change. (Answer: False)
7. The unprecedented coolness experienced throughout the year makes it highly unlikely that 2023 will surpass 2016 as the warmest year on record. (Answer: False)
8. July was potentially the hottest month in 120,000 years, and September’s average temperatures exceeded the previous record by 0.5C. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
