The United States and China have made a deal to tackle climate change, but they haven’t promised to stop using fossil fuels. The agreement focuses on working together to reduce methane and support the goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030. It doesn’t talk about coal or what will happen to fossil fuels in the future. Even though some experts wanted more progress on fossil fuels, they still think the agreement is a good step forward, especially for renewable energy and reducing methane.

Reducing methane is important because it’s a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly. China, which is the second-largest economy in the world, didn’t sign a pledge to reduce methane emissions at a recent conference. But the joint statement shows that both the US and China will include methane and other greenhouse gases in their future plans. This is a big deal because China is the largest emitter of methane globally.

On top of their commitments, the US and China have agreed to host a summit together on methane and other gases at an upcoming conference. This is good news for the conference because people were worried about the lack of progress and the expected record-breaking heat in 2023. The fact that the US and China, even though they have differences, can work together on climate change is a positive sign for the conference. It might also encourage other countries to do the same.

Original news source: Climate change: US and China take ‘small but important steps’ (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students work in pairs to create a short news report summarizing the article. They should touch on the key points: the US-China deal, the focus on methane and renewable energy, and the upcoming summit. Afterward, each pair presents their summary to the class, and the teacher facilitates a brief discussion on the importance of each point.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: The teacher writes a statement on the board, for example, “The agreement between the US and China is sufficient to combat climate change.” Students move to different corners of the room based on their level of agreement (strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree). They then discuss in their groups why they chose their position, and share their reasons with the class.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a concept from the article (e.g., methane, renewable energy, US-China cooperation, climate summit). Each group must then create a quick sketch or visual representation of their concept without using words. Share the sketches with the class and have other students guess the concept and explain its relevance to the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students discuss and write down their predictions about the outcomes of the US-China climate change collaboration. Encourage them to consider the effects on global policy, the environment, and international relations. Each group shares their predictions, and the class votes on the most likely scenarios.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article (e.g., methane, emitter, summit, greenhouse gases, renewable energy) on slips of paper. Students take turns picking a word and drawing it on the board without speaking or writing letters. Their team must guess the word within a set time limit. This activity helps reinforce understanding of key terms from the article.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What have the United States and China agreed to work on together to combat climate change?
2. By what year do the United States and China aim to triple renewable energy?
3. What aspect of climate change does the agreement not address?
4. Why do experts consider methane reduction to be critical?
5. Which country is the largest emitter of methane worldwide?
6. What event have the US and China decided to collaborate on in the future?
7. What concerns did people have about the upcoming conference before the US and China made their announcement?
8. How might the cooperation between the US and China influence other countries regarding climate change efforts?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The United States and (1)______ have made a deal to tackle climate change, but they haven’t (2)______ to stop using fossil fuels. The agreement focuses on working together to (3)______ methane and support the goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030. It doesn’t talk about coal or what will (4)______ to fossil fuels in the future. Even though some experts wanted more progress on (5)______ fuels, they still think the agreement is a good step forward, especially for (6)______ energy and reducing methane.

Reducing methane is (7)______ because it’s a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly. China, which is the second-largest (8)______ in the world, didn’t sign a pledge to reduce methane emissions at a recent (9)______. But the joint statement shows that both the US and China will include methane and other greenhouse gases in their (10)______ plans. This is a big deal because China is the (11)______ emitter of methane globally.

On top of their commitments, the US and China have agreed to host a (12)______ together on methane and other gases at an upcoming conference. This is good news for the conference because people were worried about the lack of (13)______ and the expected record-breaking heat in 2023. The fact that the US and China, even though they have differences, can work together on climate (14)______ is a positive sign for the conference. It might also (15)______ other (16)______ to do the same.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is climate change, and why do you think it’s important to address it?
2. How would you feel if your country was one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases?
3. Do you like the idea of countries working together to solve big problems like climate change? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s possible to stop using fossil fuels completely in the future? Why or why not?
5. What is renewable energy, and can you name some types?
6. How do you think your life would change if your country switched to 100% renewable energy?
7. What are some actions that you can take to help reduce climate change?
8. Do you think it’s important for big countries like the US and China to set an example in fighting climate change? Why or why not?
9. What is methane, and why do you think it’s a big deal to reduce its emissions?
10. How would you feel if your government didn’t sign an important environmental pledge? Would you do something about it?
11. Do you think hosting summits and conferences about climate change is an effective way to make progress? Why or why not?
12. Have you noticed any effects of climate change where you live, like unusual weather patterns or temperatures?
13. What do you think is the biggest challenge in getting countries to work together on climate issues?
14. Do you believe that individual actions can make a difference in fighting climate change, even if governments are slow to act?
15. Do you think that progress in one area, like renewable energy, can make up for a lack of progress in another, like reducing coal use? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. deal
2. fossil fuels
3. renewable energy
4. methane
5. greenhouse gases
6. summit
7. progress
8. conference

Meanings:
(a) Forward movement or improvement towards a goal
(b) A meeting or gathering of leaders or experts to discuss important issues
(c) An agreement or arrangement between two parties
(d) Fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas that come from ancient plants and animals
(e) Energy that comes from sources that can be replenished, such as wind or solar power
(f) A large meeting or event where people come together to discuss a specific topic
(g) A gas that contributes to global warming and climate change
(h) Gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main focus of the agreement between the United States and China?
(a) Reducing methane and supporting renewable energy
(b) Stopping the use of fossil fuels
(c) Increasing coal production
(d) Ignoring the issue of greenhouse gases

2. Why is reducing methane important?
(a) It has no impact on the environment
(b) It is less harmful than other greenhouse gases
(c) It is not mentioned in the article
(d) It is a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly

3. Which country is the largest emitter of methane globally?
(a) United States
(b) Russia
(c) China
(d) Germany

4. What have the US and China agreed to host together?
(a) A conference on renewable energy
(b) A summit on methane and other gases
(c) A meeting to discuss coal production
(d) A workshop on reducing greenhouse gases

5. Why is the joint statement between the US and China significant?
(a) It shows that both countries will include methane and other greenhouse gases in their future plans
(b) It doesn’t have any significance
(c) It only focuses on reducing coal emissions
(d) It doesn’t mention any specific actions

6. What do experts think about the agreement between the US and China?
(a) It doesn’t make any progress on fossil fuels
(b) It is a bad deal for both countries
(c) It is a good step forward, especially for renewable energy and reducing methane
(d) It ignores the issue of greenhouse gases

7. What is the goal for renewable energy by 2030?
(a) Completely replacing fossil fuels
(b) Doubling the current amount
(c) No specific goal is mentioned
(d) Tripling the current amount

8. What is the main concern addressed by the US and China’s agreement?
(a) The use of fossil fuels
(b) Lack of progress and expected record-breaking heat in 2023
(c) The reduction of renewable energy
(d) The increase in coal production

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The US and China will exclude methane and other greenhouse gases in their future plans, as stated in the joint statement.
2. Experts believe that the agreement is a negative step, particularly for renewable energy and reducing methane.
3. The focus of the agreement is on reducing methane and increasing renewable energy.
4. The deal does not include a promise to stop using fossil fuels.
5. The agreement specifically mentions coal and the future of fossil fuels.
6. Reducing methane is important because it is a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly.
7. The United States and China have made a deal to address climate change.
8. China, the second-largest economy in the world, committed to reducing methane emissions at a recent conference.
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 have the United States and China agreed to work on together regarding climate change?
2. By what year do the United States and China aim to triple renewable energy?
3. Why is reducing methane emissions considered important for the environment?
4. What recent pledge did China not sign, and how does the new agreement address this issue?
5. Why is the upcoming summit on methane and other gases significant for the climate conference?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What have the United States and China agreed to work on together to combat climate change?
The United States and China have agreed to work together to reduce methane emissions and support the goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030.

2. By what year do the United States and China aim to triple renewable energy?
The United States and China aim to triple renewable energy by 2030.

3. What aspect of climate change does the agreement not address?
The agreement does not address the use of coal or the future of fossil fuels.

4. Why do experts consider methane reduction to be critical?
Experts consider methane reduction to be critical because methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has a significant impact on the environment in a short amount of time.

5. Which country is the largest emitter of methane worldwide?
China is the largest emitter of methane worldwide.

6. What event have the US and China decided to collaborate on in the future?
The US and China have decided to collaborate on hosting a summit on methane and other greenhouse gases at an upcoming conference.

7. What concerns did people have about the upcoming conference before the US and China made their announcement?
People were concerned about the lack of progress and the expected record-breaking heat in 2023 at the upcoming conference.

8. How might the cooperation between the US and China influence other countries regarding climate change efforts?
The cooperation between the US and China might encourage other countries to also work together on climate change efforts, showing that even countries with differences can find common ground on important issues like climate change.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) China
(2) promised
(3) reduce
(4) happen
(5) fossil
(6) renewable
(7) important
(8) economy
(9) conference
(10) future
(11) largest
(12) summit
(13) progress
(14) change
(15) encourage
(16) countries
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. deal
Answer: (c) An agreement or arrangement between two parties

2. fossil fuels
Answer: (d) Fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas that come from ancient plants and animals

3. renewable energy
Answer: (e) Energy that comes from sources that can be replenished, such as wind or solar power

4. methane
Answer: (g) A gas that contributes to global warming and climate change

5. greenhouse gases
Answer: (h) Gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming

6. summit
Answer: (b) A meeting or gathering of leaders or experts to discuss important issues

7. progress
Answer: (a) Forward movement or improvement towards a goal

8. conference
Answer: (f) A large meeting or event where people come together to discuss a specific topic
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main focus of the agreement between the United States and China?
Answer: (a) Reducing methane and supporting renewable energy

2. Why is reducing methane important?
Answer: (d) It is a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly

3. Which country is the largest emitter of methane globally?
Answer: (c) China

4. What have the US and China agreed to host together?
Answer: (b) A summit on methane and other gases

5. Why is the joint statement between the US and China significant?
Answer: (a) It shows that both countries will include methane and other greenhouse gases in their future plans

6. What do experts think about the agreement between the US and China?
Answer: (c) It is a good step forward, especially for renewable energy and reducing methane

7. What is the goal for renewable energy by 2030?
Answer: (d) Tripling the current amount

8. What is the main concern addressed by the US and China’s agreement?
Answer: (b) Lack of progress and expected record-breaking heat in 2023
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The US and China will exclude methane and other greenhouse gases in their future plans, as stated in the joint statement. (Answer: False)
2. Experts believe that the agreement is a negative step, particularly for renewable energy and reducing methane. (Answer: False)
3. The focus of the agreement is on reducing methane and increasing renewable energy. (Answer: True)
4. The deal does not include a promise to stop using fossil fuels. (Answer: True)
5. The agreement specifically mentions coal and the future of fossil fuels. (Answer: False)
6. Reducing methane is important because it is a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly. (Answer: True)
7. The United States and China have made a deal to address climate change. (Answer: True)
8. China, the second-largest economy in the world, committed to reducing methane emissions at a recent conference. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧