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)

– 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.

The United States and ? have made a deal to tackle climate change, but they haven't ? to stop using fossil fuels. The agreement focuses on working together to ? methane and support the goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030. It doesn't talk about coal or what will ? to fossil fuels in the future. Even though some experts wanted more progress on ? fuels, they still think the agreement is a good step forward, especially for ? energy and reducing methane. Reducing methane is ? because it's a powerful greenhouse gas that affects the environment quickly. China, which is the second-largest ? in the world, didn't sign a pledge to reduce methane emissions at a recent ?. But the joint statement shows that both the US and China will include methane and other greenhouse gases in their ? plans. This is a big deal because China is the ? emitter of methane globally. On top of their commitments, the US and China have agreed to host a ? 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 ? 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 ? is a positive sign for the conference. It might also ? other ? to do the same.

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?

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