Year 9 Science · Unit 3 · Lesson 22
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
Order the steps, global climate action timeline
Number the events from 1 (earliest) to 7 (most recent) to show the correct chronological order.
| Order (1–7) | Event |
|---|---|
| Glasgow COP26, countries submit updated emissions reduction pledges; coal phase-down agreed | |
| Dubai COP28, first global stocktake; agreement to transition away from fossil fuels | |
| Paris Agreement signed, world commits to limiting warming to 1.5–2°C above pre-industrial levels | |
| IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) established to assess climate science | |
| Kyoto Protocol adopted, wealthy nations commit to binding emissions reduction targets for the first time | |
| Sharm El-Sheikh COP27, loss and damage fund established for climate-vulnerable nations | |
| NDC targets due, countries must show progress on nationally determined contributions under Paris Agreement |
Real-world context
Australia emits approximately 15 tonnes of CO₂ per person per year, one of the highest per-capita rates in the world, and more than three times the global average of around 4.7 t/person/year. France, with a similar GDP per capita, emits only about 4.5 t/person/year. Much of France's electricity comes from nuclear power stations, while Australia relies heavily on coal for electricity generation and has large energy-intensive export industries including iron ore, aluminium, and LNG.
(a) Identify TWO sectors or features of the Australian economy that contribute most to its high per-capita emissions. Use specific evidence from the lesson or the stimulus above.
(b) Explain why France's per-capita CO₂ emissions are so much lower than Australia's, even though both are wealthy countries with similar living standards.
(c) Suggest TWO specific policy changes that could most effectively reduce Australia's per-capita CO₂ emissions. Explain why each would work.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?