Energy and Climate Literacy
Energy and Climate Literacy
Contributors: Jim Covel, Sarah-Mae Nelson, MS, CIG/CIT
Energy is life and how we use energy resources shapes life on Earth in more ways than many people realize. Over the years many scientists and science communicators have come to understand that energy and climate change are intricately linked. In order to make change to mitigate and adapt to climate change, we must examine our use of energy and change how we handle energy resources.
This training module is designed to give foundational science information about energy and climate literacy in addition to interpretive techniques that make communicating this information simple and direct.
Why Is Energy Important?
Why Is Energy Important?
Energy is essential to life and all living organisms. The sun, directly or indirectly, is the source of all the energy available on Earth. Our energy choices and decisions impact Earth’s natural systems in ways we may not be aware of, so it is essential that we choose our energy sources carefully. The true cost of energy is more than just dollars and cents; there are important economic, political and social factors and consequences to consider as well.
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Energy Powers All Living Systems
Nearly everything eats sunshine – or eats something else that ate sunshine. The Sun is the major source of energy for organisms and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Producers, such as plants and algae, use energy from sunlight to make food energy by combining carbon dioxide and water to form organic matter. This process begins the flow of energy through almost all food webs.
Food is sunshine stored in chemical form. Organisms use the stored energy in food to fuel all living processes. Food is organic molecules that serve as fuel and building material for all organisms. The breakdown of food molecules enables cells to store energy and to carry out the many functions of the cell and therefore the entire organism.
For resources in addition to those featured below, see Lesson 2.4—Energy and Carbon.
Lesson Take Away:Energy is essential to life and all living organisms. The sun, directly or indirectly, is the source of all the energy available on Earth.
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Human Energy Use Impacts Natural Systems
Humans rely on sunshine (and stored energy), too. Humans are a part of—not apart from— Earth’s ecosystems. Humans influence energy flow and are modifying the energy balance of Earth’s ecosystems at an increasing rate.
Changes in the availability of energy affect ecosystems. The amount and kind of energy available limits the distribution and abundance of organisms in an ecosystem and the ability of the ecosystem to recycle materials. When humans modify the energy balance, we impact the ability of the ecosystems to react and adapt to variability in the environment.
For resources in addition to those featured below, follow these links:
Lesson Take Away:Our energy choices and decisions impact the Earth’s natural systems in ways we may not be aware of, so it is essential that we that we choose our energy sources carefully.
The Ask:Conserve resources – energy, water, food, and materials – whenever possible. All resources are part of Earth’s energy balance.
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Energy and Economic Circumstances
Energy decisions are influenced by economic circumstances. The cost of energy affects energy decision making at all economic levels. Energy costs are subject to market fluctuations, and the energy choices by individuals and societies affect these fluctuations. Costs also vary depending on the type of energy and the expense to generate it.
Generally, people with lower incomes have less financial influence over where their energy comes from. Similarly, people with higher incomes have greater influence financially over energy choices and, by voting with their dollars, they impact the type of energy available to society as a whole.
For resources in addition to those featured below, follow these links:
Lesson Take Away:The true cost of energy is more than just dollars and cents, there are important economic factors and consequences to account for as well.
The Ask:Choose products with the highest energy efficiency you can afford. Whenever possible, choose to purchase electricity generated with the least amount of carbon dioxide produced.
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Energy and Political Factors
Energy decisions are influenced by political factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, governmental structure and power balances, actions taken by politicians, and partisan-based or self-serving actions taken by individuals and groups.
Politics is defined as “the activities associated with the governance of an area.” Citizens elect officials to represent them in government, but citizens often forget the true influence they have. Supreme Court Associate Justice Louis Brandeis said, “The most important political office is that of the private citizen.” Citizen-driven community action is how many major national changes have been accomplished.
Lesson Take Away:The true cost of energy is more than just dollars and cents, there are important political factors and consequences to consider as well.
The Ask:Encourage decision makers to listen to their constituents and be a constituent who informs decision makers about sustainable energy solutions.
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Energy and Social Impacts
Energy decisions are influenced by social variables, such as beliefs, values, attitudes and knowledge. Questions of ethics, morality, and social norms affect energy decision making at all levels. Social factors often involve economic, political, and environmental factors, too.
Humans are social by nature. We act in ways we believe will help us fit in with our social group. Social norms are standards of behavior shared by a particular social group (of any size) and govern how the group behaves. Individuals who wish to conform to the group typically demonstrate social norms. The actions of individual members are influenced by psychological pressures, such as how a behavior is exhibited and how the group approves/disapproves of that behavior. These norms are then enforced either by the internal feelings of the individual (positive/negative) or external group sanctions (reward/punishment).
For resources in addition to those featured below, follow these links:
Lesson Take Away:The true cost of energy is more than just dollars and cents, there are important social factors and consequences to consider as well.
The Ask:Small subgroups can transmit and maintain norms that run counter to the behaviors of the overarching society or culture. Work to make counter-culture energy conservation the new normal.
Essential Energy Information, Concepts, and Themes
- Energy flows through food webs in one direction, primarily from the sun to producers then to consumers and, finally, to decomposers.
- Energy comes in many forms. It can be converted and stored.
- Energy conservation does not mean decreased quality of life, but often leads to improved quality of life through increased economic and national security, reduced environmental risks, and monetary savings. The way humans use energy has lead to rapid climate change across the planet.
- Humans harness energy from any available resource and the demand for energy is ever increasing. Earth has limited energy resources. Renewable energy provides countless opportunities for economic growth, job creation, improving quality of life, and much more.
Energy Actions, Solutions, and Outcomes
Each person influences the future use of energy by the choices made today. The best source of additional energy is conserved energy. Energy decisions made in the past created today’s energy infrastructure. These decisions set the range of possibilities open to future generations. Identifying the costs and benefits—even the less obvious ones—of each energy decision requires a careful and informed systems-based approach to decision-making.