Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Research climate actions in Ghana and other countries.
• Compare climate initiatives between countries.
• Identify effective initiatives in Ghana.
• Prescribe best practices for Ghana's green economy.

Lesson summary

Climate change is already affecting Ghana through unpredictable rainfall, flooding in cities (e.g., Accra/Kumasi), longer dry seasons in the north, coastal erosion in Keta and Ada, and reduced crop yields. A green economy is about growing Ghana’s economy while reducing pollution, saving energy, and protecting natural resources so that jobs and development can continue without destroying the environment. This lesson focuses on assessing data on climate change and green economy actions—especially in Ghana and other countries—so learners can make evidence-based judgments and propose best practices for Ghana.

Lesson notes

A. Climate Change (Meaning and Evidence) Climate is the average weather conditions of a place over a long time (usually 30 years). Climate change is a long-term shift in temperature, rainfall patterns, wind patterns, and extreme events. Key evidence (what we look for in data) Rising average temperature over many years. Changing rainfall patterns (late onset of rains, shorter rainy seasons, more intense storms). More extreme events (floods, droughts, heat waves). Sea level rise and coastal erosion. Increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) like CO₂, CH₄. Greenhouse effect (simple explanation) The sun’s energy warms the Earth. The Earth releases heat back to space. Greenhouse gases trap some of this heat, keeping Earth warm. When human activities increase GHGs (burning fossil fuels, deforestation), more heat is trapped, causing global warming and climate change.

B. Climate Change Data: Types and How to Assess It To assess data, learners must: Check the source (GMet, EPA Ghana, UN, World Bank, IPCC, reputable news with data). Look for trends (not one-year changes; look at many years). Compare (before vs after; Ghana vs other countries; rural vs urban). Use criteria to judge actions (impact, cost, feasibility, fairness, sustainability). Common climate indicators (data types) Temperature anomaly: how much warmer/cooler than a baseline average. Rainfall totals and distribution (monthly/annual). CO₂ emissions (total and per person). Forest cover change (deforestation rate). Energy mix (% renewable vs fossil). Air quality (PM2.5 levels).

C. Green Economy (Meaning and Components) A green economy is an economy that: improves human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcity.

In simple terms: “Jobs and development without destroying nature.” Examples of green economy sectors Renewable energy: solar, wind, small hydro, biogas. Energy efficiency: LED bulbs, efficient appliances, improved industrial processes. Sustainable agriculture: climate-smart farming, irrigation efficiency, composting. Waste management: recycling, composting, waste-to-energy (carefully managed). Green transport: mass transit, electric vehicles, cycling lanes. Forestry and restoration: tree planting, mangrove restoration.

Evaluation guide

• Research into climate change and green economy actions in Ghana.
• Access climate change and green economy actions in other countries.
• Compare and contrast climate change and green economy actions in
• Ghana and other countries.