Powering the Future: Sustainable Energy Use and Production For a Net Zero Economy

These resources are part of the Teaching Net Zero Skills and Jobs suite of resources, created in collaboration with our generous philanthropic partners, The Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation and Boundless Earth.

This Physical Sciences Unit, Powering the Future: Sustainable Energy Use and Production For a Net Zero Economy, has been designed to

• support teachers to feel confident teaching about transitioning to a net zero economy using real-world examples
• educate students about climate change
• inspire students to take socially and environmentally responsible, positive action
• develop young people's awareness of and confidence to become climate solution entrepreneurs,
• increase desire to consider sustainability jobs in our future which will be incredibly important as we transition to a net zero economy.

This unit looks at climate change and the ways society can transition to a net zero economy through the lens of Physics, particularly energy. It explores energy basics, conservation, transfers, transformations, and efficiency before delving into the properties of thermal energy through the context of renewable energy technologies, electricity generation, and climate change.

Students will engage in a wide range of activities, from interactive discussions and hands-on experiments to research tasks and creative projects, ponder the jobs and technologies that will help combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be encouraged to think critically and envision a more sustainable future, enabling them to take informed actions towards a greener planet.