Activity One - Global to Local Response

Global Response - SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

"Goal 7 is about ensuring access to clean and affordable energy which is key to the development of agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare and transportation." (UN SDG). Between the years 2010 and 2023 global access to electricity has increased, despite what you hear in the news! Access to electricity has gone up from 84% to 92% (UN SDG). This global goal was vital in highlighting not just the need for access to electricity but to move towards sustainable methods of creating electricity.

Local Response - Mukuru - Clean Cook Stove - Kenya

In Geography we look at change at different scales. The change can be very possitive and creates future positive possibilities for the everyday person. Change does not always come from highly funded people or from top tier universities. The change can take place at the local level born out of a personal experience. The Mukuru Clean Stoves is one such innovation. 

"Rather than burning dangerous solid fuels, Mukuru Clean Stoves use processed biomass made from charcoal, wood and sugarcane. This burns cleaner,

creating 90 percent less pollution than an open fire and 70 percent less than a traditional cookstove. They are cheaper too, costing just $10 and halving ongoing fuel costs." 

(Earth Shot Prize, 2022)

Not only does it provide a safer way to fuel stoves it improves the health and time of the women who predominately cook for their families. Hours can be spent sourcing firewood to cook the food. Today, over 200,000 people across Kenya use the Mukuru Cook Stove saving over $10 million in fuel costs (Earth Shot Prize, 2022). So while this response to reducing air pollution and lowering the rates of deforestation was a primary goal it also seeks to empower women. 

1. Create a detailed example of the UN SDG 7. To this use the following structure:

   1. 1. 1. 1. • Title - Global Response - UN SDG 7 - What are the SDGs?

               • Place - Global

               • Process - What is the goal hoping to achieve?

               • Power - Is the goal working? Where? Try to use data to illustrate the changes. 

               • Possibilities - What is the aim for the future and how is this going to be achieved?

2. Create a detailed example for the Mukuru Clean Cook Stove. To do this use the following structure:

   1. 1. 1. 1. • Title - Local Response - Mukuru Clean Cook Stove

               • Place - Kenya

               • Process - What is the story behind the clean cook stoves? How do the stoves work?

               • Power - Are the stoves successful - focus on individual, overall and the importance for women? Remember to use data as evidence for this. Where has the Mukuru company gained investment from? How has this helped to promote cleaner sources of energy for cooking?

               • Possibilities - What is the aim for the future and how is this going to be achieved?

Useful Resources

Activity Two - Regional Response - EU

As you have seen from learning about SDG 7 everyone in every area of the world has the responsibility to reduce their demand of water and energy. While this can be as simple as deciding to walk to an after school sports activity and turning the lights off when needed action is still needed. The EU aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. While that year seems a long way off to develop the infrastructure for sustainability takes time. Today, approximately 25.2% of our energy sources in the EU comes from sustainable sources (EU Energy Commission). By 2030 the binding target should be 42.5% of our energy is sustainable. But how is this being achieved? 

1. Read the infographic in the 'Useful Resources' box and choose three examples to focus on.

2. Create a summary of how three countries are becoming more energy efficient. Remember to document the place, the issue, how is it being solved and the benefits. 

3. We will discuss as a group which change you think is the most important and why.

Useful Resource

Activity Three - Civil Society Groups and Corporate Responsibility

It is all well and good for the United Nations and the EU to have amazing goals that aim to promote positive change but only if we know about them. Social media is often vilified as a way of damaging society today but it does have a positive side. The global connectivity between people via a simple phone with an internet access means information can be shared. Awareness of issues can be raised in a way that is easy to digest and can prompt us to take action. Civil Society Groups such as Greenpeace have really utilised this global connectivity and in fact a number of the YouTube videos have gone 'viral'. 

Who are Greenpeace?

Greenpeace was formed in 1971 by a Canadian and US activist with the aim that the Earth should nurture its life and diversity. By the lat 1970s there were over 15 Greenpeace groups across the world. They have moved away from the marginal company of their early years to being an influential global civil society group.

Who are Marks and Spencers?

Marks and Spencers is a UK department store and can be found on most major high streets within the UK. They are famous for the Percy Pigs sweets which are now being sold in Target in the USA, Colin the Caterpillar chocolate cake, picky bits food and underwear. 1 in 3 of all British women buy their underwear from M&S. But they did not start this big.  "M&S started life in 1884, when the immigrant Michael Marks came to the north of England and managed to secure a stall at Kirkgate Market in Leeds. Having arrived with little money and limited English, he built his success using the slogan “Don't ask the price, it's a 'Penny”." (Marks and Spencers)

1. Watch the first YouTube clip 'Lego: Everything is NOT awesome' and write down what Greenpeace is trying to achieve.

2. How does Greenpeace evoke empathy within the first clip. 

3. Did Greenpeace achieve their aim with Lego?

4. Watch the second YouTube clip, 'Is this the ocean of the future?'. What is Greenpeace trying to achieve here?

5. How is Greenpeace trying to change how we view waste?

6. Has Greenpeace been successful in reducing plastic waste? 

7. Nationally, what is the UK doing to reduce their plastic waste? 

8. Companies are also trying to show their responsibility to create effective change. How is Marks and Spencers trying to reduce plastic within their shops? 

Useful Resources