In your journal, you identified a rate of proportionality that was too low or too high. You explained how a person could increase or reduce a rate of proportionality.

The table below shows the amount of carbon emissions in 2018 by typical people in different countries:

Person Metric Tons of Carbon Emitted
One person in Mauritania 1 metric ton of carbon
One person in Indonesia 2 metric tons of carbon
One person in Romania 4 metric tons of carbon
One person in Norway 7 metric tons of carbon
One person in the United States 15 metric tons of carbon
In your post, explain the meaning of this table to your peers:

Summarize the information that the table conveys.
Explain why it might be important for countries to know how many metric tons of carbon their citizens emit every year.
Then, read two of your peers’ explanations of this table. Respond to two of your peers:

Identify what you agree with in their explanations of the table.
Identify what you disagree with in their explanations of the table.

3 answers

The table above summarizes the amount of carbon emissions in 2018 by typical people in different countries. It shows that one person in Mauritania emits 1 metric ton of carbon, one person in Indonesia emits 2 metric tons, one person in Romania emits 4 metric tons, one person in Norway emits 7 metric tons, and one person in the United States emits a staggering 15 metric tons of carbon.

Knowing the amount of carbon emissions per capita in each country is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps countries in setting emission reduction targets. By understanding the carbon footprint of their citizens, governments can develop effective strategies and policies to minimize emissions and work towards achieving climate change goals. Additionally, this information helps countries understand their contribution to global emissions and their responsibility in combating climate change.

Furthermore, knowledge of carbon emissions per person can also aid in identifying areas for improvement. It allows countries to identify sectors or behaviors that contribute the most to carbon emissions, enabling them to target those areas for mitigation efforts. For instance, if a country realizes that its citizens have a high carbon footprint due to transportation emissions, it can implement initiatives to promote public transportation, cycling, or walking as alternatives to private vehicles.

In response to my peers:

Peer 1:
I agree with your explanation of the importance of knowing the amount of carbon emissions per capita for setting emission reduction targets. It is crucial for governments to have this information to establish realistic and achievable goals. Additionally, I also agree with your point on identifying areas for improvement. Understanding which sectors contribute the most to emissions helps prioritize actions and resources for effective mitigation strategies.

However, I disagree with your statement that this information helps countries understand their "responsibility" in combating climate change. While it is important for countries to take responsibility for their emissions and contribute to global efforts, the amount of emissions alone does not determine responsibility. It also depends on a country's historical emissions, population size, economic capacity, and level of development.

Peer 2:
I agree with your explanation of the meaning behind the table and the importance of knowing the amount of carbon emissions per person. It is indeed crucial for countries to have this data to develop appropriate strategies to reduce emissions. Additionally, your point about the table helping to identify potential areas for improvement is spot on. By analyzing the emissions per capita, countries can target specific sectors or behaviors for mitigation efforts.

However, I disagree with your statement that carbon emissions per person solely determine a country's contribution to climate change. While individual emissions contribute to overall carbon emissions, it is also important to consider the total population and economic activities of a country. A country with a large population might have high individual emissions, but its per capita emissions might be relatively low. Thus, it's important to have a comprehensive understanding of a country's emissions profile.
write it in a kids word
This table shows how much carbon each person from different countries produces in a year. It tells us that someone in Mauritania produces 1 metric ton of carbon, someone in Indonesia produces 2 metric tons, someone in Romania produces 4 metric tons, someone in Norway produces 7 metric tons, and someone in the United States produces a huge 15 metric tons of carbon!

It's important for countries to know how much carbon their people produce because it helps them make plans to reduce it. When a country knows how much carbon each person is producing, they can set goals to lower that number. They can also figure out which things are causing the most carbon emissions and try to change those things to help the environment.

With this information, countries can also understand how much they contribute to the overall amount of carbon in the world. This helps them take responsibility for their actions and work together with other countries to fight against climate change.

Response to Peer 1:
I like how you explained that knowing the carbon emissions per person helps countries set targets and goals to lower those emissions. It's important to have a plan to reduce carbon emissions and knowing how much each person is producing helps with that.

Response to Peer 2:
I agree with you that the table can help countries identify areas to improve. If they know which things are causing the most carbon emissions, they can try to change those things and find better ways to do them. It's always good to look for ways to make things better for the environment.