The world we know today and the standard of living we enjoy would be impossible without modern transport. An efficient transport system is essential for economic development. Personal mobility for work, study and leisure is considered an essential facet of modern life. Although the benefits of transport are unquestionable, they come at a high price. One of the main problems with transport is that theconsumer only pays part of the cost, while society pays the rest through indirect effects, such as air pollution and road accidents, known as externalities.

In many ways, climate change and modern transport are interlinked. Vehicles are powered by fossil fuels, which emit large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are generating a significant greenhouse effect, causing the planet to warm up rapidly.

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Divide the class into 2-3 small groups and assign each group to list out 5 positive and 5 negative aspects of using electric scooters.

Organize a presentation, with each group giving one positive (speed, mobility, do not cause traffic jams, do not require physical effort, can be used by elderly people and disabled, are a fashion wave, do not directly generate emissions, prestigious for users, etc. ) and one negative statement (no regulation of use and restrictions, they are not registered, they create hazards on the road or on the sidewalks, some develop dangerously high speeds, there are no parking spaces built for them, they are expensive, they also generate carbon emissions. Since they have to be charged somewhere, they are often found in rivers, lakes, in the sea, etc..).

Write down the statements, complete them and make a summary.

Emphasize that vehicle carbon emissions must account not only for in-use emissions, but also for manufacturing and scrapping. The degree of pollution depends on the sources of electricity production.

Ask the children to tell how they imagine transport and means of transport 200 years from now. Write down the main ideas, noting the source of propulsion energy (hydrogen, solar cells, electric motors), then comment on them. Share information about cars powered by solar batteries and the difficulties of mass adoption.

Advantages of solar cars:

• The absence of harmful emissions determines the environmental safety of such vehicles.
• Unlimited source of energy – the sun.
• It is not necessary to build gas stations and charging stations.
• Long service life.
• Free energy to maintain the car.

The disadvantages, oddly enough, correspond to the advantages of this type of car, and this does not allow them to enter more widely into everyday life:

• The use of new technologies increases the cost of such mechanisms.
• Need for very low vehicle weight.
• They depend on the intensity of sunlight.
• Range and travel speed are lower than cars with internal combustion engines.

The lack of repair networks and auto repair services operating in this vehicle segment.

Divide the room into two areas with an imaginary line down the middle. Call one zone "The Agreement Zone" and the other "The Disagreement Zone". Start making different statements in sequence. Have the participants move to one of the two areas, depending on whether they agree or disagree with the statements. If some of the children are hesitant about which way to move, have them stay in the middle of the room – give them a chance to explain their hesitation.

Here are some ideas for statements:

• Our behavior affects climate change.
• Electric cars do not generate carbon emissions.
• Carbon emissions of cars do not depend on the type of fuel they use.
• Using public transport reduces greenhouse emissions.
• By choosing to travel by train, you reduce more than 5 times the release of harmful emissions into nature.
• Cycling is difficult and slow.
• People will never give up their cars.
• When people do not agree on an issue, it is better to end the discussions.

After the game, organize a commentary session on the results with sharing of impressions by the participants. Note the statements where there was significant disagreement.

According to the data of the experts:

• Passenger cars account for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU countries – over 60%.
• Old cars emit an average of 167 g of greenhouse gases per 1 km of distance traveled.
• According to the European Commission, as of 2019, new cars offered on the European market must not generate more than 125 g of greenhouse gases per 1 km of travel distance.

Let's assume that the residents of a small Bulgarian town have 10,000 private cars, each of which travels an average of 2,000 km per year in an urban environment.

Step 1:

Calculate how many kilometers the cars in the city will travel in a year and how much greenhouse gases they will generate if they are of the old type.
Answer: 3340 tons

Step 2:

What amount of greenhouse gases would be saved, if people halved their car journeys (use public transport, cycle, walk, or carpool).
Answer: 1670 tons

Step 3:

What amount of greenhouse gases would be saved, if all cars met the new European requirements and continued to drive an average of 2000 km per year?
Answer: 840 tons

Discuss the obtained results and draw conclusions about how people can influence climate changes with their behavior.

Based on the calculations, conclude that replacing the old car with a new one is to some extent a good decision, but a much better alternative is to reduce the kilometers driven by the private car by using public transport, cycling or walking, or several people sharing a car.

• Ask students to share at home their research and what they learned in class.
• Organize a class meeting with parents, representatives of local authorities and journalists, share your views on improving the environmental friendliness and quality of transport in your locality.
• Do research on the types of transport in your locality and the extent of their use. Track how transportation has evolved over the years. Make a map of the city and plot the main transport elements - main roads, railway stations, bus stations, ports and airports. Share the information at school. Make publications in school and local media.
• Do research on the percentage of people who use bicycles in the settlement and the difficulties in organizing such movement (bicycle lanes, topography, bicycle parking, etc.). Organize a bicycle race with the students in the school yard or other suitable place.
• Organize a bike ride of students, parents and teachers. Note that this event must be coordinated with the local police department and requires a medic and escort vehicle. Participants must have reflective vests.
• Get involved in car-free days campaigns and cover the events.
• Get involved in days to promote an active lifestyle - playing sports, walking, using bicycles.
• Organize an art or literary contest on the topic "What do I want my first car to be?"