ALT 2: Research (Leaving Cert CASD): Revision Notes
ALT 2: Research
What is ALT 2 about?
Applied Learning Task 2 focuses on researching action related to climate change and sustainable development. In this task, you'll investigate real-world examples where people, organisations, or governments have taken action to either help or harm our climate and environment.
Think of this as becoming a climate detective - you'll explore cases where positive action has been taken to address climate problems, or where actions have actually made climate issues worse. This could include studying social movements, business initiatives, campaigns, or government policies at local, national, or international levels.
Key learning areas
Understanding climate justice
Climate justice refers to the fair treatment of all people regarding climate change impacts and solutions. You'll explore:
- Multiple definitions - Climate justice means different things to different people and organisations
- Differential impacts - Climate change affects people differently based on factors like:
- Age and gender
- Where they live (geography)
- Citizenship status and ethnicity
- Perceived social status
- Economic circumstances
Understanding that climate impacts are not equally distributed is fundamental to climate justice. Some communities face greater risks and have fewer resources to adapt, while others may benefit from certain changes or have more power to influence solutions.
Research and information skills
You'll develop crucial research abilities by learning about:
- Source variety - Understanding that information comes from many different types of sources
- Source evaluation - Recognising that sources may lack important details or show bias
- Secondary data - Working with information that others have already collected and analysed
Understanding systems and power
This task helps you explore:
- Government levels - Understanding which level of government (local, national, international) is appropriate for different types of action
- Power relationships - Examining who has power to make decisions and who is affected by those decisions
- Political agency - How ordinary people can hold powerful systems accountable and demand changes towards more sustainable practices
What you'll be able to do
By completing this research task, you should develop three main competencies:
1. Explore climate justice concepts
You'll understand what climate justice means and how it connects to real-world situations. This involves recognising that climate impacts are not equally distributed and that solutions must consider fairness and equity.
2. Conduct independent research
You'll research a specific action related to climate change or unsustainable development. This means:
- Finding and evaluating different information sources
- Working with secondary data (information collected by others)
- Assessing the quality and reliability of your sources
3. Explain political and economic connections
You'll be able to explain how political and economic systems influence sustainable behaviour and environmental actions. This includes understanding how power, money, and politics affect environmental decisions.
Research process tips
When conducting your research, remember to:
Research Best Practices:
- Consider multiple perspectives - Look for different viewpoints on the same issue
- Identify root causes - Don't just describe what happened, but explore why it happened
- Examine outcomes - What changes occurred as a result of the action?
- Connect to bigger picture - How does your specific case relate to broader themes of climate justice, equality, and human rights?
- Evaluate sources critically - Always ask who created the information, when, why, and for what purpose
Critical Source Evaluation: Always ask yourself: Who created this information? When was it created? What was their purpose? What might they have left out or emphasised? Understanding these factors will help you build a more complete and accurate picture of your research topic.
Assessment focus areas
Your research should demonstrate understanding of:
- How the action you studied connects to climate justice principles
- The effectiveness of the action taken
- The role of different stakeholders and power relationships
- How your findings might inform future climate action
- The reliability and limitations of your information sources
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Climate justice considers both environmental protection and social fairness - these are connected, not separate issues
- Research skills are transferable - the ability to find, evaluate, and synthesise information will help you in many subjects and future situations
- Power matters - understanding who makes decisions and who is affected by them is crucial for effective climate action
- Sources vary in quality - always evaluate your sources for bias, completeness, and reliability
- Local and global connections - many climate issues have both local impacts and global dimensions that need to be understood together