ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that making an examination of climate change and its impact on past civilizations a central focus in a global history curriculum. Climate change is part of the science curriculum, but understanding the impact of climate change on earlier civilizations is part of global history and translating an understanding of science and history into civic activism to shape government policy is at the core of social studies. A number of state social studies standards call on teachers to encourage students to become engaged in civic action projects. In New York State, tenth-grade global history students are expected to analyze disciplinary-based issues and demonstrate an informed course of action. Higher ocean surface temperatures are responsible for an increase in the strength of hurricanes. Drawing energy from the warmer oceans, more tropical storms reach hurricane strength and more hurricanes reach level 4 and 5 intensity with winds over 130 mph.
