What Are Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)? — Reading Comprehension

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This NGSS-aligned reading passage introduces middle school students to Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). SSPs are scenarios used by scientists to explore how human decisions, such as cooperation, energy use, and economic growth, can affect future climate outcomes. Students will learn about five main SSPs, including sustainability-focused SSP1 and high-emission SSP5. The passage explains how SSPs are combined with climate models to guide global planning on issues like food, water, and weather. This resource supports Earth and Human Activity standards while building student understanding of climate science and decision-making.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, or SSPs, are stories about how the world might change in the future based on human choices. They are used by scientists to study how people, economies, and the environment might interact over time—especially in the face of climate change.

SSPs explore different ways societies could develop, based on things like population growth, education, technology, and economic policies. Each pathway shows a different level of progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate-related problems, such as rising sea levels or extreme weather.

There are five main SSPs:

SSP1 (Sustainability): A world where people work together, use clean energy, protect nature, and reduce inequality. Climate action is strong and effective.
SSP2 (Middle of the Road): A world with moderate progress—some climate action, some economic growth, and some environmental protection.
SSP3 (Regional Rivalry): A world where countries focus only on their own needs. There’s limited cooperation, weak climate policies, and slow growth.
SSP4 (Inequality): A divided world with big gaps between rich and poor. Rich countries adapt better to climate change than poor ones.

SSP5 (Fossil-fueled Development): A world focused on fast economic growth and high energy use, mostly from fossil fuels, with less concern for the environment.

Scientists combine SSPs with climate models to understand how human choices today could shape climate impacts in the future. This helps leaders plan for things like farming, health care, cities, and energy systems.

SSPs remind us that our decisions matter. By working together and choosing sustainability, we can reduce future risks and build a better world.

Fun Fact: SSPs are sometimes used together with RCPs (Representative Concentration Pathways) to create detailed climate scenarios used by the IPCC!

What does “SSP” stand for?

Shared Science PlansSustainable Society PathwaysShared Socioeconomic PathwaysSimple System Predictions

What do SSPs help scientists understand?

Moon phasesAnimal behaviorHow society and the climate may changeWater cycles in the ocean

What is the focus of SSP1?

Global warSustainability and clean energyFast fossil fuel growthTotal population decline

Which SSP shows a future with weak cooperation and limited climate action?

SSP1SSP2SSP3SSP5

What makes SSP4 different from the others?

Everyone has equal incomeThe world is peacefulIt shows high inequality between countriesIt uses only solar energy

What is true about SSP5?

It is focused on clean energyIt uses more fossil fuelsIt reduces global warmingIt has strong climate rules