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BA Geography / Course details

Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:
Climate Change: Science and Society

Unit code	GEOG20091
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 2
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	Geography
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

This unit introduces social and natural scientific approaches to understanding the phenomenon of anthropogenic climate change and its possible solutions. It begins with an overview of the physical science basis for climate change, including gradual changes over time as well as more abrupt changes and climate tipping points. It will outline the physical impacts threatened by climate change, and how human and natural systems might adapt to them. It then examines climate change mitigation strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including setting targets, transforming energy supply and demand, decarbonising different sectors, and exploring alternative low carbon pathways. It concludes with an examination of new, unconventional solutions to climate change including negative emissions technologies for removing greenhouse gases directly from the atmosphere, natural and nature-based solutions and solar geoengineering technologies for reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. The unit emphasises the importance of interdisciplinarity in understanding and responding to this complex and uncertain problem, and the special place for geography in facilitating this learning.

Aims

To introduce the physical science basis for gradual and abrupt climate change
To examine the impacts of climate change and solutions for adaptation
To examine mitigation solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
To examine unconventional technological and nature-based solutions

Learning outcomes

Teaching and learning methods

The unit is delivered through weekly two-hour interaction lecture sessions including discussions, debates and practical exercises. The lecture sessions will be supported by weekly one-hour seminars. A high level of student participation is required from all students throughout the unit. Reading prior to the lectures is required and additional reading around the themes of the lectures is expected.

The course is supported by a dedicated Blackboard site. This offers a variety of online resources including a repository of the lecture notes used in class, a course syllabus, any other forms of course-specific materials as well as a discussion forum.

Knowledge and understanding

Understand the fundamental physical science of gradual and abrupt climate changes
Understand climate change impacts and adaptation solutions
Understand mitigation solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across different sectors
Understand unconventional technological and nature-based solutions

Intellectual skills

Evaluate different adaptation solutions
Evaluate mitigation solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across different sectors
Evaluate unconventional technological and nature-based solutions

Practical skills

Skills in discussion and debate
Experience with practical research methods, including carbon accounting, multi-criteria analysis and psychometrics
Synthesise research evidence for use in decision making

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Critical thinking, reflection and self-awareness
Taking responsibility for self-directed learning
Information handling skills, utilising materials from a variety of source
An ability to assess the merits of contrasting theories, explanations and their policy implications

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Written exam	50%
Written assignment (inc essay)	50%

Feedback methods

Feedback is provided in the following ways during this course unit:

extensive verbal feedback through Q&A, discussion and interactive activities within lectures and seminars;
verbal feedback on any course unit issue through consultation hours;
detailed written feedback on the coursework assignment.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	3

Independent study hours
Independent study	197

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Gareth Clay	Unit coordinator

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