Special Topics in Environmental Science
TOPIC: Climate Change Science and Policy
Course Description
In December 2015, 195 countries and the European Union adopted the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty designed to limit global warming to well below 2C compared to pre-industrial levels. This historic milestone marks a global effort to avert extreme climate change. But how did we reach this point in the first place? This course covers the journey from the pioneering studies on the greenhouse effect, first published in the 1800s, to the adoption of the Paris Agreement almost two centuries later. The first part of the course focuses on climate change science, encompassing the empirical evidence, climate modelling, the global carbon cycle, climate feedbacks, tipping points, future projections, and impacts. The second part of the course addresses the economics and policy options to tackle climate change. The course will support you in a wide range of contexts, from your research endeavours to effective engagement in public debates and advocacy for sustainable solutions.
Requirements: Prerequisite Level 3 or above and registration in an (ENSC Major, ENVS Major, ENVS Medial, EBIO, ECHM, EGEO, EGPY, ELSC or ETOX plan) or permission of the School.