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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (PGGE11126)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course first introduces the underlying science of human-induced and naturally-occurring climate change, using the IPCC as its basis. It examines predictive models of climate change and its impacts. It goes on to examine past, current and projected impacts globally, regionally and, using the UK as a case-study, nationally and locally. It then explores the potential for adaptation at these different scales and the potential win-wins of coupling adaptation with mitigation. Finally it covers the regulation of human induced climate change, the way climate change is communicated, and the issues of transboundary climate change impact assessment.

This course is only available to students studying the MSc in Carbon Management in 2015/16. Students are not permitted to audit this course.
Course description Week 1
21st September - Introduction to Climate Change
22nd September - Reconstructing climate

Week 2
28th September - Attributing and Predicting Climate Change
29th September - Climate feedbacks and interactions

Week 3
5th October - Global, Regional and National Climate Change Impacts
6th October - International Development and Climate Change

Week 4
12th October - Regional and National Climate Change Adaptation
13th October - Regional Climate Change Impact Assessment

Week 5
19th October - Examining Climate Change Impacts and Responses
20th October - Adaptation Challenge

Week 6
26th October - UKCIP projections and using UKCP09
27th October - Adaptation in practice: the Scottish experience

Week 7
Team Presentations

Week 8
9th November - Climate Change and Justice: impacts, resilience and benefits sharing
10th November - Climate change impacts and energy strategy

Week 9
16th November - The Win-Wins of Climate Change Adaptation
17th November - Climate change education and communication

Week 10 Skills and Reading week

Week 11
30th November - Exam prep (formative short answer test) & Course Review
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites Students MUST also take: Dissertation in Carbon Management (PGGE11128)
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students studying the MSc in Carbon Management in 2015/16. Students are not permitted to audit this course.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 40, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 156 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. understand to a high level projected climate change impacts and adaptation at global, national and local scales, with a focus on business and industry.
  2. be familiar with climate prediction models, feedback processes and uncertainties.
  3. evaluate implications of climate change impacts and adaptation at scales ranging from global to local.
  4. understand the legal issues of human-induced climate change.
  5. understand in depth climate change communication approaches, sceptical arguments and scientific counter-arguments.
Reading List
1. IPCC (2014) Fifth Assessment Report - Synthesis Report
2. The Hot Topic by Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King

As well as reading the required texts, the following documents are recommended:

UKCIP (2009) UK Climate Projections 2009
http://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk/

UKCIP (2008) The Climate of the UK and Recent Trends
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/PDFs/UKCP09_Trends.pdf

UKCIP (2011) Managing Adaptation
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/PDFs/UKCIP_Managing_adaptation.pdf
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students will be able to demonstrate skills in interdisciplinary analysis, drawing upon different empirical sources, analytical perspectives and sub-disciplines within carbon management studies.
Students will also be able to demonstrate an ability to acquire and apply specialist knowledge.
Finally, students will be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Special Arrangements This course is only available to students studying the MSc in Carbon Management in 2015/16. Students are not permitted to audit this course.
KeywordsPGGE11126 vulnerability,feedbacks,climate science,climate proxies,modelling,projection,comm
Contacts
Course organiserDr David Reay
Tel: (0131 6)50 7722
Email: David.Reay@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Alice Heatley
Tel: (0131 6)50 4866
Email: alice.heatley@ed.ac.uk
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