Postgraduate Course: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (Online) (PGGE11189)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course first introduces the underlying science of human-induced and naturally-occurring climate change, using the IPCC's Assessment Reports 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 legal implications of human induced climate change, the way climate change is communicated, and the issues of trans-boundary climate change impact assessment. |
| Course description |
Please note that there is one live group exercise for this course and group catch-ups are held twice weekly. You are encouraged to attend these. All dates for lectures and Hangouts can be found in the Course Handbook.
Lecture 1: Introduction to Climate Science
Lecture 2: Climate Interactions and Scepticism
Lecture 3: Reconstructing Past Climates
Lecture 4: Attributing and Predicting Climate Change
Lecture 5: International Development and Adaptation
Lecture 6: Global and Regional Climate Change Impacts
Lecture 7: Global and Regional Climate Change Adaptation
Lecture 8: Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation in the UK & Scotland
Lecture 9: Projecting and adapting to climate change: the UK example
Lecture 10: Using UK climate projections
Lecture 11: Seed Conservation, Food Supply and Adaptation
Lecture 12: Climate change assessment and modelling
Lecture 13: The Win-Wins of Climate Change Adaptation
Lecture 14: Climate Change and Justice
Lecture 15: Climate Change Communication
Lecture 16: Course Review and Group Exercise
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This online course is only available to students registered on the online Certificate in Climate Change Management or the online MSc in Carbon Management. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Online Activities 40,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% Coursework
Essay assignment (consisting of a maximum of 1,000 words) - allocated at the end of week 1, submitted in week 4 (20 %).
'Impact' video assignment - allocated in week 4, submitted in week 7 (30%).
Final report (consisting of a maximum of 3,000 words) - allocated in week 7, submitted in week 11 (50%).
Details of the assignment requirements will be provided on the Course Website.
Assessment deadlines
Assignment 1: Monday, week 4
Assignment 2: Monday, week 7
Assignment 3: Monday, week 11
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand at a high level the projected climate change impacts and adaptation at global, national and local scales, with a focus on business and industry.
- Understand climate prediction models, feedback processes and uncertainties.
- Evaluate the implications of climate change impacts and adaptation at scales ranging from global to local.
- Understand the legal issues of human-induced climate change.
- Understand climate change communication approaches, sceptical arguments and scientific counter-arguments.
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Reading List
IPCC (2014) Fifth Assessment Report - Synthesis Report
The Hot Topic by Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King
IPCC (2018) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5oC https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/summary-for-policy-makers/
As well as reading the required texts, the following documents are recommended:
Met Office (2018) UK Climate Projections 2018
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/collaboration/ukcp
UKCIP (2017) Adaptation Showcase
https://www.ukcip.org.uk/about-us/adaptation-in-practice-events-series/
UKCIP (2013) Adaptation Case Studies
https://www.ukcip.org.uk/case-studies/ |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Cognitive: The course deepens and develops overall cognitive skills, including the numerical skills, analytical skills and skills of synthesis and presentation.
Key: On completion of the course, students should be able to make an assessment of the key climate change vulnerabilities of a business or industry sector and to have the necessary knowledge and skills to recommend effective adaptation strategies.
Specific: On completion, students should be able to understand and make use of the UK climate projection and adaptation tools (e.g. UKCIP) and to critically assess climate and impact projections.
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| Keywords | Carbon Management,Distance Learning,Climate Change |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr James Paterson
Tel:
Email: James.Paterson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Heather Penman
Tel: (0131 6)50
Email: heather.penman@ed.ac.uk |
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