Postgraduate Course: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (PGGE11126)
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 some of the fundamentals of climate change science. It goes on to examine past, current and projected global to local scale impacts. It then explores the potential for adaptation at these different scales and the potential win-wins of coupling adaptation with mitigation. Additionally, the course covers the international development implications of human induced climate change, the communication of climate change, and the issues of transboundary climate change impact assessment. |
| Course description |
The primary aim of this course is to provide students with a high-level understanding of climate change science, impacts and adaptation at global, national and local scales. Key impacts and adaptation strategies will be introduced via outputs from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), with a focus on sector-relevant issues. The course syllabus builds from the scientific basis of climate change, attribution and projection, through to examination of impacts and adaptation at a range of scales. The course is designed so that students with little or no previous expertise in climate change science, impacts and adaptation will gain the underlying knowledge required to inform impact and adaptation assessments. Lectures will be delivered in various formats and supported by tutorials (these may take place online and some lectures may be pre-recorded for those unable to access scheduled lectures due to travel restrictions). The lectures will cover the following topics: The foundations of climate change science, impacts of a changing climate on multiple sectors and regions, climate risk assessment including vulnerability and capacity, climate change adaptation, international agreements and regional policies, communication and knowledge exchange, climate justice and international development.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 28 |
| 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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 100% -
Climate Change Impacts video or podcast (30%) - due week 8
Adaptation Assessment Report (3000 words) (70%) - due week 12
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- understand to a high level projected climate change impacts and adaptation at global, national and local scales, with a focus on business and industry.
- be familiar with climate prediction models, feedback processes and uncertainties.
- evaluate implications of climate change impacts and adaptation at scales ranging from global to local.
- understand the regulatory issues of human-induced climate change.
- understand in depth 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 |
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.
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| Keywords | PGGE11126 vulnerability,feedbacks,climate science,climate proxies,modelling,projection,comm |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Katherine Crowley
Tel: (0131 6)50 2519
Email: kate.crowley@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Heather Penman
Tel: (0131 6)50
Email: heather.penman@ed.ac.uk |
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