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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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

Postgraduate Course: Climate Change and Business (PGGE11273)

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
SummaryClimate change is a significant strategic challenge for businesses, creating risks but also opportunities. This course will examine the role of business and industry in relation to climate change mitigation, risk and adaptation and students will engage in critical topics that go beyond traditional corporate social responsibility.
Course description Addressing the climate crisis requires investment and leadership from the business sector across the globe. In this course, we will examine the management practices and tools that can help businesses find a path through the changing social, economic, and political landscape in which they operate. To succeed in such a complex and ever-changing world, there is a need for business practitioners and other stakeholders (such as NGOs, government, media and the general public) to have a deeper understanding of the present and future implications of climate change for business.

The aims of this course are to provide you with the opportunity to explore, analyse, and communicate the various impacts climate change brings to the business world, ways in which businesses can respond and also understand the implications for a wide range of stakeholders (such as shareholders, employees, consumers and the communities around them). It will also address how the climate emergency is a significant existential challenge for businesses.
Topics covered in lectures will include:
¿ Introduction to business models and climate impacts
¿ The net zero transition from the small through to the large scale of business
¿ The public sector and the role of influence
¿ Funding, regulating and supporting the net zero transition
¿ Strategies and tools, including circular economy and product footprints
¿ Working through the supply chain; credentials, communication, and marketing
¿ Being a responsible consumer

Themes that will be inter-woven throughout the course include the different barriers to change between sectors and communities and aligning the net zero transition to the sustainable development goals.

You can expect interactive activities and discussions, a wide range of case studies to draw learning from, and opportunities to engage in practical applications of the lessons.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites Students MUST also take: Climate Change Management (PGGE11127) AND Climate Change Economics (PGGE11266) AND Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (PGGE11126) AND Dissertation in Carbon Management (PGGE11128)
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students on Taught MSc programmes within the School of Geosciences.
Students are not permitted to audit this course unless formally agreed with the Course Organiser.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, 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 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 161 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 100%

Assessment 1 - Individual essay 1,500 words (30%)
Assessment 2 - Group written report, group presentation and peer moderation (70%)

Please note that extensions will NOT be granted for Assessment 2 for the in-class group presentation. If there is a reason a member of your group cannot present, please notify Clare Wharmby ASAP.
Feedback Written feedback will be provided for both assignments. This will be a brief summary, with points that indicative of why the mark was given, it will not be a detailed dissection of why the mark was given. All marks are based on the Assessment Criteria details on each Assignment.

Written feedback will be provided on Assignments usually within 3 weeks of due date or submission, whichever is later. This may be longer if it is over the holiday period (Christmas) or due to additional workload due to Covid-19. You will be notified by the Course Administrator when marks become available.

For Assessment 2, your groups will be given the chance to get formative (in advance) feedback via meeting with Clare to discuss your project.

In this course, all assessments will be moderated via Sampled Second Marking. This is a process whereby an academic member of staff, different from the marker(s), looks at a sample of the work to ensure consistency of marking. The moderator is not double marking and cannot change individual marks. They can only make recommendations to adjust clusters of marks.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. High-level understanding of the complexity of strategically managing climate change within the context of an organisation
  2. Understanding of the landscape in which business organisations operate
  3. Familiarity with strategic tools and analytical frameworks
  4. Development of personal skills and abilities to understand and cope effectively with the challenges posed by climate change
  5. Integrate different dimensions of a problem, and apply both logic and judgement in the analysis of a given situation
Reading List
A select sample of core readings includes:
- (Hoffman, 2016) Communicating about Climate Change with Corporate Leaders and Stakeholders
- (Porter, 2008) The 5 competitive forces that shape strategy
- (CDP, 2019) Supply Chain Report, Changing the Chain
- (Hart, 2010) Capitalism at the crossroads: next generation business strategies for a post-crisis world.
- (McKinsey, 2019) 5 Ways that ESG creates value
- (Brander, et al 2018) Creative Accounting: a critical perspective on the market-based method for Scope 2 Emissions
- (Linnenluecke, et al 2015) Exec engagement with climate science & need for adaptation to CC
- (BCG, 2017) Total Societal Impact, a New Lens for Strategy
- (Lash & Wellington, 2007) Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet
- (Porter & Kramer, 2011) Creating Shared Value
- (CDP, 2016) Out of the starting blocks: Tracking progress on corporate climate action
- (McKinsey, 2010) Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy
- (Adaptation Scotland, 2017) Is your business climate ready?
- (Harvard Business Review, 2018) The Different Words We Use to Describe Male and Female Leaders
- (Sjafjell & Fannon, 2018) Corporate Sustainability, Gender as an Agent for Change
- (World Economic Forum, 2020) Gender Gap Report 2020
- (Hahn, et al 2010) Trade-Offs in Corporate Sustainability
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills -Knowing: Knowledge and understanding of core concepts and debates in business and low carbon business strategy.
Acting: Experience in applying a range of strategic and analytical tools related to business practices such as SWOT, PESTEL and Design Thinking.
Being: cultivating values towards climate responsible business practices.
Additional Class Delivery Information 10:00 - 13:00 Wednesdays
Location: L_1.37, Patersons Land, Holyrood
Keywordsclimate change,business,sustainability,business strategy
Contacts
Course organiser Course secretaryMrs Katherine Ingram
Tel:
Email: Katherine.Ingram@ed.ac.uk
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