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 | The climate crisis is one of the world's greatest global challenges; it impacts the whole global population, every ecosystem, economy, and business. The effects of climate change are increasingly clear, and increasingly felt, and to a certain degree are now baked into how our Earth system will operate. That means we can no longer solely focus on mitigating climate change; we also need to adapt to its impacts. In 'Foundations of Climate Change' (online), you learnt about the different drivers of climate change and the political framework in which we work. In this course we build on this knowledge and introduce the foundations of climate change impacts and adaptation. We will explore these impacts across scales, geographies, sectors, and ecosystems. We will discuss the inequalities and injustices which exists, the connections between climate change relates and sustainable development, and how we can make the right choices to build resilient development pathways and effectively manage risk. |
| Course description |
This is a 10-week online course delivered over 11 calendar weeks (reading week in week 6). Each teaching week will consist of one overarching topic covered over:
- one hours of asynchronous teaching,
- one hour asynchronous discussion/activities, and
- one hour of synchronous teaching.
The asynchronous material will be broken down into smaller 'chapters' and be delivered via a mix of pre-recorded videos (5-30 minutes each), readings, activities, and asynchronous discussions. The asynchronous material will be delivered via Blackboard Learn Ultra.
Each week's one-hour synchronous tutorial will be delivered via an online platform (e.g. Blackboard Collaborate/Zoom) and repeated two to three times per week to take into consideration the cohort's time zones. Students will only be expected to join one session per week. The tutorials will involve activities, guided discussions, or additional lecture material that is related to the week's asynchronous material.
Week 1: Introducing Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation
Week 2: Sectoral Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation
Week 3: Regional Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation
Week 4: National Climate Change Risks & Response: the UK Example
Week 5: Local Climate Change Risks & Responses
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7: Impacts, Adaptation & Inequality
Week 8: Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation Tools: a UK example
Week 9: Climate Change Adaptation in Practice
Week 10: The Win-Wins of Climate Adaptation
Week 11: Course Review & Next Steps
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
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 Climate Change Management. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 45 |
| 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 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% Coursework:
The assessment has two components:
Component A: Climate Change Impact Infographic (40%)
Students will be asked to demonstrate a critical understanding of climate change impact assessment. They will need to demonstrate this through a visual medium by preparing a digital image that is equivalent to a one-sided A3 (29.7cm x42cm / 11.7 x 16.5in) infographic. The text and imagery of the infographic must be readable on a computer screen at 100% resolution. They may choose a business sector, local region, population, or ecosystem of their choice and assess their exposure and vulnerability to climate change hazards. This infographic should be supported with full referencing from peer-reviewed and grey literature, and demonstrate the student's ability to communicate complex knowledge in visual form. The student must be clear who the audience of their piece is (e.g. general public, policy makers, children, farmers, scientists, etc.). On a separate document (Word document), students will be asked to write a brief description as who their chosen audience is, and why they were selected. This should be maximum 150 words.
Component B: Climate Change Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (60%)
This 2000-word academic essay will build on the information they researched when building their impact assessment infographic. Students will be asked to explain projected climate change impacts and to design an appropriate risk management plan for their chosen business sector, local region, population, or ecosystem. The audience for the report is local policy makers. This essay will test the student's critical understanding of climate change impact, adaptation and risk assessments and their academic writing ability.
AI tools may be used for identifying ideas, planning, and improving the clarity of your writing, but not for content generation. AI use must be acknowledged in your submission |
| Feedback |
Feedback from the students will be requested via an online survey form. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand and evaluate at a high level the projected climate change impacts and adaptation at global, national, and local scales.
- Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.
- Manage complex policy, ethical and professional issues and make informed judgement on climate adaptation issues.
- Critically evaluate the governance, finance, and justice challenges of climate change adaptation.
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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 |
This course will develop attributes and skills expected from a University of Edinburgh graduate including: creative problem solvers and researchers, critical and reflective thinkers, effective and influential contributors, and skilled communicators. 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. |
| Keywords | Carbon Management,Distance Learning,Climate Change |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr James Paterson
Tel:
Email: James.Paterson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Felicity Howison
Tel:
Email: F.Howison@ed.ac.uk |
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