Climate Change is becoming a crucial topic in political spaces, the business world and civil society. With growing and devastating evidence of the influences of Climate Change in recent years, from forest fires in California to flooding in central Europe, it is tantamount that we consider how to mitigate the impact of civilization on the planet and that we plan accordingly to adapt to the worsening effects of climatic breakdown.
Although the effects of Climate Change are technical, they are also political, institutional, and societal. According to Dr. Youba Sokona, former Vice-Chair of the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “It is technically feasible to transition to a low-carbon economy … but what is lacking are appropriate policies and institutions.
This course interrogates how societies are responding to Climate Change, and how that response can be strengthened. Students who undertake the program will gain an understanding of the physical science basis of Climate Change and explore climatic projections for future decades. The role of government, business and society will be examined, and students will assess what place each may have in providing solutions to climatic issues. Students will also examine environmental issues such as air pollution, waste and deforestation which have strong links to Climate Change. Developing effective climate change communications will be discussed, with a focus on advocacy and democratic deliberation. There will also be a focus on the role of the media and how Climate Change is portrayed and discussed across online and offline platforms. Finally, climate justice is assessed and we examine the prospects for the global south in terms of vulnerabilities and adaptation to Climate Change.
The main objective of this course is that students gain insights into the key political, economic, and social themes of Climate Change in modern society. Students will be tasked with demonstrating their knowledge and proficiency by completing various assessments during the module.