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 the underlying science of human-induced and naturally-occurring climate change, using the IPCC 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 regulation of human induced climate change, the way climate change is communicated, and the issues of transboundary climate change impact assessment.
This course is only available to students studying the MSc in Carbon Management in 2015/16. Students are not permitted to audit this course. |
| Course description |
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. It 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. The group presentations in the second half of the course are aimed at developing team-working skills and to give students a hands-on opportunity to work with the assessment and adaptation tools currently available to the business community via the UKCIP.
The primary aim of this course is to provide participants with 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 business and industry-relevant issues.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | Students MUST also take:
Dissertation in Carbon Management (PGGE11128)
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| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is only available to students studying the MSc in Carbon Management in 2015/16. Students are not permitted to audit this course. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, 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
(
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
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
- Group presentation of specific and relevant topic using Problem Based Learning methodology. Assessed by minimum of 2 course lecturers. (20%)
- Essay assignment (20%)
- Final Exam (60%) (6 compulsory short answer questions (5% each) and 1 essay (choice 1 out of 3 30% of mark) in 2 hours exam.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations | 2:00 | |
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 legal 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
1. IPCC (2014) Fifth Assessment Report - Synthesis Report
2. The Hot Topic by Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King
3. UKCIP (2009) UK Climate Projections 2009
4. UKCIP Adaptation overview
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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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| Special Arrangements |
This course is only available to students studying the MSc in Carbon Management in 2015/16. Students are not permitted to audit this course. |
| Keywords | PGGE11126 vulnerability, feedbacks, climate science, climate proxies, modelling, projection, comm |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr David Reay
Tel: (0131 6)50 7722
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Olivia Eadie
Tel: (0131 6)51 4657
Email: |
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