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	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 legal implications of human induced climate change, the way climate change is communicated, and the issues of transboundary climate change impact assessment. The primary objective of this course is to provide participants with high-level understanding of climate change 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.
Course description	The target audience are professionals who are working in areas related to climate change policy and practice, who are studying part time, and at a distance. The chosen approach aims to maximise the benefits of engaging with working professionals, in particular by relating the course topics to the particular needs and interests of students, and also by supporting students to bring their professional experience and expertise into the course and to share this with their peers. The course programme 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.

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 Carbon Management.

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Semester 1
Course Start Date	21/09/2015
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)	Course Assessment: 1) 1,000 word essay set in week 2 and submitted in week 3: 20% of overall course mark 2) 10-minute video assessing climate change impacts and vulnerability for a specific location, set in week 4: 30% of course mark 3) 3,000 word project report (50% of overall course mark) set in week 8 and focussed on presenting a climate change impact assessment and adaptation strategy for a specified business or institution (from a set list provided by the course organiser). The project report will allow use of interactive elements such as video and sound recordings, and will require students to utilise UKCIP assessment and adaptation tools, and to synthesise IPCC impact projections. The final report will be assessed in terms of evidence of research, understanding and use of projections and impact tools, quality of adaptation recommendations, and clarity of arguments and structure.
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Semester 2
Course Start Date	11/01/2016
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities
Assessment (Further Info)	Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
Additional Information (Assessment)	Course Assessment: 1) 1,000 word essay set in week 2 and submitted in week 3: 20% of overall course mark 2) 10-minute video assessing climate change impacts and vulnerability for a specific location, set in week 4: 30% of course mark 3) 3,000 word project report (50% of overall course mark) set in week 8 and focussed on presenting a climate change impact assessment and adaptation strategy for a specified business or institution (from a set list provided by the course organiser). The project report will allow use of interactive elements such as video and sound recordings, and will require students to utilise UKCIP assessment and adaptation tools, and to synthesise IPCC impact projections. The final report will be assessed in terms of evidence of research, understanding and use of projections and impact tools, quality of adaptation recommendations, and clarity of arguments and structure.
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: High-level understanding of projected climate change impacts and adaptation at global, national and local scales, with a focus on business and industry. Familiarity with climate prediction models, feedback processes and uncertainties. Ability to evaluate implications of climate change impacts and adaptation at scales ranging from global to local. Understanding of the legal issues of human-induced climate change. In depth understanding of climate change communication approaches, skeptical arguments and scientific counter-arguments.

Reading List
� IPCC (2014) Fifth Assessment Report - Synthesis Report http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_LONGERREPORT.pdf � The Hot Topic by Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King � UKCIP (2009) UK Climate Projections 2009 http://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk/ � UKCIP Adaptation overview http://www.ukcip.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=179

Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills	Cognitive: The course deepens and develops overall cognitive skills, including the numerical skills, analytical skills and skills of synthesis and presentation. Key: On completion of the course, students should be able to make an assessment of the key climate change vulnerabilities of a business or industry sector and to have the necessary knowledge and skills to recommend effective adaptation strategies. Specific: On completion, students should be able to understand and make use of the UK climate projection and adaptation tools (e.g. UKCIP) and to critically assess climate and impact projections.
Keywords	Carbon Management, Distance Learning, Climate Change