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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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

Postgraduate Course: Climate Change Mitigation (PGGE11299)

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
SummaryThis course considers climate change mitigation at a range of scales from the local to global, the role of the public, private and third sectors, and includes an array of options and possible technologies including renewables (solar PV, wind, wave, etc.), carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), energy efficiency and demand reduction. The focus is global though examples will frequently draw upon experience in the UK and other parts of Europe.
Course description Problem-Based Learning (PBL)

PBL means that learning is focused on a given problem and requires preparatory work to bring to the in-person sessions where individual and collective decisions will be taken. It is very different from conventional teaching as there are no formal lectures and the inputs from the teaching staff will consist of supporting you in your learning journey rather than delivery of material in lectures. We will, however, have some Positions and Interventions being presented, which are podcasts, missives or live talks from experts, stakeholders, academics, business, etc. We will discuss as we go along what Positions and Interventions you would like to hear about and organise to involve them during the course. For example, you might focus on a given mitigation topic, say stratospheric aerosol injection, and wish to make contact with a meteorologist, climatologist or engineer who works on this or has studied the issue. We will assist you in identifying scientists (initially from within University of Edinburgh) and, where appropriate, we will ask that expert to do a short presentation, either live or recorded, and to be available for a Q&A session. Such a session would not need to involve the whole class, but rather those who are investigating this option, though we will aim to make recordings available to all. You are also invited to make your own Position and Intervention presentations, for example on topics which you feel strongly about or feel have been neglected and which you wish to bring to wider attention, or just as an opportunity to learn more about a topic.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students enrolled on the MSc Carbon Management. Students are not permitted to audit this course unless formally agreed with the Course Organiser.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  40
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Assignment One (40%) will be a group project whereby a nation state will be selected and the role of GHG mitigation in meeting its NDC+ will be analysed. The groups will be asked to choose up to four options from a menu and the instructions will direct them in undertaking quantitative calculations on (levelised) marginal abatement costs and other financial indicators. Qualitative analysis will be undertaken on regulation, legal, governance, social acceptance, community engagement, policy safeguards, and so so. Each group will present its ideas to the class and submit a written report. «br /»
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Assignment Two (60%) will be an individual essay that is either the student¿s own title or they will select from a list of titles provided.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Analyse and evaluate global, national and local climate change mitigation policies and measures at a high-level, including projected emissions and targets.
  2. Compare, contrast and criticize the range and potential of low and zero carbon technologies (excluding energy technologies).
  3. Identify, describe and explain non-CO2 greenhouse gases and their mitigation.
  4. Critically evaluate the potential of geoengineering for managing climate change.
  5. Apply evidence to critically assess the merits of greenhouse gas control using environmental, techno-scientific, socio-economic, political and cultural frameworks and criteria.
Reading List
Students are required to read:

Chapters 1 to 5 and 9 to 12 (inclusive): Michael Grubb, with Jean-Charles Houcarde and Karsten Neuhoff (2014), Planetary Economics: Energy, climate change and the three domains of sustainable development, Routledge.

Other useful texts are:
Grin, J., Rotmans, J. and Schot, J. (2010), Transitions to Sustainable Development: New Directions in the Study of Long Term Transformative Change, Routledge.

Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Summary for Policymakers plus other chapters (or sections thereof) as appropriate. All available free of charge from:
http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3/

The New Climate Economy: The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate (2014). The Executive Summary and more information on particular topics of interest. Available for free at : http://newclimateeconomy.report/
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Keywordsmitigation,renewable energy,geoengineering,methane,nitrous oxide,project development
Contacts
Course organiserDr Adam Hejnowicz
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Email:
Course secretaryDr Beata Kohlbek
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