EV5013 - Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	Sch of Earth & Environmental Sciences

Is only available for postgraduate students.

This subject provides students with a broad understanding of the fundamental science underpinning natural and anthropogenic climate change and the likely impacts on natural and social systems in the 21st Century. It develops an understanding of mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with the more adverse effects of climate change in developed and developing world contexts. The content will include an evaluation of the politics of climate change at the national and international levels and links between climate change and other global drivers such as population growth and land use change. Students will become familiar with application of climate change science and adaptation strategies to development practice.

Learning Outcomes

• gain a broad understanding of the fundamental science underpinning natural and anthropogenic climate change and the likely impacts of anthropogenic climate change on natural and socio-economic systems over coming decades;
• gain an understanding of mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with the more serious negative effects of anthropogenic climate change in both developed and developing world contexts;
• gain a broad understanding of the politics of climate change at the national and international level, notably the Kyoto Protocol;
• gain an appreciation of links between anthropogenic climate change and other major drivers, including population growth and land-use change;
• gain a knowledge of the application of climate change science to development practice.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Availabilities
Cairns, Block, Study Period 7
Census Date 07-Jul-2011
Face to face teaching 18-Jul-2011 to 26-Jul-2011
Coord/Lect:	Professor Steve Turton.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 24 hours tutorials 12 hours practicals
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); presentations (20%); essays (30%); assignments (10%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.