LPLK10381U Climate Solutions

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Agriculture
Content
Climate Solutions is an interdisciplinary course offered by the University of Copenhagen. It is open for MSc students and continuing education students with a relevant BSc background in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, law and economics.

The focus of the course is the implementation of concrete solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the level of the private and public organization. Many technologies and solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are already available, but due to lack of knowledge transfer they are not implemented.

Private and public organizations having an actual intention to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions are selected as cases (e.g. a municipality, a farm, a manufacturing company, a local business, etc.). 

Students will be working together in groups as consultants for their case organizations to create concrete plans for implementing the most effective and cost-effective solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

The students will be given the tools to create such a plan by participating in workshops together with university and industry experts in best available technologies and best available practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within relevant fields such as natural science, planning, economics and human behavior.

For more information see the course homepage at www.climate-solutions.dk
Learning Outcome
The aim of the course is to give MSc students with different academic backgrounds the capability to work together in interdisciplinary teams as consultants for private and public organizations to implement concrete solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. After completing the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge:
- Identify the best available technologies and best available practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions relating to specific industries or businesses

Skills: 
- Select the most relevant technologies and practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the level of the private and public organization
- Compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of selected technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the level of the private and public organization

Competences:
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages of different technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
- Cooperate and work together as consultants for private and public organizations to create plans for implementing the most effective and cost-effective solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Reflect on the consequences of lack of knowledge transfer and the need for further research and development of better technologies and practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Literature
The learning resources consist of selected articles, reports and book chapters, which will be made available online.
The distance learning course Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (see www.climate-change.dk) will provide a solid foundation for taking the course.
The teaching and learning methods consist of: 1) meetings with representatives from case organizations, 2) student and staff lead workshops on best available technologies and best available practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 3) online discussions and webcam meetings, 4) multimedia project, 5) group work to create concrete plans for implementing solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the case organizations, 5) individual oral examination with feedback from teachers.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 38
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Excursions
  • 20
  • Guidance
  • 24
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 103
  • Project work
  • 206
  • Total
  • 412
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Oral examination
Description of Examination: Students will be assessed on the basis of: i) continuous assessment, ii) individual contribution to two group reports and a multimedia project, iii) individual performance in an oral exam covering the group reports and the general curriculum

Weight: 30% continuous assessment 30% individual contribution to group reports and multimedia project; 40% oral exam
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Criteria for exam assesment
Please see the description of learning outcome