NIGK13004U Climate change - an interdisciplinary challenge

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Climate Change, Impacts, Mitigation, Adaptation
Content
The course will comprise the following main themes:

•   FuncNoning of the climate system, as well as the wider 'Earth System',

•    tipping elements of the Earth System,

•    the economics of climate change,

•    strategies of mitigation, including transformation of the energy system, ·

•    adaptation to climate change at community, national and global level,

•    climate change science seen from a 'science studies' perspective, and

•    climate change ethics.
Learning Outcome
The aim of the course is to give an interdisciplinary introduction to climate
change, its impacts on the naturalenvironment and human societies, and possible strategies for mitigation and adaptation. After completing the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge:
- Describe the current state of knowledge on climate change
- Understand and describe the most important processes involved in climate    change, and the interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and land surface
- Understand the concept of 'tipping elements' and 'tipping points' of the
climate system
- Describe the basic concepts involved in the economic control of climate change
- Give an account of possible climate change adaptation strategies in societies in different cultural and economic settings    .)
- Outline different possible environmental ethics positions as regards climate change

Skills:

- Identify and analyze climate change related problems,using methods from a wide range of disciplines
- Apply scientific terminology from different disciplines correctly
- Present the results of an analysis In a well-structured, logica,l coherent and
scientifically correct form, written as well as orally

Competences:

-    Distinguish between normative and non-normative statements as concerns climate change
-    Understand fundamentalepistemological similarities and differences
between 'natural' and 'human' science
- Work efficiently in a inter-disciplinary group to identify solutions to complex climate change related problems
- Provide qualified contributions to interdisciplinary discussions on climate
change issues
The form of teaching and work will be class teaching with active participation of students by means of student presentations and group-work.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exercises
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 244
  • Project work
  • 84
  • Total
  • 412
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 minutes
Written assignment
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcome.