NPLK14030U Climate Change and Land Use

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Climate Change
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
MSc Programme in Global Environment and Development
 

Content

Climate Change and Land Use 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 and economics.

The focus of the course is the effects of climate change on land use and the corresponding feedback effects of land use on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The course covers a range of the UN Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on SDG2 (zero hunger), SGD7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG13 (climate action) and SDG15 (life on land).

It features a comprehensive analysis of climate change and land use in relation to food, fodder, timber and bioenergy production, an overview of the global N and C cycles, and a comparison of regional differences in land use and agricultural/silvicultural traditions in developed versus developing countries. Global demand for arable land, drivers of land use change and land use governance is discussed in relation to climate change, food security and environmental sustainability.

An analysis of how different land use systems can be managed to adapt to current and long-term climate change is performed together with an analysis of the potential for reducing GHG emissions in agriculture and forestry by carbon sequestration, fossil fuel substitution, circular production and food system transition.

Future perspectives for sustainable land use are analyzed with respect to sustainable intensification versus sustainable extensification, technological solutions for sustainable land use, and future land use scenarios for food, fodder, timber and bioenergy production and consumption.

Learning Outcome

The aim of the course is to give a solid understanding of climate change and land use in relation to food, fodder, timber and bioenergy production. After completing the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge:
- Describe global, regional and local impacts of climate change on agriculture and forestry
- Summarize how land use and land use change is affecting climate change
- Identify global demand for arable land and drivers of land use change
- Outline major regional differences in land use, agricultural/​silvicultural traditions and ecological footprint

Skills:
- Select and apply relevant scientific tools to analyze options for climate change adaptation in agriculture and forestry
- Assess different strategies for reducing GHG emission by carbon sequestration, fossil fuel substitution and resource use optimization in the land use sector
- Compare global, regional and local land use governance policies

Competences:
- Discuss and debate scientific papers on climate change and land use
- Cooperate and work independently to complete a conference poster or scientific manuscript investigating a case specific research questions on climate change and land use
- Reflect on the future perspectives for sustainable land use

The learning resources consist of selected scientific articles, reports and book chapters which will be made available online.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
The teaching and learning methods consist of lectures, theoretical exercises, critical discussion of scientific papers, debates, role-playing, reflections on learning outcome, and problem oriented group work on a conference poster or a scientific manuscript dealing with a case specific research question within the studied subjects of the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 18
  • Preparation
  • 64
  • Exercises
  • 24
  • Project work
  • 100
  • Total
  • 206
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)

Continuous collective feedback to the student's work on the conference poster/scientific manuscript project and multimedia project is given at regular project work and supervision sessions.

At the final exam collective feedback is given to each group after all students within the group have been examined individually. 

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 15 minuttes
Type of assessment details
No preparation time before the oral exam.
Students will be assessed on the basis of their individual performance in an oral exam covering the conference poster/scientific manuscript and the general curriculum
Exam registration requirements

Contribution to conference poster/scientific manuscript

Aid
Written aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Re-exam

Re-exam: Oral examination, 15 minutes. As the ordinary exam.

If the student has not contributed to the submitted group poster/manuscript an individual poster/manuscript on a selected research question within the studied subjects of the course must be submitted two weeks before the re-exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see the description of learning outcome