NIGK13004U Climate Change: an Interdisciplinary Challenge

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Climate Change

Content

The course will comprise the following themes:

  • The climate system, including climate models
  • Paleoclimatic evidence and tipping elements of the Earth System
  • The Carbon cycle
  • Adaptation to climate change at various levels 
  • Climate change and biodiversity
  • Climate change and agriculture
  • Mitigation strategies, including the role of the land use sector and transformation of the energy system
  • The economics of climate change
  • Geopolitics of climate change 
  • Climate change ethics

 

Learning Outcome

The aim of the course is to give an interdisciplinary introduction to climate
change, its impacts on the natural environment 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
  • 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
  • Give an account of climate change mitigation strategies within various sectors
  • Outline different possible environmental ethics positions with regards to climate change


Skills:

  • Identify and analyse 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, logical coheren scientifically correct form, written as well as orally


Competences:

  • Work efficiently in an interdisciplinary group to identify solutions to complex climate change related problems
  • Provide qualified contributions to interdisciplinary discussions on climate change issues
BSc in Natural Resources, Food Science, Landscape Architecture, Biology-Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography and Geoinformatics and Geology-Geoscience from University of Copenhagen or equivalent is recommended.
The form of teaching is theory exercises combined with ad hoc lectures. For the teaching plan, please see Absalon.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exercises
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 244
  • Project work
  • 84
  • Total
  • 412
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, during course
Oral examination, 20 minutes
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. A combined grade is given after the oral exam.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

Re-submission of written assignment, 20 minutes oral examination. The written assignment must be handed in prior to the re-examination week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome.