This course aims to provide a holistic understanding of the complexity of climate change as an issue in coastal communities. It generally emphasises mitigation and adaptation measures as well as assessing the vulnerability of communities and their capacity for adaptation. The course guides students to evaluate trends in the indicators of climate change and learn how to develop skills and tools for climate change communication. Carbon accounting, carbon footprint assessment as well as carbon reduction strategies will also be treated.
Objectives
The course seeks to:
- explore the science and effects of climate change;
- examine climate change vulnerability, resilience, adaptation and mitigation;
- acquire skills and tools in climate change communication; and
- assess carbon accounting and ecological footprints.
Content
This course looks at the science underlying climate change, factors that cause the climate to change across different time scales and the interactions between these factors and the contentions within the scientific community. It also looks at models and theories used to make predictions about future climate; and the possible consequences of climate change on. It will expose students to the use of the Vulnerability Resilience Indicators Model (VRIM) to evaluate the extent and sources of resilience of coastal communities to climate variability and change. Factors that characterize vulnerability and resilience, methodological issues and persistent concerns in measuring vulnerability and resilience will also be discussed. Strategies to build resilience in the context of climate change in coastal communities will be addressed.
The course examines climate change communication, its roles in achieving climate change policy goals, the ethics that shape it and the theories behind it. The concepts of carbon footprinting, carbon management, energy management, carbon reporting, footprint reduction and carbon offsets will be explored. The different methodologies (e.g. the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) to identify, quantify, account and report GHG emissions and plan actions to reduce these will be discussed.
Mode of Delivery
This course will be delivered through lectures, seminars and field works. Students will be assessed using quizzes, presentations and paper reviews.