Climate Change: Science, Policy and Global Impact

Program Overview

This micro-credential module focuses on the principles and science of climate change, sustainability, and climate action. Through 8 lectures, 6 tutorials, and an 8-hour workshop, participants will gain knowledge on climate impacts, mitigation, and climate policy. They will also engage in a virtual UN Global Climate Summit to negotiate and achieve climate goals, enhancing their understanding of climate justice and fair climate action plans.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This is a micro-credential module, not a full degree program.

Module Goal:

• To examine the concepts and principles of climate change, global warming, climate justice, decarbonisation, climate action, climate policy, sustainability and sustainable development.
• To gain an appreciation and knowledge of the science of climate change, contemporary issues in sustainability and climate action and the tools and strategies that can be applied to analyse, understand and solve those issues.

Outline:

Module Content:

• Climate change
• The climate system
• Climate impacts
• Mitigation, adaptation and resilience
• Sustainability, sustainable development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Emissions
• Decarbonisation
• Climate policy
• Climate action
• Climate action plans
• Climate justice
• The Paris Agreement
• Global climate negotiations
• 8 x 2.5hrs lectures
• 6 x 1hr tutorials
• 1x8hr workshop

Practicalities:

• Learning Methods:
• 20 hours online asynchronous (any time learning) activities
• 195 hours independent enquiry

Other:

• Participants will also contribute to a virtual United Nations Global Climate Summit and use scenario modelling and strategy to negotiate and achieve the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius within this century.
• On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Articulate key concepts related to climate change, the climate system, mitigation, adaptation, sustainability, sustainable development, decarbonisation, climate policy, climate action, climate action plans and climate justice.
• Develop an understanding of the science of climate change.
• Describe climate and sustainability challenges in an environmental, economic and societal context, and how fair and just climate action plans needs to combine and consider multiple perspectives and constraints.
• Design a complex system, process or policy solution to meet climate action targets.
• Develop strategies for achieving fair and just climate action at the organisational, urban, national and global scale.