Download Climate Change: Science and Policy

Fall 2016
Introduction to Climate Change: Science and Society
CCS 103X
Fall 2016
INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Nicky Phear, DHC 116, [email protected], 243-6932
Dr. Steve Running, CHCB 428, [email protected]
GTA: Charlotte Reed, [email protected]
GTA: Peter McDonough, [email protected]
CLASS MEETINGS:
Discussion Section: Monday & Wednesday 14:10-15:00, Davidson Honors College, Room 118
Lecture: Monday & Wednesday 15:30-16:50, Chemistry 123
OFFICE HOURS:
Dr. Nicky Phear: Tues 14:30-16:00 & Wed 13:00-14:30
WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/site/umclimatechangestudies/home
TEXTBOOK: Robert Henson, The Thinking Person’s Guide to Climate Change (2014)
Course Description and Objectives:
This is an introductory course on the scientific and social dimensions of global climate change.
The goal is to provide students with a basic understanding of the scientific, political and
technological issues arising from global climate change, and to make connections across these
varied dimensions when considering solution.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, YSEALI Fellows will be able to:
(1) demonstrate an understanding of the global climate system, including significant
interactions and feedbacks that range over time and space;
(2) assess their individual carbon footprint, compare their impact to others across the globe,
and consider per capita and per country rights to the atmospheric global commons;
(3) compare various technological and political solutions in terms of their effectiveness and
efficiency in stabilizing the climate;
(4) participate in a role playing exercise of the UN climate negotiations to experience the
challenging practice of making global climate agreements; and,
(5) discuss the notion of common but differentiated responsibilities for mitigating climate
change in light of differing contributions and capacities.
Class Format:
Each week different topics related to the global climate change issue will be explored through
both the lecture and discussion sessions. Readings from the assigned textbook are suggested, as
indicated in the schedule.
Fall 2016
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Date
Lecture Topic
Lecture Speaker
M 8/29
Introduction
Dr. Nicky Phear,
Climate Change
Studies Program
W 8/31
Principles of the
Global Climate I
Assigned Reading
From Textbook
Climate Change:
A primer
pp. 3-26
Discussion Session
Focus
Climate change
primer, overview, and
introductions
Who’s Responsible?
Dr. Steve Running,
Contributions to
Ecosystem and
Who’s Responsible?
climate change
Conservation Sciences
pp. 41-56
Department
Individual and country
carbon footprints
LABOR DAY – NO CLASS
M 9/05
The Symptoms
pgs. 59-227
W 9/07
M 9/12
Principles of the
Global Climate II
Paleoclimatology
The Symptoms?
Dr. Steve Running, Extreme heat, floods
Climate change
Ecosystem and
& drought, the big impacts now and in the
Conservation Sciences
melt, oceans,
future
Department
hurricanes and other
storms, ecosystems &
(touch on Glacier
agriculture
National Park)
Dr. Anna Klene,
Geography
Department
Global Climate
Models, forecasting, Dr. Nick Silverman,
Montana Climate
Montana Climate
W 9/14
Assessment
Office
Technological
Solutions
pgs. 397-436
Political Solutions,
pp. 367-396
The Solutions?
What will it take to
effect change
technologically?
The Solutions?
What will it take to
effect change
technologically?
Introduction to World
Climate Simulation
and review group
briefing sheets