- Self-paced
- Free Access
- Fee-based Certificate
Climate Science and Policy
Course
en
English
140 h
This content is rated 0 out of 5
- 14 Sequences
- Advanced Level
Course details
Syllabus
Topic 1: The history of climate science and basics of the climate system
Information on the history of climate science, the earth's energy balance and how the climate system is investigated.
Topic 2: Human driven climate change
The indicators of climate change and the influence of people on the climate system.
Topic 3: The carbon cycle - Linking climate to policy
The key themes of the carbon cycle and linkage to human activity and overarching policy requirements.
Topic 4: Future scenarios of climate change
The methodology used to create global climate models and changes in key climate indicators under a number of different representative concentration pathways.
Topic 5: Carbon budgets
Carbon budgets and how they are affected by the COP 21 agreement and negative emissions technologies. The implications for carbon budgets of the recent IPCC report on the Paris 1.5°C target.
Topic 6: The Anthropocene climate: A Earth System perspective on climate change
The role of humans as the dominant influence on the earth's complex system, including implications for the future and potential tipping points.
Topic 7: Risks and impacts of climate change
The broader impacts of climate change such as disturbances of the global water cycle, and the influence of climate change on extreme weather events.
Topic 8: Approaches and limits to climate adaptation
General approaches to adaptation to climate change and the associated challenges.
Topic 9: Climate policy
The role of science in making good policy, different policy types and international policy mechanisms.
Topic 10: Scenario planning: Examination, development and use
The examination, building and use of scenarios as a tool for understanding energy and climate implications.
Prerequisite
- Ability to perform simple mathematical operations.
- Advanced English skills.
Instructors
Will Steffen
Emeritus Professor
The Australian National University, Canberra
Andrew Garnett
Director of the Centre for Coal Seam Gas
The University of Queensland
Professor Peta Ashworth OAM
Chair in Sustainable Energy Futures
The University of Queensland
Andrew Archbold
Student Advisor
The University of Queensland
Editor
The University of Queensland is a public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland Parliament, UQ is one of six sandstone universities, an informal designation of the oldest university in each state.
Combining the three world rankings of the most established universities in 2023, the University of Queensland is ranked 2nd in Australia and 42nd in the world. UQ is also a founding member of edX, Australia's leading group of eight and the international research-intensive association of Pacific universities.
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