Climate change: Impacts and Adaptation (838F8)

30 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring teaching

This course is concerned with how we determine the impacts of climate change on the natural and managed systems on which we depend, and how we might adapt to these impacts. It provides you with an overview of projections of future climate at the regional scale and the chance to evaluate the associated uncertainties, illustrated through programmes like the UK Climate impacts programme (UKCIP). You will consider the general 'top-down' methodology of climate change impact assessment, illustrated with case studies from a range of sectors including water resources, forestry, food production, coastal systems and health.

The material will focus on quanitifying the risks of climate impacts and methods to determine uncertainty. You will also consider how you can determine what is considered to be 'dangerous climate change', and the spectrum of complementary approaches to developing adaptation strategies (such as the bottom-up 'vulnerability assessments' and adaptive social protection). Issues relating to adaptation policy at the local and national level, including National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) and the economics of adaptation, will also be highlighted.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 45 hours of contact time and about 255 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2021/22. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.