Course subject: Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC)

This course examines the impacts of changing climate on natural and human systems and focuses on the capacity of societies to adjust to, plan for and cope with changing climate and environmental conditions. *eligible for MES

Computer models of the physical climate system are essential tools for investigating future climate change. This course will introduce students to the basic formulation of these models, and their strengths and limitations. Inter-linkages between climate modeling and mitigation and adaptation policy agendas is reviewed and critiqued. The types of climate modeling experiments peformed with such models and scenarios will be reviewed. The latest projections of future climate on a variety of temporal and spatial scales will be presented and evaluated. *eligible for MES

Advanced study of adaptation to climate change, which encompasses both adjustments to changing conditions and planning for uncertain projections of future climatic conditions. Topics covered include typologies of adaptation, possible adaptation strategies for major economic sectors, limits to adaptation, maladaptation, approaches to adaptation planning, and adaptation economics and governance. Although examples will be drawn from both developed and developing nations, the emphasis of this course is on adaptation in industrialised and transnational economics.

This course examines contemporary theories, approaches, and technologies used to study coupled natural-human systems at the intersection of land-use and land-cover change, land management, and the carbon cycle. Topics covered include measurement and modelling techniques to improve carbon accounting, the effects of land use and land management on carbon storage and flux, and international and national policy frameworkds influencing carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. *eligible for MES