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

For more detailed course information, click on a course title below.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 601 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 010625
The course examines the interactive physical, biological and geochemical processes responsible for and resulting from climate change, including anthropogenic influences on these processes. *eligible for MES.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 602 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 009423
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

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 603 Climate Change Mitigation (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 014507
This course examines the anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the range of strategies to reduce these emissions and to enhance carbon sequestration. The policy frameworks governing climate change mitigation are critically appraised from geopolitical, economic and ethics perspectives. This course also considers the potential role of climate remediation strategies.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 610 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios (0.50) LAB,SEM

Course ID: 014506
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

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 620 Climate Analytics (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 014508
This course examines the scientific and practical challenges of utilizing climate data for decision-making, as well as the professional ethics associated with providing climate services. Through lectures, videos, guest speakers, and technical assignments this course explores how both historical data and climate change scenarios can be used for both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Usability of weather and climate data is an essential ingredient for developing effective responses. From a general discussion on the value of weather and climate information, the course explores how both historical climate data is an essential ingredient for developing effective responses. From a general discussion on the value of weather and climate information, the course explores how both historical climate data and climate change scenarios can be used to assess climate risk in a variety of sectors, including range of decision support tools. This will include such areas as: community planning (e.g. vulnerability mapping and resilience assessments); engineering (e.g. climate design criteria for infrastructure); emergency response planning (e.g. hazard and risk management); business (carbon accounting and climate proofing) and human health (e.g. development of robust heart-hearth alert systems). In addition, this course covers the theory and application of climate indicators for ongoing assessment and monitoring of adaptation actions. Students must have access to spreadsheet software for assignments. *eligible for MES.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 621 Advanced Climate Change Adaptation (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 014502
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.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 622 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 014509
This course explores the complex links between climate change and natural hazards, and related disasters, including disaster risk reduction as an adaptation strategy. Emphasis is placed on examining these concepts in a developing country context. *eligible for

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 630 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle (0.50) LAB,SEM

Course ID: 014510
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

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 640 Climate Change Governance: From Global Treaties to Local Innovation (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 014511
This course explores the theories behind, and practical approaches to, the multi-level governance of climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, national climate action plans and local innovation are viewed through the lenses of legitimacy, effectiveness, and participation. Finally, we consider the challenge of transformative change, and the possibility of finding synergies among climate change responses and other pressing social and environmental priorities.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 642 Climate Compatible Development (0.50) SEM

Course ID: 014504
Climate compatible development moves beyond the traditional separation of adaptation, mitigation and development strategies to foster development that simultaneously minimizes the harm caused by climate impacts and minimizes greenhouse emissions without compromising development goals. This course examines successful local, sectoral, national and international case studies of policy and practice within this emerging development paradigm from both developing and developed countries.

Geog & Env. Mgmt, Climate Chng (GEMCC) 650 Business and Climate Change (0.50) LEC

Course ID: 015698
This course examines the intersection of business management, climate change, and the evolving policy environment within which mitigation and adaptation occurs. A Canadian lens is applied to understanding climate change business economics, the changing policy and regulatory landscape at the international, national and provincial level, and the ways in which a price on carbon and the need to disclose carbon and climate risk can affect business decision-making. Students will also examine various opportunities for companies to reduce their carbon footprint to operate in emerging low-value-creation opportunities. Leadership cases from businesses worldwide will be explored, including multinationals and small and medium sized enterprises.