GY427      Half Unit
Climate Change: Science, Economics and Policy

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Simon Dietz

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change. This course is available on the MSc in Environment and Development and MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

This course is an interdisciplinary analysis of the issue of

climate change. It will begin with an overview of the science of climate change,

which will be accessible to students training in the social sciences. It will go

on to consider the economic, political and social implications of climate

change, drawing on economic analysis, as well as insights from other disciplines

such as human geography and political science.

Teaching

22 hours of lectures and 7 hours and 30 minutes of seminars in the MT.

Formative coursework

Students will write one essay (unassessed), on which they will receive written feedback. The essay serves as a mock exam, there is no word limit, but students should time themselves to write it in 50 minutes.

Indicative reading

Detailed reading lists will be provided to support each course component.

The following texts will be particularly useful: Stern, N. (2009). Blueprint

for a Safer Planet. London, The Bodley Head; Stern, N. (2007). The

Economics of Climate Change: the Stern Review. Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press; Aldy, J. E. and R. N. Stavins (2007). Architectures for

Agreement: Addressing Global Climate Change in the Post-Kyoto World.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Maslin, M. (2004). Global Warming: a

Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Student performance results

(2011/12 - 2013/14 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 15.4
Merit 40.6
Pass 38.3
Fail 5.7

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2014/15: 64

Average class size 2014/15: 16

Controlled access 2014/15: Yes

Lecture capture used 2014/15: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills