2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5550M Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation

15 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Prof Andrew Challinor
Email: A.J.Challinor@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module gives an overview of climate change impact assessment and predictions, and key concerns and strategies of adaptation to climate change. It covers climate impact causation, impact assessment methods, sectoral and regional climate change impact predictions, environmental risks and hazards, adaptation strategies, governance and policy for adaptation, and economics and delivery of adaptation. The course lays down the foundation for literacy in scholarship on climate change impacts and adaptation, which is essential for academics as well as practitioners, policy makers at all levels. The module also strengthens the students' ability to: engage in further climate change related work such as the writing of a thesis; disseminate and critique literature on impacts of and adaptation to climate change; develop and judge measures to adapt to climate change; evaluate and assess arguments on impacts and adaptation using relevant scholarly sources and methods; as well as the student's familiarity with impact assessment and vulnerability assessment methods.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be familiar with and understand the key issues and challenges related to the impacts of, and adaptation to, climate change. The module provides an overview ofmethods to assess climate change impacts, key concepts and results, and strategies related to adaptation to climate change.

The course lays down the foundation for literacy in scholarship on climate change impacts and adaptation, which is essential for academics as well as practitioners and policy makers at all levels. The module also strengthens the students' ability to engage in further climate change related work such as the writing of a thesis.

Learning outcomes
The students should develop knowledge of climate change impacts, their assessment and determinants and strategies of adaptation.

Key understanding of:
- climate change impact causation;
- impact assessment methods;
- regional and sectorial climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, adaptation policy, and implementation of adaptation

They should be able to assess popular articles in the press and online for their scientific merits.

Skills outcomes
- An ability to disseminate and critique literature on impacts of and adaptation to climate change.
- Familiarity with impact assessment and vulnerability assessment methods.
- Ability to develop and judge climate change adaptation strategies.
- An ability to evaluate and assess arguments on impacts and adaptation using relevant scholarly sources and methods.
- An ability to work as part of a team to synthesise and apply knowledge on climate impacts and adaptation.

Syllabus

Below is an indicative syllabus:-

1. Introduction to impacts and adaptation
2. Assessing impacts and risk
3. Climate impacts models
4. Methods of integrated assessment
5. Critiquing impacts studies
6. Conducting assessments
7. Approaches to adaptation
8. Policy and governance for adaptation

9. Decision-making and planning for adaptation 

10. Delivering adaptation actions and measures
11. The future of adaptation: research and careers

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			120.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

The students are expected to prepare for each seminar by reading 3-6 core assigned texts so that they will be able to participate in discussion and group work in lectures and in seminars (10 x 5 hours).

The course assessment will also involve:
- the writing of two written assignments (2 x 28 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

-Formative feedback provided during seminars.
- A group project surgery session will be held in week 5.
- Summative feedback on the assessments will be returned within 15 working days of submission. The first piece of work will be set in week 4 and the second piece of work will be set in week 9.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	3,500 Words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 16:25:49

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