2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE5862M Climate and Development
30 creditsClass Size: 100
Module manager: Dr Peter Sutoris
Email: p.sutoris@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module explores the many ways climate change and development intersect, with focus on the Global South*. The teaching team (composed of climate scientists, climate impact modelers, sustainability scientists, politics and international development scholars) will expose students to: diverse understandings of and approaches to development; the multiple forms of evidence on climate variability, dynamics and weather extremes, impacts, risk and vulnerability; and stimulate debate on proposed solutions through critical analysis of adaptation and mitigation case-studies.Objectives
This module will:1. Explore multiple perspectives and narratives of climate change and development in the Global South* – e.g. disciplinary, global, regional, sectoral, local.
2. Explore what development is, the way development functions as a discourse (a way of constructing problems and responses to them) as well as practice, the plurality of theories, visions and outcomes of development.
3. Explore how development intersects with climate change - both implications of development as a societal process and project for climate change, and climate change impacts on development.
4. Critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative evidence from the climate, natural and social sciences to understand how climate change poses unique challenges for the development of countries and peoples in the Global South.
5. Critically explore climate change governance and financing and implications in the Global South.
6. Critically evaluate policy and practical responses to climate change and how they intersect with the other Sustainable Development Goals.
7. Expose students to case study contexts across the world, inspiring critically evaluation of and debate on proposed solutions in the climate-development field (e.g. climate compatible development, climate-smart development, climate-resilient pathways) and their implementation.
*The module includes critical reflection on use of this and associated terms.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this module students should be able to:
1. Critically examine the intersections between climate change and development.
2. Describe and assess quantitative and qualitative evidence on climate change for a region of relevance to the module.
3. Explain the impacts of climate change on countries and implications for their development by drawing on multiple disciplinary perspectives, data and forms of knowledge.
4. Critically evaluate policy and practical responses to climate change.
Syllabus
1. Multiple perspectives, knowledges and narratives of climate change and development
2. Origins of development, theory and practice and intersections with climate change
3. Global governance of climate and development and the politics of climate finance
4. Risk, climate variability, change and impacts on regions, sectors and systems
5. Differential vulnerability, intersectionality and gender
6. Adaptation and mitigation policy, practice and livelihoods
7. Critical perspectives and debate on key concepts (including Global South and associated terms) and proposed climate solutions propositions (e.g. climate compatible development, climate-smart and climate-resilient development pathways)
8. Exploring context specific case studies from across the world.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Supervision | 1 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Debate | 1 | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Lecture | 2 | 1.20 | 2.50 |
| Lecture | 7 | 2.50 | 17.50 |
| Practical | 5 | 2.50 | 12.50 |
| Seminar | 5 | 2.50 | 12.50 |
| Independent online learning hours | 8.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 244.20 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 47.80 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Formative feedback will be provided directly to students during class-based practical and group discussion sessions/seminars and during optional drop-in session on assessments 2 & 3.A qualitative summary of key points of feedback noted by staff during the debate session will be made available to student groups, whilst not essential for preparation of assignment 3, this may be useful for students in their finalisation of assignment 3.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Assignment | Briefing Note: Max. 1,500 words across max. 3 pages | 35.00 |
| Role-play | Group Debate: Oral contributions to debate | 15.00 |
| Assignment | Policy brief: Max. 1,500 words across max. 3 pages | 50.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
The re-sit for this module will take the form of a 3,000 word report. The mark for this assignment will be the mark for the whole module. Where a student is unable to attend and/or contribute to group work for assignment 2 and has evidence of associated mitigating circumstances an alternative assignment will be set.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 09/01/2024
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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