2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE5864M Climate Justice
30 creditsClass Size: 50
Module manager: Harriet Thew
Email: H.Thew@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
Pre-requisite qualifications
Physical Climate Change, Impacts and MitigationSocial and Political Dimensions of the Climate Challenge
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module explores the complex repercussions of climate change for social and natural systems, addressing multi-dimensional questions of justice and fairness in society. It explores questions of power and movement building, such as: - How could climate change create, exacerbate, or remediate historic and present inequalities? - How have diverse groups pursued climate justice and what can we learn from their lived experiences? - How can we develop climate solutions with justice and solidarity at their core?Objectives
The module will cover a series of case studies to understand and explore the interactions between changes in natural systems (e.g., melting permafrost, sea-ice loss, sea-level rise, weather extremes) and a diverse range of community responses.Learning outcomes
At the end of this module, students will be able to…
1. Describe how climate change relates to existing justice issues around the world.
2. Apply different frameworks for climate justice.
3. Explain the history of climate justice movements and identify different routes to achieving justice.
4. Describe how scientific methods for quantifying climate change could exacerbate or ameliorate justice issues.
5. Analyse justice as a factor impacting decisions relating to tackling climate change, drawing upon a wide range of evidence and data.
6. Devise evidence-based and solidarity-focused arguments to advance climate justice.
Syllabus
Theories/concepts/themes:
Introduction to climate justice
Biases/gaps in and access to data records and model output
Facets of justice: recognition, procedure, distribution
Future emissions scenarios
Attribution science
Equity in the intergovernmental regime (UNFCCC, IPCC)
Arctic climate change (permafrost, sea ice, wildfires, Arctic amplification)
Marginalised perspectives and indigenous knowledge in the Global North
Post-coloniality, Intersectionality, marginalised perspectives and indigenous knowledge in the Global South
Compound events and weather extremes
Urban climate change: air quality, urban heat island
Gender, age, sexuality, inclusion and feminist research
Just Transitions, socio technical systems and spatial justice
Climate finance, justice and discounting
Youth climate activism
Local ecology, climate action and cities
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Supervision | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 |
| Fieldwork | 3 | 1.00 | 3.00 |
| Lecture | 9 | 1.00 | 9.00 |
| Lecture | 13 | 1.00 | 13.00 |
| Practical | 12 | 1.00 | 12.00 |
| Seminar | 21 | 1.00 | 21.00 |
| Independent online learning hours | 5.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 235.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 60.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Formative feedback will be provided directly to students during seminars, class-based delivery of their group presentations and optional drop-in sessions on assessments 1 & 2.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Presentation | Presentation (Can be delivered in person or pre-recorded). Each student to present for 5 mins, approx. 20-25 mins per group, followed by 5 minutes of questions per group on the history of social movements, legal claims and negotiations on how different actors have pursued different routes to justice. | 35.00 |
| Report | Report (individual) outlining an evidence-based Climate Justice Strategy and clear recommendations to address a climate justice issue of the learner’s choice. 2500 words | 65.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
The re-sit/alternative format for assignment 1 is a personal statement (max. 1,500 words), including reflection on the individual’s participation in the teamwork, reflection on their positionality, and a report of the concrete contributions that they could/should have made to the broader piece.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 29/04/2024 16:20:31
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