Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges facing managers, policy makers and scientists today, across the spectrum of our interactions with the environment. This graduate-level course focuses on aspects of human-environment systems that are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change, and explores possible adaptation and mitigation responses to the risks associated with those vulnerabilities

The fundamental science of climate change in the context of natural climate variability provides a foundation for considering vulnerability to climate change, and a module on mitigation strategies surveys both the economic instruments being developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a range of energy options.  Vulnerability to climate change impacts, and possible adaptive strategies, are discussed thematically, with foci that can include human health, biodiversity, water, fire, land management and urban systems.  The capacity of our social systems and institutions to adapt, and the governance issues associated with adaptation, are also addressed.  Approaches to integrating biophysical and social information in decision making for climate change vulnerability and adaptation bring together these various strands.

Learning approaches include lectures, online modules, workshop discussions and group work, practical data analysis exercises (including working with state-of-the art tools developed by the Department of Climate Change) and field excursions.  All course material is available online to enrolled students.

 The course is run from 6 - 17 July.

Garnaut, R, 2008: Reports and discussion papers, the Garnaut Climate Change Review
(http://www.garnautreview.org.au/domino/Web_Notes/Garnaut/garnautweb.nsf)

IPCC, 2007: Summary for Policymakers, in "Climate Change 2007: the Physical Science Basis.  Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change", eds Solomon, S et al., Cambridge University Press.
(see http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/Report/AR4WG1_Pub_SPM.pdf)

IPCC, 2007: Summary for Policymakers, in "Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change", eds Adger, N et al., Cambridge University Press.
(see http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM13apr07.pdf)

IPCC, 2007: Summary for Policymakers, in "Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change", Cambridge University Press.
(see http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM040507.pdf)

Stern, N, 2006: Executive Summary, "The Economics of Climate Change", Cambridge University Press.
(see http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/3/Executive_Summary.pdf)