Climate Change: Science, Perception & Policy

Catalog description

Climate change (global warming) is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing issues of the twenty-first century. This course introduces students to the challenges posed by climate change through a unique multidisciplinary exploration of the scientific, economic, policy, communicative, and even philosophical dimensions of the issue. The course will cover topics such as the current state of scientific knowledge about climate change, the role of the media in shaping public opinion on the issue, competing discourses of climate change, risk and uncertainty in decision-making, costs and benefits of different types of policies, the Kyoto protocol and other policy initiatives, actions being taken to address the issue, and the ethical dimensions of the choices facing humanity. Faculty from SU and ESF in law, economics/public administration, earth science, and environmental studies will co-teach this course and bring to students a unique dialog that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. Moreover, emphasis will be placed on drawing out the general lessons obtained from a multidisciplinary approach to climate change: many of the insights will be applicable to other complex, highly technical environmental problems. This course is intended to bring together students from a diverse range of backgrounds and does not have specific prerequisites.