Course Title: Climate Change Responses
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Climate Change Responses
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
ENVI1212 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2015, Summer2016, Sem 2 2016, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024 |
Course Coordinator: Nooshin Torabi
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0909
Course Coordinator Email: nooshin.torabi@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Building 8, Level 11
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
As climate change proceeds, in tandem with other issues flagged by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we need to think critically about how we are, and should be, responding.
In this course you will gain integrated, critical knowledge of climate change responses in theory and practice. Looking at responses from the individual through institutional to international levels, you will explore the social, cultural, political and psychological aspects of such responses and the practical challenges they pose. You will gain a sophisticated understanding of how responses including adaptation, mitigation, climate-smart development, resilience thinking and carbon sequestration are shaped by existing contexts and demand new capabilities.
The course focuses on the complex “human dimensions” of climate change. Drawing on case studies from around the world, you will be required to consider how climate change is understood and framed differently by diverse groups of people, relates to other pressing challenges such as urbanisation and poses opportunities for positive transformational change. In particular, you will explore the conceptual and practical issues climate change poses to different groups, including urban dwellers and planners. You will develop an understanding of how we can respond to the complex issues of vulnerability, adaptive capacity, justice and ethics that incremental and transformational responses generate. You will learn to identify key barriers to ideal climate change responses and possible strategies for addressing them.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Program Learning Outcomes
For those of you in BP000 and BP193, this course will help you develop the program level outcomes:
PLO1: Apply a body of theoretical and practical knowledge of principles and practice of natural resource policy, sustainability, globalisation and environmental management to professional practice or further study;
PLO2 Critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on knowledge related to the social implications of environmental concerns and challenges both in Australia and globally;
PLO3: Apply logical, critical and creative thinking to effectively solve a range of problems associated with environmental management and associated policies and programs;
PLO4: Work effectively and productively with others in a range of roles in a variety of professional and social contexts;
PLO5: Communicate effectively using appropriate formats, media and styles to a range of audiences including other professionals, the public and government agencies and collaborate partnerships with others.
PLO6: 6. Assist in the identification of needs, and the design, planning, resourcing and implementation of research and development projects in environmental and social sustainability.
PLO7: Reflect on the experience of personal and professional practice in international and cross-cultural settings and to act in professionalized settings responsibly, ethically and with integrity.
For those of you in BH108 and BP329, this course will help you develop the program level outcomes:
PLO1: Demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and innovation when identifying and solving urban and regional problems in diverse contexts and assessing implications of decisions and actions.
PLO2: Discern the value of information and knowledge from a wide variety of sources and experiences and reflect on and evaluate their application in planning practice and research.
PLO5: Work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural and social sensitivity, environmental stewardship and ethical and reflective practice.
PLO6: Critically reflect on the interconnectedness of environmental, social, economic systems both locally and internationally and apply in your professional practice or further study.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- Discuss the main challenges posed by climate change and the role of context-specific factors;
- Critically assess their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages and identify a suite of possible climate change responses, examples of their application in their real world,
- Discuss good practice , risks of and barriers to appropriate climate change responses.
Overview of Learning Activities
Learning activities will involve active engagement in learning that involves a range of activities such as lectures, tutorials, group discussion, group activities and individual research.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. This includes provision and recommendation of academic and non-academic references.
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes.
Assessment Tasks
- Climate Change Engagement Task (25% Linked to CLO 1 and 2)
- Climate Change Research Task (45% Linked to CLO 2 and 3))
- Climate Change Responses Task (30% Linked to CLO 1, 2 and 3)
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or RMIT Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.