Course Title: Climate Change Responses
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Climate Change Responses
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus.
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
ENVI1222 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 1 2024 |
Course Coordinator: Nooshin Torabi
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0909
Course Coordinator Email: nooshin.torabi@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Bulding 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 to institutional to international level, 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
In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:
PLO1: Critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on recent trends and scholarly analysis of the effects and consequences of urbanisation internationally, including the interplay of ecological, economic, political, social and cultural factors
PLO2: Develop and use appropriate research tools, methods and strategies to generate knowledge, manage urban environments, and inform decision-making in diverse social, cultural and geographic contexts.
PLO5: Continually extend and challenge your knowledge and professional practice in urban and environmental management.
PLO6: Provide professional leadership by demonstrating environmental stewardship, cultural and social sensitivity, and ethical and reflective practice.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- Knowledgeably discuss the main challenges posed by climate change and the role of context-specific factors
- Identify a suite of possible climate change responses, examples of their application in their real world, and critically assess their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
- Knowledgeably discuss good practice in, risks of and barriers to appropriate climate change responses.
Overview of Learning Activities
Learning activities will involve lectures, discussions and online interactions.
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.
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Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
Assessment Tasks
- Evaluating Climate Response Task (30% Linked to CLOs 1 and 3)
- Climate Impact Research Task (40% Linked to CLOs 1, 2 and 3)
- Climate Adaptation Planning Task (30% Linked to CLOs 1, 2 and 3)
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 manager or RMIT student services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.