Global environmental change, and particularly climate change, as a result of human activities is now generally accepted as reality. The 'enhanced greenhouse effect' is the term currently used to describe a wide range of climatic processes and impacts in the global system that are affected by anthropogenic activities. This course provides an introduction to greenhouse science, impacts and policy implications. The fundamentals are provided in an overview of greenhouse science, focussing on the atmospheric processes that drive climatic variability and change, and the roles of the terrestrial biosphere and the oceans in the global carbon cycle. The likely impacts of greenhouse change on ecosystems and human activities are also considered, including biodiversity, system buffering and resilience, and regional inequality and vulnerability. Finally, possible response strategies are investigated, focussing on international environmental treaties, international and Australian policy approaches to greenhouse change, and management and adaptation strategies. Practical work and tutorials are directed towards an understanding of carbon budgets and carbon accounting, and science-policy interaction in the area of climate change. Contributors to the course include staff of FSES, the Research School of Biological Sciences, the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, the Research School of Earth Sciences, the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, the Faculties of Law and Engineering, and representatives of various government departments, industry groups and research organisations.

Honours Pathway Option

Students taking this option must complete a prescribed piece of reading each week and attend three tutorials to discuss their analyses of the additional reading, in the context of the science-policy interaction theme of the course.  A 500-word briefing paper must be prepared for each tutorial; together these will account for 15% of overall assessment (the class tests will count 15%).  All other assessment and requirements remain the same.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Students who fail to submit work by the due date or fail to participate in classes, practicals and tutorials may be excluded from examination. Assessment will be based on:

• Three class tests (30%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Practical report on a selected topic relevant to local climate change adapation and mitigation strategies (30%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Major report and debate focussing on issues of national interest and equity in international climate change policy negotations (40%; LO 1, 2, 3, 4)