This course is next offered in 2011. 

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 is 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
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 including;
Biodiversity
System buffering and resilience
Regional inequality and vulnerability
Possible response strategies are investigated, focussing on;
International environmental treaties
International and Australian policy approaches to greenhouse change
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.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

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:

• Practical report on a selected topic relevant to local climate change adapation and mitigation strategies (30%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Tutorial facilitation, including written tutorial rationale and discussion questions, based on selected readings (20%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Major report and debate focussing on issues of national interest and equity in international climate change policy negotations (50%; LO 1, 2, 3, 4)

65 contact hours, comprising lectures, practicals and workshops/tutorials; approximately 55 non-contact hours.  Next offered 2011.

Bachelor degree; no specific knowledge required.

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)