Global environmental change, and particularly climate change, as a result of human activities are now generally accepted as reality. While uncertainties remain as to the exact timing and regional character of many of the impacts of climate change resulting from the 'enhanced greenhouse effect', there is considerable scientific understanding of greenhouse processes.

Of equal importance are the social, economic and political implications of greenhouse change, and the ways in which we may attempt to manage and adapt to this change.

This course focuses on the science of greenhouse and greenhouse accounting, and provides a policy context for the science.

Topics covered include:

• Greenhouse science and policy
• The enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change
• The terrestrial carbon cycle
• Plants and greenhouse
• Soil carbon
• Measuring forest carbon
• The post-harvest fate of forest carbon
• Managing risk and uncertainty
• Land management perspectives on carbon
• Greenhouse and agriculture
• Principles of carbon accounting 

Practical work focuses on understanding carbon budgets and carbon accounting.

Students assess their own learning progress via self-tests at critical points in the course.

Each module includes an assignment or practical report; five reports are submitted for assessment

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)