Course syllabus
Global change - problem, analysis, measures (ES2613, 7.5 hec, 2023)
Welcome, dear student!
On this course you will study the scientific basis of global environmental problems such as climate change and air pollution, but also the opportunities human society has to tackle these challenges. You will gain knowledge and competence regarding different aspects of global environmental problems. As indicated by the course name “Global change – problem, analysis, measures”, global change issues will be studied from three perspectives:
- Deepening the scientific knowledge of the causes and nature of different types of anthropogenic impacts and environmental problems.
- Analyzing environmental problems from different perspectives, such as geographical patterns, temporal trends, magnitude and impacts.
- Studying many different types of mitigation possibilities, such as international agreements, policy making, technology solutions, company strategies, etc.
Teaching will be at the Natrium building, Medicinaregatan 7B. However, it will also be provided online during the first week of the course, since some students may be a bit delayed for course start due to administrative hurdles.
Course start
We are looking forward to meeting you soon! The course starts on Monday the 28th August 2023 at 10:15 –12.00. We will be at the Natrium building of our department (Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences), at Medicinaregatan 7B, in room 3275 GIS LABB I. Since some students may be a bit delayed for course start due to administrative hurdles, it will also be possible to attend online, at this online Zoom meeting room. Online participation is possible at the course start and during the entire first week, but not thereafter. If attending online, make sure that you have a properly working Zoom software (download Zoom Client for Meetings here), microphone and speaker/headphone.
Please get acquainted to the main course textbook before the course starts, Global Warming, fifth edition, by Houghton J, 2015. In can be ordered online and is also available to read online for students registered at the University of Gothenburg, here.
Course information
Here is some basic information for you before the course starts:
- Some information provided at the course kickoff
- Course schedule on TimeEdit
In case you want to start reading some climate change literature before the course starts (when all of it can be accessed under Files), here is some of the early non-textbook and non-optional material (see Reading instructions above for pages and ambition levels): European Union, 2016. The EU Emissions Trading System. OECD/IEA, 2016. 20 Years of carbon capture and storage; Diaz et al. 2019. As mentioned above, the main course book is also available to read online for students registered at the University of Gothenburg, here.
And here are some useful links:
- Check list for new students at the University of Gothenburg
- Student portal (information and access to email)
- Information to students at the Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences
- Answers to common Canvas questions
- Introduction to University Library webpage
- Introduction to University Library for new students
When you are registered and can login to the course you will have full access to all course resources.
Examination includes all compulsory parts as well as the written exam. Compulsory parts are only graded Pass/Fail and all must be passed in order to earn the course credits. The written exam is graded Pass with distinction (80-100%), Pass (50-79%) or Fail (<50%) and determines the overall grade on the course.
Course content, in brief
The course has two main parts, each including both lectures and interactive exercises/tasks:
Part I, Climate change:
- Topics: the physical basis, impacts on ecosystems, ecosystem feedbacks on climate, mitigation measures, international agreements
- Lectures
- "Carbon ruins" exercise on societal transformation (compulsory)
- Modelling exercise (compulsory)
Part II, Air pollution:
- Topics: acidification, eutropication, tropospheric ozone, particles, stratospheric ozone, policy and mitigation
- Lectures
- Policy negotiation exercise (compulsory)
Contact persons
Johan Uddling, course leader - johan.uddling@bioenv.gu.se
Course administration (registration, reporting): studieadmin@bioenv.gu.se
Study counsellors, Environmental Science: environmentalscience@bioenv.gu.se