Climate Change Science and Negotiations (edX)

The time to address climate change is now. The mean surface temperature of the Earth has risen dangerously and spurred devastating impacts – and not just on natural ecosystems worldwide, but on daily human life. We are currently on pace towards a temperature increase of 4°C or more this century, while scientists and policymakers propose targets of just 1-2°C to avoid the total destruction of the planet.

Please note:

• This course was created before the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP21 – in Paris. While the political situation has shifted rapidly, this course provides a solid overview of the science behind climate change.
• Climate Change Science and Negotiations is a single-semester course. Please ignore all references to a second semester.

This course is for:

• Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in the fields of sustainable development, environmental science, sustainable business, international relations or related fields who are interested in the latest on climate change
• Climate change activists who want a concise overview of the current issues shaping debate and action
• Sustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as corporate sustainability and responsibility groups and those who work in the technology or energy industries – who need to understand key issues and facts about climate change, including emissions targets and emerging regulations

What you'll learn

• The basics of climate change, energy balance, and emissions
• The 2-degree limit and why it’s important
• The role of nuclear power, electric vehicles, and other technologies
• The process of global negotiations and agreements to regulate climate change

Syllabus

Module 1: Towards a New Climate Change Agreement

• The Challenge of Human Induced Climate Change
• The History of Climate Change Science
• The UNFCCC
• From Kyoto to Copenhagen
• Towards COP21

Module 2: The Basics of Climate Change Science

• The Earth’s Energy Balance
• The Greenhouse Gases and Feedbacks
• The Relentless Ride of CO2
• Other Drivers of Climate Change
• Recent History of Climate Change

Module 3: The 2-Degree Limit

• The Business As Usual Trajectory
• The Consequences of the BAU Trajectory
• Limiting the Mean Surface Temperature Increase Below 2-Degrees Celsius vs. Pre-Industrial Levels
• Debates Over the 2-Degree Celsius Limit

Module 4: The 2-Degree Carbon Budget

• What is a Carbon Budget?
• What is the Global Carbon Budget for the 2-Degree Limit?
• What is the Global Emissions Reduction Pathway for the 2-Degree Limit?
• How Does It Compare with the Potential Emissions from Fossil Fuel Reserves & Resources?

Module 5: The Deep Decarbonization of Energy Systems

• What is an Energy System?
• Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Trends
• The 3 Pillars of the Deep Decarbonization of Energy Systems
• A Global Mitigation Scenario

Module 6: The Key Technological Challenges of Deep Decarbonization

• The Need for Accelerated Development of Low-Carbon Technologies
• Key Technology Areas for RDD&D
• Grid Management of Power Systems with High Penetration of Renewable Energies
• Carbon Capture & Sequestration
• Advanced Nuclear Power
• Electric Vehicles and Advanced Biofuels
• The Role of Technology Roadmaps and Roundtables

Module 7: Deep Decarbonization Pathways: Country Case Studies

• Why Countries Need Deep Decarbonization Pathways to 2050
• The Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project
• What We Learn From Countries’ Deep Decarbonization Pathways
• Lessons for the Global Agreement on Climate Change at COP21 in Paris in 2015

Module 8: Energy & Development

• Energy & Poverty
• A World Without Modern Energy
• Energy for All in Africa
• How Climate Change Threatens the Poorest of the Poor
• Sustainable Energy for All

Module 9: Main Challenges of Climate Change Negotiations

• Efficiency & Fairness
• Basic Principles of a Global Agreement
• What is Fair?
• Making an Agreement Stick
• Problem-Solving Versus Negotiating

Module 10: Towards a New Climate Agreement Based on 2-Degrees Celsius

• The Three-Tiered Structure of Mitigation Commitments
• Technology RDD&D
• Climate Financing
• Can Everybody Win? Should Everybody Win?
• Achieving Large Global Goals