Prof. Roger Pielke (University of Colorado) | Richard T. Conant (Colorado State University)

Science, Policy & Politics of Climate Chance



Course Description

In recent years, the issue of climate change has come to the forefront of policy making around the world. However, the emission of greenhouse gases continues to increase largely unabated, and the impacts of climate on societies around the world are also increasing. Understanding climate policy requires appreciation of many interdisciplinary issues associated with science, technology, society, culture, politics, and more. This course will provide students with a survey of the issue of climate change, focused on issues of science, politics, sociology, international relations, economics, and ultimately, policy. The course will emphasize five themes: (1) understanding the role of carbon dioxide emissions as part of the global economy, history, projections, and its relationship to atmospheric concentrations through the global carbon cycle, (2) policy responses of adaptation and mitigation, (3) science, expertise, and decision making, with a focus on climate models and their ability to predict the future (4) issues of international politics, economics, and culture, and (5) a range of post-2012 policy options.


Learning Objectives

By the end of this course students will:
| Understand the challenges of limiting greenhouse gas emissions and stabilizing concentrations
| Understand the basic dynamics of the global carbon cycle
| Understand the notions of mitigation, adaptation, and their possible interactions
| Have been introduced to the complex issues of science (and expertise) in decision making
| Appreciate issues associated with culture, economics, and politics and how they relate to climate policy
| Develop a sense of the scope of possible futures associated with climate policy



Final Papers

There will be a final report assignment which will ask students to review and reflect on the substantive materials in the course.