Climate - Sustainability, Consequences and Solutions

The course aims to provide a fundamental introduction to climate science. It will give students an understanding of the underlying processes that govern climate variability across different timescales. Furthermore, the course addresses how human-induced emissions affect the climate and identifies the main drivers behind changes in emissions. It also provides an overview of international frameworks for climate action, adaptation, and emission reductions.

The course will give students a solid foundation for understanding the significance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how these relate to ongoing climate change.

The course explains how variations in external forcings - such as solar radiation, volcanic activity, changes in greenhouse gases, and aerosols - can contribute to changes in the climate system. It also reviews mechanisms that may amplify or dampen climate change.

Students will learn to compare observed climate changes over the past century with natural climate variability in earlier periods. The course is particularly relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 13 (Climate Action), by strengthening knowledge of climate and climate-related risks.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• should be able to explain the fundamental mechanisms behind the greenhouse effect and describe how key climate drivers influence the climate system
• should be able to explain the main features of human‑caused emissions and how these contribute to climate change
• should be able to describe what is meant by climate and sustainability risk, and be familiar with central concepts used in the assessment of such risks

Skills

The student

• should be able to apply basic concepts and models to analyze simple climate‑ or sustainability‑related issues
• should be able to identify and interpret relevant sources on climate, emissions, or risk (e.g., emissions inventories or climate data)
• should be able to communicate key climate and sustainability challenges in writing or orally at a professionally reflective level

General competence

The student

• should be able to discuss how climate change and sustainability challenges are linked to societal choices, international frameworks, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (especially Goal 13)
• should be able to reflect on how scientific knowledge can inform policy, strategy, and measures related to sustainability and climate
• should be able to contribute constructively to interdisciplinary discussions on climate and sustainability, with an understanding of both physical processes and societal consequences