This curated course collection highlights some UBC Vancouver courses with climate change-related content. Each course may cover multiple themes, but is only featured under one primary theme below. A list of courses by year level follows. Check UBC’s Course Schedule to ensure the course you are interested in is running in your selected session and that you are eligible to take it. 

We welcome additions to this course list. If you teach a course that addresses climate change and would like your course added, email alejandra.urcelay@ubc.ca.

 

No restrictions

All students may take these courses since they have no pre-requisites, co-requisites or restrictions.

ANTH 360 Introduction to Ecological Anthropology

Analysis of the relations between human societies and the ecological aspects of their environment.
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APBI 100 Soil and the Global Environment

Soil as a natural resource essential for food production, clean water and as a carbon sink.
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ARCL 309 Archaeology of Collapse and Sustainability

Sustainability of coupled ecological and social systems through the study of the past.
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CONS 210 Visualizing Climate Change

Introduction to climate change through the lens of local landscapes and future scenarios.
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EOSC 112 The Climate System

Introduction to Earth's climate system: radiation balance, greenhouse effect, atmosphere and ocean...
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GEOS 102 Our Changing Environment: Climate and Ecosystems

Energy and water in the Earth-Atmosphere system, global climates and climate change, ecosystem...
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HIST 106 Global Environmental History

The impact humans have on the environment, and the ways the environment shapes history.
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MECH 411 Air Pollution, Technology and Society

Causes and effects of air pollution in the context of technology and society.
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NURS 290 Health Impacts of Climate Change

A unique exploration of how human activities impact our health and livelihoods.
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UFOR 100 Greening the City

Roles played by urban forestry and greenspace systems in a rapidly changing world.
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Low Restriction

Low restriction courses are restricted to either graduate students or students in a certain year or above as noted in each course description. They have no other pre-requisites, co-requisites or restrictions.

CEEN 523 Energy and the Environment

Energy, environment and society: development, demand, policy, impacts, tools and more.
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FISH 501 Ecosystem Modelling

Modelling marine and freshwater ecosystem dynamics and tradeoffs in a changing world.
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GEOB 504A Perspectives on the Anthropocene

The Anthropocene as an integrative lens to study human-environment relationships.
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GEOG 220 Geopolitics

Today's interdependent world through three themes: borders, regions, and flows.
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GEOG 311 Urban Environments

Urban environments which strongly contribute to and are impacted by climate change.
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GEOG 497 The Arctic

Examine the Arctic, emphasizing terrestrial environments and the impacts on and by humans.
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PLAN 351 Green Cities

Key social and technological challenges and opportunities for ecologically sound urbanization.
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POLI 351 Environmental Politics and Policy

Concepts include climate policy instruments, interest group politics, climate justice.
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POLI 375A Global Environmental Politics

Rigorous analysis and ethical reflection on the politics of global sustainability and justice.
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PPGA 541 Policy Dimensions of Energy Systems

Energy policy and governance; opportunities for and constraints on clean energy transition.
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PPGA 584 Policy Responses to Global Climate Change

Climate change drivers, impacts, and solutions; science, economics, policy, and ethics.
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PPGA 591N Power and Practice

Power literacy is a skill that can be learned and perfected to make better public policy.
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RES 520 Climate Change: Science, Technology and Sustainable Development

Climate change drivers, impacts, and solutions; science, economics, policy, and ethics.
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SOCI 509A Sociology of the Environment

Key theoretical perspectives and concepts in environmental sociology including climate change.
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Climate Justice and Social Science

These courses cover content on the themes related to climate justice and social science such as gender, race, Indigenous Rights, economics, business, history, law, and political science. 

ECON 371 Economics of the Environment

Economic analysis applied to various environmental issues including climate change.
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ETEC 565E Energy Literacy in Society and Digital Culture

Energy infrastructures in relationship to cultural and social dimensions of climate justice.
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GEOG 310 Environment and Sustainability

An inspiring interdisciplinary survey on the future of environmental sustainability.
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GEOG 312 Climate Change: Science and Society

Climate science, impacts of climate change on society, and adaptation/mitigation challenges.
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GEOG 313 Environmental Justice and Social Change

What is the relationship between inequality and environmental degradation?
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LAW 387 Environmental Law

Foundational course introducing, engaging and critiquing Canadian environmental law.
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PSYC 421 Environmental Psychology

How features of the environment impact our cognition, behavior, and well-being.
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RES 500H Human Rights and the Environment

Explore the role of human rights in addressing the global environmental crisis.
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SOCI 420 Sociology of the Environment

Examining how equity and justice relate to climate change and the circular economy.
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FRST 521C-105/RES 500Z-101 Climate Change Communications and Engagement

Transdisciplinary, practice-based exploration of climate engagement with diverse audiences.
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SOCI 495E Demography of Disaster

Population causes of climate change and related disasters, and the population consequences of...
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SOCI 495G Climate Change

An overview of key sociological topics related to climate change.
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Climate science

These courses cover themes related to climate science such as climatology, biodiversity, forestry, atmospheric and ocean sciences.

CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry

An introduction to properties and composition of natural waters using Team-Based Learning.
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CONS 310 Ecology in a Changing Climate

Looking back on the impact of climate change on ecological systems and to the future.
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ENVR 430 Ecological Dimensions of Sustainability

Ecology and systems science of the climate-and-ecological crisis, and how to cultivate solutions.
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EOSC 270 Marine Ecosystems

Global marine ecosystems, their diversity and resilience in a changing world.
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EOSC 340 Global Climate Change

Mechanisms and processes of past and future global environmental and climate change.
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EOSC 442 Climate Measurement and Analysis

Collect and analyze time series data of your choice with an emphasis on climate series.
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GEOB 207 Introduction to Biogeography

Examine contributions to contemporary patterns of species distributions.
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GEOB 307 Biogeography and Global Change

Biogeographic concepts in understanding responses in ecosystems to change.
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GEOB 308 Quaternary and Applied Geomorphology

Quaternary landscape development emphasizing the history of glaciation.
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GEOB 407 Vegetation Dynamics: Disturbance, Climate and Human Impacts

Integrate theory and data to address global impacts on invasive and endangered plants.
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GEOB 408 The Changing Cryosphere

Formation of ice masses and their evolution including snowpacks, glaciers, and ice sheets.
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BEST 402 Industrial Ecology

Concepts in sustainability around technology and material use; relevance of biological ecology to...
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EOSC 212 Topics in Earth and Planetary Sciences

Cutting-edge problems in earth, ocean, atmospheric and planetary sciences.
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EOSC 453 Physics of the Earth and Other Planets

Identification and quantitative analysis of diverse physical problems in the earth, ocean,...
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Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

These courses cover themes related to mitigation and adaptation such as energy, policy, sustainable cities, and resiliency.

ATSC 313 Renewable Energy Meteorology

Meteorology as it applies to case-studies in hydro, wind, and solar energy.
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COEC 475 The Economics and Policy of the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources

Economic analysis of environmental problems, energy systems, and natural resources.
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CONS 302 Issues in Genomics and the Environment

Topical issues including applications of genomics in climate change adaptation.
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ENVR 410 Energy, Environment, and Society

What would a sustainable energy system look like, and how will we get there?
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EOSC 373 Introductory Oceanography: Climate and Ecosystems

Physical, chemical, and biological ocean processes and interaction with climate and food-webs.
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FOPE 503 Climate Modelling and Forest Applications

Potential impacts on global forest systems; modelling; adaptive management strategies.
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GEOB 300 Microscale Weather and Climate

Meteorology and climatology at various scales including micro, local, and meso.
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GEOB 302 Paleoecology: Lessons for the Anthropocene

Application of historical context to contemporary ecological problems in the Anthropocene.
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GEOB 401 Urban Meteorology

The impact of urbanization upon atmospheric processes and climates.
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GEOG 314 Analysing Environmental Problems

Problem-based course introducing key techniques in environmental research.
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MINE 455 Mine Water Management

Water use and management within the mining sector including climate resilience.
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PHYS 333 Energy and Climate

The fundamental science behind the global issues of energy use and climate change.
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GEOG 202 Climate Emergency

Science, impacts, and parallel crises of the climate emergency; decarbonization challenge and...
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GEOG 302 Climate Justice

Concepts and debates in the interdisciplinary field and practice of climate justice; the role of...
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ENVR 201, 301, 302, 401 Climate Action Labs

Community-engaged climate action projects; skill building for climate action
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List of courses by year

Year 1

EOSC 112 The Fluid Earth: Atmosphere and Ocean
GEOS 102 Our Changing Environment: Climate and Ecosystems
HIST 106 Global Environmental History
UFOR 100 Greening the City

Year 2

APBI 244 Atmospheric Environments
BEST 202 Alternative Energy Systems
CIVL 250 Engineering and Sustainable Development 
CONS 210 Visualizing Climate Change 
ENVR 201 Climate Action Lab 1
EOSC 212 Topics in Earth and Planetary Sciences
EOSC 270 Marine Ecosystems
GEOS 207 Introduction to Biogeography 
GEOG 202 Climate Emergency  
NURS 290 Health Impacts of Climate Change

Year 3

ARCL 309 Archaeology of Collapse and Sustainability
ATSC 313 Renewable Energy Meteorology
CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry
CONS 302 Issues in Genomics and the Environment
CONS 310 Ecology in a Changing Climate
ENVR 301 Climate Action Lab 2
ENVR 302 Climate Action Lab 1 and 2
ECON 371 Economics of the Environment
EOSC 340 Global Climate Change
EOSC 373 Introductory Oceanography: Climate and Ecosystems
FRST 304 Forest Stewardship in a Changing Climate
FRST 320 Abiotic Disturbances: Fire and Climate
GEOG 302 Climate Justice
GEOG 310 Environment and Sustainability
GEOG 311 Urban Environments
GEOG 312 Climate Change: Science and Society
GEOG 313 Environmental Justice and Social Change
GEOG 314 Analysing Environmental Problems
LAW 387 Environmental Law
PHIL 332 Environmental Ethics
PHYS 333 Energy and Climate
PLAN 351 Green Cities
POLI 351 Environmental Politics and Policy
POLI 375A Global Environmental Politics

Year 4

 

ATSC 413 Forest-fire Weather and Climate
BEST 401 Carbon and Energy Economics
BEST 402 Industrial Ecology
CHBE 483 Energy Engineering for Climate Change and Sustainability
CHBE 485 Air Pollution Prevention and Air Quality Engineering
CHBE 488 Carbon Capture, Conversion and Sequestration Technologies
ENVR 401 Climate Action Lab 3
ENVR 410 Energy, Environment, and Society
ENVR 430 Ecological Dimensions of Sustainability
EOSC 442 Climate Measurement and Analysis
EOSC 453 Physics of the Earth and other Planets
FRE 420 The Economics of International Trade and the Environment
FRST 408 Advanced Forest Insect Ecology
GEOS 401 Urban Meteorology
GEOS 407 Vegetation Dynamics: Disturbance, Climate and Human Impacts
GEOB 408 The Changing Cryosphere
GEOG 497 The Arctic
MECH 410U Air Pollution
MINE 455 Mine Water Management
PSYC 421 Environmental Psychology
SOCI 420 Sociology of the Environment
SOCI 495E Advanced Studies in Sociology-Demography of Disaster
SOCI 495G Advanced Studies in Sociology-Climate Change

 

Graduate Courses

CEEN 501 Energy System Fundamentals
CEEN 503 Sustainable Energy Systems
CEEN 523 Energy and the Environment
CEEN 525 Energy Policy
CEEN 550 Energy Efficiency and Conservation
ETEC 565E Energy Literacy in Society and Digital Culture
FISH 501 Ecosystem Modelling
FOPE 503 Climate Modelling and Forest Applications
FRST 521C-105 Climate Change Communications & Engagement
GEOB 504A Perspectives on the Anthropocene
PPGA 541 Policy Dimensions of Energy Systems
PPGA 584 Policy Responses to Global Climate Change
PPGA 591N Power and Practice
RES 500H Human Rights and the Environment
RES 520 Climate Change: Science, Technology and Sustainable Development
SOCI 509A Sociology of the Environment