Climate Change Courses

The meteorology of hydro, wind, and solar power. Atmospheric processes affecting renewable energy on global, regional & local weather scales.

Introduction to safe, clean, and sustainable supplies of energy. Economic, social, environmental, and policy issues raised by current systems of energy use and production are examined.

Concepts in sustainability around technology and material use; relevance of biological ecology to industrial ecology; life cycle analysis: components and applications; and approaches to design.

Planetary thermodynamics, energy system evolution, energy services, role of renewable energy sources. Alternative energy technologies. Solar, wind, small-scale hydro, tidal, geothermal, electrochemical (batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells), and biochemical energy, electromechanical conversion processes. Techno-economic assessment of alternative energy technologies.

Energy policy process and governance. Sustainable energy as a social and political challenge, formal government structures and process, actors in the policy, policy analysis, policy instrument, and energy planning and approval processes, including environmental assessment. Introduction to demand-side energy policy.

Supply and use of conventional and alternative fuels and energy. Design and operation of unit operations for processing of fossil fuels, biomass, and other energy sources. Environmental considerations of energy use. Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 483, CHBE 583.

Examination of carbon capture technologies, and CO2 conversion and sequestration options. Technical foundations on carbon cycle, thermodynamics, transport, absorption, adsorption, sequestration, process control, mineralization and conversion. Analysis of cases in the context of technology, policy and regulatory framework. Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 488 or CHBE 588.

Implications of a finite biosphere and the complexities inherent in environmental decision-making. Credit will only be granted for only one of CIVL 200 or CIVL 250.

Introduction to climate change through the lens of local landscapes and future scenarios, using visual media to communicate the underlying science & psychology, and engage communities in local climate change solutions.

Impact of climate change on ecological systems. Builds framework for understanding past and future changes following fundamental organizing units of ecology - individuals, populations, species, communities, and ecosystems.

Application of economic analysis to the management of renewable resources. Special attention is given to criteria for the optimal use of depleting resources such as forests and water. Other topics include public policy with regard to environmental quality, conservation, and outdoor recreation.

Community-engaged climate action projects; skill building for climate action.

Community-engaged climate action projects; skill building for climate action.

Instructor-guided collaboration between student teams and community partners on climate action projects.

Current issues. Application to agricultural, energy, and resource systems in terrestrial and aquatic contexts. Analysis of complex problems; incorporation of science into novel interdisciplinary solutions.

Cutting edge problems in earth, ocean, atmospheric and planetary sciences. Topics will be introduced through discussions of the current literature.

Mechanisms and processes of past and future global environmental and climate change.

Local climate time series collection and analysis. Retrieval and analysis of online climate data and model output.

Basic energy systems and technologies in the context of the cultural and social dimensions of environmental education and climate emergency--through conceptual, digital, and narrative models, as well as policy, design, and science.

Market failure and gains from trade in the presence of natural resource externalities; the multilateral trading system and the environment; case studies in trade-related environmental impacts.

Ecological effects of fire and climatic (wind, temperature, and snow) disturbances; fire danger rating, principles of fire management and prescribed fire use; windthrow risk modelling and management.

Psychological, social, and systemic dimensions of climate change communication; approaches for engaging diverse groups for low-carbon futures; overcoming climate inaction.

Theory and evolution of adaptation at different scales in organizations and resource management systems, utilizing existing case studies, examining opportunities and barriers to adaptation, considering strategies and practices to manage climate impacts and risks

Concepts and debates in the interdisciplinary field and practice of climate justice; the role of systemic processes and patterns underlying climate change and climate injustices.