Climate Courses

The meteorology of hydro, wind, and solar power. Atmospheric processes affecting renewable energy on global, regional & local weather scales. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: One of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of PHYS 101, PHYS 106, PHYS 107, PHYS 117, PHYS 131, PHYS 157 and one of APSC 160, CPSC 103, CPSC 110, DSCI 100, EOSC 211.

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. that address climate change and sustainability (water usage, environmental footprint, resource use, etc.). Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 483, CHBE 583. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Third-year standing or higher in BASc or BSc.

How chemical and biological waste impact the environment. Physico-chemical, thermal, and biological methods for minimizing, isolating and sustainably treating solid waste and wastewater, including conversion to bioproducts/ industrial products, energy and clean water. Recommended prerequisite: All of CHBE_V 241, CHBE_V 244, CHBE_V 370. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Third-year or higher standing in BASc. or BSc.

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 that address climate change and sustainability (water usage, environmental footprint, resource use, etc.). Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 483 or CHBE 583. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

Tools to apply sustainable and responsible decision making through individual, organizational, and structural lenses. Topics include diversity and group think, the circular economy, and climate change adaptation. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of public policies and corporate strategies using statistical evaluation methods, cost benefit analysis, and other modelling tools, with a focus on the impacts of climate change on operations and vice versa. Industries including service provision, manufacturing, and infrastructure investment are assessed based on pricing, operating costs, emissions, and other environmental and societal impacts. Prerequisite: COMM_V 204.

Introductory genomics in the context of genetics and epigenetics; current and topical issues, including genetic determinism, environmental DNA, revival of extinct species, and applications of genomics to improve our life and environment including adaptation to climate change. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: One of BIOL 11, BIOL 12.

An introduction to policy and decision making for conserving biodiversity in an uncertain world using a combination of ecological data and decision science. [3-1-0] Prerequisite: [CONS200]

Workshop-based class focused on writing related to climate change and environmental issues; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to Creative Writing majors. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted between CRWR 425 and 525.

The impact of climate change as examined through economic thinking and research. Social and economic outcomes, social cost of carbon, policies to mitigate or adapt to climate change, and climate justice. Prerequisites: One of ECON_V 301, ECON_V 304, ECON_V 315, COMM_V 295 or FRST_V 318; and one of ECON_V 326, ECON_V 328, STAT_V 306, or FRE_V 326.

Climates over the geological, historical and instrument periods. Theories of climatic change. Monitoring and modelling the climate system. Impacts of change on environmental and socio-economic systems. Credit will be granted for only one of ENST 312 or GEOG 312. Recommended pre-requisites: one of GEOS 102, GEOB 102, GEOS 200, GEOB 200, GEOS 204, GEOB 204, ATSC 201, EOSC 112 and 3rd year standing. Equivalency: GEOG 312

Introduction to Earth's climate system: radiation balance, greenhouse effect, atmosphere and ocean circulation, plate tectonics, biosphere interactions, and the carbon cycle. Applications to understand the causes of climate change, from long-term climate evolution to modern human-induced climate change. (Consult the Credit Exclusion list, within the Faculty of Science section in the Calendar.) [3-0-0]

Mechanisms and processes of past and future global climate change. Climate models and projected impacts. Climate solutions including carbon sequestration, adaptation and geoengineering. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Either (a) SCIE 001 or (b) one of CHEM 110, CHEM 111, CHEM 120, CHEM 121, CHEM 141, CHEM 154 and one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of PHYS 101, PHYS 106, PHYS 107, PHYS 117, PHYS 131, PHYS 153, PHYS 157.

Forests can provide natural solutions to climate change and social well-being through innovative management and restoration including protection of mother trees and soils, carbon and conservation financing, and emergence of value-added industries. For students without strong science backgrounds. Not available for credit to Faculty of Forestry students. [3-0-0]

Role of climate and climate change in the population dynamics, outbreak potentials and resultant impacts to forest ecosystems associated with herbivorous forest insects. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: One of FRST 307, APBI 327, BIOL 327.

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

Science, impacts, and parallel crises of the climate emergency; decarbonization challenge and measuring progress towards emission targets; strategies and tools for climate action at local, national, and global levels. Credit will only be granted for one of GEOG 202 or ENST 202. Recommended: Second-year standing. Equivalency: ENST 202

Climates over the geological, historical and instrument periods. Theories of climatic change. Monitoring and modelling the climate system. Impacts of change on environmental and socio-economic systems. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 312 or ENST 312. Recommended pre-requisites: one of GEOS 102, GEOB 102, GEOS 200, GEOB 200, GEOS 204, GEOB 204, ATSC 201, EOSC 112. Third-year standing. Equivalency: ENST312

Concepts and techniques employed in environmental research; challenges in the areas of climate change, water use, knowledge translation and natural hazards. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG_V 314 or ENST_V 314. Restricted to students with at least third-year standing. Prerequisite: One of GEOG_V 211, GEOB_V 102, GEOB_V 103, GEOS_V 102, GEOS_V 103, EOSC_V 110 or EOSC_V 112. Equivalency: ENST_V 314.

Physical principles underlying weather and climates. Thermal, moisture and wind climates from the scale of plants and animals to the globe. Daily weather systems and climate change. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 200, GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 204, or APBI_V 244. This course is recommended for students with credit in one of GEOS_V 102, GEOB_V 102, or second-year standing in science. [3-2*-0] Equivalency: APBI_V 244 and GEOB_V 200.

Formation of ice masses and their evolution including snowpacks, glaciers, and ice sheets. Relationships between ice and climate including records of climate change, glacier dynamics and ice-related hazards. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: One of PHYS_V 101, PHYS_V 106, PHYS_V 107, PHYS_V 117, PHYS_V 131, PHYS_V 157, SCIE_V 001, and one of GEOB_V 206, GEOS_V 206, GEOB_V 305, GEOS_V 305, GEOB_V 308, GEOS_V 308. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOB _V 408 or GEOS _V 408. Equivalency: GEOB_V 408.

Foundations of disturbance from Indigenous and western perspectives. Topics includes natural (fire, wind, flood, climate) and anthropogenic (logging, dams, mining, climate) disturbances in both intact and altered landscapes. Prerequisite: ILS 201.

Causes and effects of air pollution in the context of technology and society. Topics include: impact of air pollutants on air quality and climate, atmospheric science, public policy, collective action, environmental justice, science communication, economic externalities, and ethical engineering design. Recommended pre-requisite: third-year standing. [3-0-0]. Prerequisite: Second-year standing.

The fundamental physics behind global issues of energy use and climate change. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Either (a) one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of PHYS 101, PHYS 102, PHYS 106, PHYS 107, PHYS 108, PHYS 117, PHYS 118, PHYS 131, PHYS 153, PHYS 157, PHYS 158; or (b) SCIE 001.