Course Outline 2021.2022 ESST 3104 COURSE TITLE: Climate Change and Abatement Technology COURSE CODE: SEMESTER: ESST 3104 I NO. OF CREDITS: 3 LEVEL: PREREQUISITES: Undergraduate, Level II ESST 2005 Pollution Management and Abatement Technology COURSE DESCRIPTION: Climate change and its effects are a major environmental concern today; this is particularly so for small island developing states in the Caribbean. This course will develop students’ understanding of the nature of climate change and the strategies that can be used to mitigate its effects. The course will have two main units; the first will discuss the issues surrounding climate change, primarily the science behind climate change; the mechanisms that underpin the greenhouse effect, energy balances, molecular energy absorption by greenhouse gases, the sources of these gases and the general global effects of the global warming and how this translates into climate change. The consequences of climate change will be discussed, as well as the continuing debate on whether or not global warming/climate change are happening at all, or being caused by rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. The second unit will introduce the mechanisms that are in use to mitigate the potential hazards of climate change. This will include legislative and technical efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The course will cover international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol, local and regional legislation, technological solutions, like alternative energy sources and strategies to reduce the current climate change impacts being experienced by some nations. The delivery of course materials would involve a combination of lectures, practicals, tutorials, and web based materials. Assessments are designed to encourage students to work continuously with the course materials. COURSE RATIONALE: Climate change is a controversial yet important issue that may be the defining environmental issue of the 21st century. It is of utmost importance that the core issues related to the science, impacts, economics, abatement technologies, and policy solutions of climate change be addressed to enable the development of international policy solutions to alleviate the imminent environmental crisis due to the changing climate over time. This course addressed several important areas related to climate change and abatement technology. GOALS/AIMS: The aim of this course is to provide students with the necessary training in climate change and abatement technology. This course is designed to equip students with an introduction to the science behind climate change issues, practical techniques, tools, and tips necessary to ensure proper functionality of equipment and testing facilities for empirical assessment of the measurement and efficacy of mitigation and abatement strategies. Arising from this, the necessary global policy strategies to achieve lowering of GHG emissions and global warming. LEARNING OUTCOMES: After successfully completing this course, students should be able to: Understand and explain the Science of Climate Change- measurement, recording and reporting on empirical parameters used to assess data used for policy makers Identify and describe the evidence of anthropogenically accelerated climate change and the impact on the environment in present time and future projections. Evaluate the status of past and current international, regional and local efforts to address climate change and prospects for the future management of climate change. Describe the successes and limitations of policy and legislation for climate change identifying the success of marrying science and policy to solve international climate change issues. Main Topics Issues surrounding climate change: The science of Climate Change; Mechanisms that underpin the Global Warming The Greenhouse Effect Energy and the Environment Contributors to GHG Emissions Molecular Energy Absorption by Greenhouse Gases, Global Effects of the Global Warming. Consequences of accelerated Climate Change. Adaptation and Mitigation for Climate Action Policy and Global Action Sustainability in Energy and Environmental Issues Week 1 Module/Topic Learning outcomes Welcome & Introduction Welcome should include ⸹ Instructors ⸹ Class times ⸹ Netiquette guidelines ⸹ Assessments ⸹ Overall learning outcomes What is climate change and what is abatement technology? RRS Welcome & Introduction ⸹ describe the difference between meteorology and climatology Assessments Briefly describe one example of the interactions between the atmosphere Introduction to Climate Change and Abatement Technology The Basics: Introduction to Climatology; Introduction to the Atmosphere; The Greenhouse Effect, Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming. 2 3 4 5 6 7 RRS Climatological Processes: The Climate System: Controls on Climate; Effects on the Climate System; Energy, Matter, and Momentum Exchanges near the Surface. RRS Climatological Processes: The Global Hydrologic Cycle and Surface Water Balance; General Circulation and Secondary Circulations. RRS Climates through time: Climate Change and Variability. Observed Climate Changes and their Causes: Observed Changes in the Climate System; Causes of Climate Change; Impacts of Climate Change; Extreme Events. RRS Future Climate Changes, Risks and Impacts: Key Drivers of Future Climate; Projected Changes in the Climate System; Future Risks and Impacts Caused by a Changing Climate; Climate Change beyond 2100, Irreversibility and Abrupt Changes. KK Future Pathways for Adaptation, Mitigation and Sustainable Development: Foundations of DecisionMaking about Climate Change; Climate Change Risks Reduced by Mitigation and Adaptation; Characteristics of Adaptation Pathways; Characteristics of Mitigation Pathways KK Future Pathways for Adaptation, Mitigation and Sustainable Development: Foundations of DecisionMaking about Climate Change; ⸹ ⸹ explain the ways climatic data are described. describe the different components of the climate system {the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the land surface (lithosphere) and the biosphere} and give examples of the interaction among the components. and the other “spheres” and the impact on the potential impact on earth’s temperature. 8 KK 9 KK 10 KK 11 KK 12 KK Climate Change Risks Reduced by Mitigation and Adaptation; The Limits of the Economic Assessment of Climate Change Risks. Greenhouse Gas Metrics and Mitigation Pathways; Carbon Dioxide Removal and Solar Radiation Management – Interaction among Mitigation, Adaptation and Sustainable Development. Adaptation and Mitigation: Common Enabling Factors and Constraints for Adaptation and Mitigation Responses; Response Options for Mitigation. Adaptation and Mitigation: Policy Approaches for Adaptation and Mitigation, Technology and Finance; Trade-offs, Synergies and Interactions with Sustainable Development International Policies and Legislation; Costs and Benefits of Climate Policy Regional and Local Policies and Legislation. Useful Resources: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report, published in 2014, available online at www.ipcc.ch. The US Climate Change Science Program (www.climatescience.gov), and their “Synthesis and Assessment Products” on various topics, which can be downloaded for free. Also the US Climate Change Technology Program (www.climatetechnology.gov). Useful websites and news 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The Discovery of Global Warming website – www.aip.org/history/climate/ Real Climate - www.realclimate.org New York Times – www.nytimes.com – “Times Topics” “Global Warming”. Science – www.sciencemag.org Pew Center on Global Climate Change – www.pewclimate.org International Energy Agency – www.iea.org – Statistics on energy. US Energy Information Administration – www.eia.doe.gov – Global energy statistics. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – www.unfccc.org – International body responsible for the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol. STAFF ONLY Practical 20 % Lab 1 {RRS} Lab 2 {RRS} MCQ Quiz (myelearning) 20% Synchronous in class session {RRS} Discussion forum 10% Two topics (5% each) {RRS} Research Assignments 50% Carbon calculator (10%) {RRS} KK assignments (30%) {KK} Regional and Local Policies and Legislation 10%{KK} *Assessment dates to be set by agreement with First and Second Examiners and announced to students in Week 1 Course outline 100% C/W In Class Online Assessments 75% Online Practical 25% Total 100%