| CODE | MSE2217 | ||||||
| TITLE | Understanding Local Environmental Issues: Climate Change | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for Environmental Education and Research | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This unit will address the main issues related to climate change. The subject matter covered by this unit shall be tackled from various perspectives including the scientific domain of climate change as well as the socio-economics and the political implications of the phenomenon. The study unit will take stock of Malta's situation vis-a-vis climate change. However, given the global dimension of the phenomenon, treatment will also focus on the regional and the global scenario. The unit will highlight the distinction between the nature of climate change and how the phenomenon is being tackled by the international community. An overview of the laws regulating climate change shall form an integral component of this unit. Study-unit Aims: The study unit will: - help students understand how climate change is brought about and its implications on the quality of life in the years to come; - expose various misconceptions about the true nature of the phenomenon; and - help students understand and relate the scientific, socio-economic, legal and political factors related to the phenomenon. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) describe the relationship between global warming and climate change as a cause-and-effect relationship; (b) identify the basic scientific underpinnings of the climate change phenomenon; (c) explain the role and identify the limitations of computer modelling in the prediction of climate change impacts; (d) infer that since CC is a global phenomenon it can only be effectively resolved at the international level; and (e) discuss the salient aspects of the various legal regimes covering climate change. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a ) read and interpret basic literature (e.g. newspaper articles) on CC including how this phenomenon is portrayed in the media; (b) distinguish between CC as a global phenomenon from other atmospheric environmental issues that tend to exhibit a more localised impact; (c) discuss Malta's vulnerability to CC as a result of it being a small island state, whilst illustrating Malta's contribution to combat human-induced CC both in terms of mitigation and adaptation; (d) portray CC in its various facets (scientific, socio-economic, legal and political) at a local, regional and global level. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Main text Dow, K. and Downing, T. E. (2006) The Atlas of Climate Change – Mapping the World’s Greatest Challenge, Earthscan. Online resources COP16 Copenhagen Accord, December 2009, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/l07.pdf Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2003/l_275/l_27520031025en00320046.pdf Second National Allocation Plan for Malta, 2008 – 2012, prepared under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme Directive 2003/87/EC.: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/43771414/NATIONAL-ALLOCATION-PLAN-FOR-MALTA-2008---2012 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis – Summary for Policymakers, Fourth Assessment Report (FAR), Paris, February 2007.: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), Climate Change 2007: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – Summary for Policymakers, Fourth Assessment Report (FAR), Brussels, April 2007.: www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-spm.pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change – Summary for Policymakers, Fourth Assessment Report (FAR), Bangkok, May 2007.: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg3/ar4-wg3-spm.pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report – Summary for Policymakers, Fourth Assessment Report (FAR), Valencia, November 2007.: www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/conveng.pdf 1998 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Alan Pulis |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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