Climate Change and Development (30 credits)

Key information

Year of study: October and April intake
Credits: 30
Department: Centre for Development, Environment and Policy

Module overview

Scope

This module provides a foundational overview of the relationships and challenges of climate change and global development. It provides a grounding in the science of climate change and different theories and models of development before critically analysing the potential for low carbon and climate resilient development pathways in the future. It introduces students to a range of climate policies, financing and programming mechanisms across different scales including international agreements, governments, businesses, communities and individuals. The module is aimed at postgraduate students and professionals from different disciplinary and professional backgrounds who want to understand more about the theory and practice of integrated responses to climate change and development challenges. It provides a foundational understanding of natural and social science processes, and of technical and policy issues, from which students can develop more specialised interests and knowledge. Providing a multi-disciplinary approach across physical sciences, economics, political and social science, the module provide students with skills to understand and critically review the central global development challenge of tackling climate change.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:

1. Detail and assess critically the relationships between climate change and development, in particular the major impacts of climate change on development and of development on climate change.
2. Review critically processes and factors affecting the potential impacts and effectiveness of different policy responses to climate change, particularly with regard to their impacts on development.
3. Develop independently their understanding with regard to specific issues in which they have particular interests.
4. Apply this understanding to policy analysis, design and implementation tasks.
5. Update and develop their critical understanding of climate change and development as climate science understanding, climate change, policies and related social conditions change, and maintain this understanding through knowledge and critical appreciation of key data and other information sources.

Syllabus

Topics include (indicative):

Development Studies and Sustainable Development
The Science of Climate Change
The Climate Change and Development Nexus
Knowledge, Science and Policy
Ethics and Climate Justice
Mitigation and Low Carbon Development
Adaptation and Climate Resilient Development
Climate Governance Across Scales
Financing Climate Action
Water, Land and Agriculture
Climate Change and Energy
Climate Change and Cities
Climate Change, Disasters, Conflict and Migration
Climate Change, Health and Sustainability

Workload

We recommend students dedicate 10-15 hours of study time per week. Teaching is provided through the SOAS virtual learning environment (VLE) and consists of 14 weekly taught units. Each unit is supported by expert tutors and a convenor, combining short-form lecture materials, online exercises, guided reading and peer-to-peer learning, and online discussion.

Method of assessment

This module is assessed through a series of “e-tivities” through the course of the 16 week module:

1. Weekly online discussion and personal Learning Journal (10% of total mark)
2. Library information retrieval
3. Critical commentary and peer review (5% of total mark)
4. Examined Assignment proposal (20% of total mark)
5. Analytical exercise (Blog) (5% of total mark)
6. Examined Assignment (essay, policy brief or presentation) (60% of total mark)