Low Carbon Development (30 credits)

Key information

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

Module overview

Scope

This module explores the main issues around climate change mitigation and the transition to a low-carbon development. Global climate change poses a serious threat to international development efforts. Developing countries – especially the poorest – have historically contributed very little to climate change. However, they are often the most vulnerable to climate change due to their limited resources and limited capacity to adapt to a changing climate. At the same time, developed countries and emerging economies are struggling to mitigate emissions that lead to climate change. To reduce emissions and achieve human development, there is a need for serious global and local commitments to low carbon development. Low-carbon development is a development model, which aims to achieve these two goals simultaneously. This module elaborates the key issues and concepts in the field of low-carbon development, and their interactions with critical debates on poverty and poverty reduction, economic growth, social justice, inequalities, sustainable development and transformative changes. The module also discusses low-carbon development in different sectors and contexts - developed and developing countries - and explores how it can be implemented in policy and practice.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

  • To understand the links and recognise inter-dependencies between climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and development.
  • To critically discuss the opportunities and barriers to climate change mitigation and low carbon development.
  • To critically discuss the key issues and concepts in the field of climate change mitigation and low carbon development from a theoretical and practical perspective.
  • To understand low carbon pathways and their implications.
  • To be familiar with and interpret national and international policy responses to climate change mitigation and low carbon development

Workload

Students are advised to dedicate 10 - 15 hours study time per week for this module.

Syllabus

Topics include (indicative):

Low Carbon Development and Climate Change Mitigation: Origins, Concepts and Key Issues

The Political Economy of Low Carbon Development

Technology And Innovation for Low Carbon Development

Finance

Social Justice

Low Carbon Energy Transitions

Low Carbon Transitions from Below

Democracy And Sovereignty

Sectoral Approaches to Low Carbon Development: Health, Industry and Transportation, Agriculture and Forestry

Suggested reading

  • Urban, F. and Nordensvard, J., 2013. Low Carbon Development: Key Issues. Earthscan, Routledge, Oxon.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules