Students
ENVS8104 – Climate Change and Adaptation
2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Neil Saintilan
Contact via 0409378863
Rm 435 12 Wallys Walk
by appointment
Paul Beggs
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| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnv or MSc or GradDipEnv or GradCertEnv or MWldMgt or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or MMarScMgt or MSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSusDev or MPlan or MEngEnvSafetyEng or MScInnovationEnvSc
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Global climate change is one of the important issues facing humanity in the 21st century; the ability to mitigate or adapt to projected climate changes depends on developing an integrated perspective on the physical, biological, biogeochemical, socio-economic and cultural factors that influence the climate system. This unit focuses on the scientific framework for understanding climate change, and covers (a) the multiple drivers of climate change, (b) the role of physical and biogeochemical feedbacks in the climate system, (c) climate change projections, (d) impacts from anthropogenic climate change including those from extreme events and (e) the principles of mitigation and adaptation of climate change and how they are performed under national and international context. It will provide students with the background to critically evaluate current understanding of the complex interactions that determine climate trajectories, the reliability of the tools used to make climate-impact projections and the effectiveness of various mitigation and adaptation strategies. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: analyse, question, and synthesise knowledge about climate change from a range of sources
- ULO2: research, interpret, and assess data on climate change and draw connections across fields of knowledge
- ULO3: Demonstrate an understanding of and effectively manage uncertainty in scientific data and complexity with respect to current climate change
- ULO4: identify the impacts from climate change on the environment, energy, economy and health
- ULO5: confidently communicate and convey opinions on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in forms appropriate to different audiences
General Assessment Information
Practical Report: Due 31 March 2020 (30% of final grade)
Students will be allocated to one of the following four regions within New South Wales: Illawarra-Shoalhaven; Metropolitan Sydney; North Coast; South East and Tablelands). Produce a 2-page fact sheet for public consumption which describes trends over the past few decades, and projections, both short-term (next two decades) and long-term (to 2070). An additional one page addendum should also be submitted (i.e. bringing the total assignment submission to 3 pages) which provides additional background information on the models used, sources of information and caveats around potential errors and variability in model projections.
The report will integrate the following tutorial tasks:
For Climate trends, use the Bureau of Meteorology data accessed in Tutorial Week 3:
For Climate Projections, use the NARCLIM down-scaled climate modelling results accessed in Tutorial Week 4:
For sea-level trends, use the resources provided in Tutorial Week 5
The report should be intelligible to the lay person, but clearly based on and referencing the best available science.
Reports will be graded with reference to:
- Concise graphical representation of trends
- Meaningful spatial representation of modelling results
- Clear interpretation of the results relevant to the general population
- Explanation of the basis for measurement and prediction
- Explanation of uncertainty
Climate Change Adaptation group report: Due 25 May 2020 (30% of grade)
This is a group report. You will provide an integrated regional vulnerability assessment for your region (allocated for the Practical report), and specific, implementable adaptation options for local and state government.
For the allocated region within New South Wales provide a precis of the potential impacts of climate change between now and 2070. In this section you may wish to reference the regional vulnerability assessments conducted by the NSW government (https://climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/Adapting-to-climate-change/Regional-vulnerability-and-assessment)
Informed by current NSW government strategy, you will address vulnerability and provide adaptation options for the four themes below:
- Infrastructure and Tourism
- Agriculture and water resources
- Human Health and emergency services
- Natural ecosystems and cultural heritage
Provide immediate, short term (2-5 years) and long-term (5-10 year) strategies for implementation. Maximum 3000 words.
On-line Quiz
Each on-line quiz will consist of 30 multiple choice questions, based solely on the lecture material. The quiz will be open for 1 hour including reading time, and accessed through iLearn.
Quiz 1 will cover material presented in lectures weeks 1-3 inclusive and will be held 11am on Monday Week 4 (15th March 2021)
Quiz 2 will cover material presented in lectures weeks 4,5 7 and 8 and will be held 11am on Monday Week 9 (3rd May 2021)
Quiz 2 will cover material presented in lectures weeks 9-12 inclusive and will be held 11am on Monday Week 13 (31st May 2021)
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical report and discussion | 30% | No | 31 March 2021 |
| Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation Essay | 40% | No | 25 May 2021 |
| Multiple quizzes | 30% | No | Week 4 15/03; Week 9 03/05; Week 13 31/05 |
Practical report and discussion
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 31 March 2021
Weighting: 30%
Short practical report combining and interpreting the results of several practical aspects of the unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
- analyse, question, and synthesise knowledge about climate change from a range of sources
- research, interpret, and assess data on climate change and draw connections across fields of knowledge
- Demonstrate an understanding of and effectively manage uncertainty in scientific data and complexity with respect to current climate change
Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 25 May 2021
Weighting: 40%
Essay to discuss mitigation/adaptation strategies for climate change impact (e.g. heat, wave, drought, storm, bushfire, flood)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- research, interpret, and assess data on climate change and draw connections across fields of knowledge
- Demonstrate an understanding of and effectively manage uncertainty in scientific data and complexity with respect to current climate change
- identify the impacts from climate change on the environment, energy, economy and health
- confidently communicate and convey opinions on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in forms appropriate to different audiences
Multiple quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 4 15/03; Week 9 03/05; Week 13 31/05
Weighting: 30%
Online quizzes at set points through the semester, assessing comprehension of the knowledge aspects of the unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
- research, interpret, and assess data on climate change and draw connections across fields of knowledge
- Demonstrate an understanding of and effectively manage uncertainty in scientific data and complexity with respect to current climate change
- identify the impacts from climate change on the environment, energy, economy and health
- confidently communicate and convey opinions on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in forms appropriate to different audiences
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
The Unit consists of a weekly lecture (11am - 12 noon Mondays, delivered and recorded on-line) and a 2-hour tutorial (one of which will be recorded). Tutorial times are:
Monday 1pm 11 Wallys Walk Room 180
Thursday 12 noon ONLINE (see iLearn site for login details)
Unit Schedule
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LECTURE: Mondays 11-12pm: Online via Echo360, followed by zoom Q and A |
TUTORIAL: Campus Monday 1pm RM180 11 Wallys Walk and on-line Thursday noon |
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Week 1- (week beginning 22 Feb) |
Atmospheric composition and climate Earliest papers on global warming. The link between greenhouse gasses and temperature. Global Climate Models. Observation vs prediction |
Zoom seminar: introduction to the course and assessment tasks |
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Week 2- (Week beginning 1 March) |
Timescales of Climate Change and climate variability The Tertiary and the Quaternary, Glacial and Interglacial periods, Trends through the Holocene, Interdecadal and interannual climate trends in Australia (ENSO, SAM and the IOD) |
Myth-busting 1: The Climate Hiatus
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Week 3- (week beginning 8 March) |
Projections of Climate Change in the 21st Century Climate modelling for the IPCC. The projections of the 5th Assessment Report. |
Working with BOM climate data
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Week 4 (week beginning 15 March) |
The Cryosphere, Ocean warming and Sea Level Rise: impact and adaptation Ice sheet collapse. Drivers of sea-level rise. Sea level rise observations and projections. Sea level rise impacts Adaptation/mitigation case study: REDD+ and Blue Carbon. |
NARCLIM climate change projections and report
Online Quiz 1 |
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Week 5 (week beginning 22 March) |
Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in Australia Bushfires, including the 2020 season. Drought and agriculture. Extreme Heatwaves, snow season, coral bleaching, sea level rise vulnerability. The NSW Coastal Reforms |
Myth Busting 2: Sea-level trends: Online data and imaging tools; analysis of Port Kembla sea-level Data.
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Week 6 (week beginning 29 March) |
Guest Lecture: Professor Andrew Skidmore Fragmenting landscapes and biodiversity as impacted by climate change
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Facilitated discussion (by zoom, normal tutorial time): Causes and consequences of the 2019-2020 Australian drought and Bushfires PRAC REPORT DUE MARCH 31 |
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(week beginning 5 April) |
Recess (UA Common Week) |
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(week beginning 12 April |
Recess |
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Week 7 (week beginning 19 April) |
Climate Change and Human Health: A/Prof Paul Beggs Direct impacts such as heat-related disease. Indirect impacts such as vector-borne and respiratory diseases. Climate change and health adaptation. |
Health and Climate Change: Changing human exposure to airborne allergens: observations |
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Week 8 (week beginning 26 April) |
Climate Change and Human Health – The Lancet Countdown: A/Prof Paul Beggs Tracking progress on health and climate change. Domains and indicators. The MJA-Lancet Countdown in Australia. |
The Lancet Countdown: Tracking progress on health and climate change, online data viewer, public and political engagement |
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Week 9 (week beginning 3 May) |
Adaptation/mitigation case study: environmental water The challenge of climate change adaptation in the Murray Darling Basin. The water market as an adaptation mechanism |
Tutorial: Facilitated discussion with NSW environmental water managers. Online Quiz 2 |
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Week 10 (week beginning 10 May) |
Climate Change winners and losers Opportunities and vulnerabilities at the global scale. CO2, warming and agriculture, fisheries, inter-generational equity, poverty and exposure. |
Group report preparation, and zoom-enabled or face-to-face group consultations by appointment |
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Week 11 (week beginning 17 May) |
Mitigation: the IPCC Framework Emissions and temperature outcomes. Contributions to global emissions. Trends in emissions by sector |
Group report preparation, and zoom-enabled or face-to-face group consultations by appointment |
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Week 12 (week beginning 24 May) |
Opportunities for mitigation in Australia (Garnaut report) Market mechanisms, carbon pricing and emissions trading. History of Australian climate and energy policy. Opportunities for transition to low emissions technology. Natural carbon sequestration and storage |
ADAPTATION REPORT DUE MAY 25th |
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Week 13 (week beginning 31 May) |
Overview and Key Learnings |
Online Quiz 3 |
Policies and Procedures
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Results
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Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook