The Climate Crisis

Overview

As humanity faces a set of defining grand challenges, understanding the accelerating climate crisis has never been more urgent or consequential. This module invites students to engage critically with the science of planetary change and to explore how the Earth’s complex climate system interacts with human societies and the environments upon which they depend.

QUB1001 “The Climate Crisis” introduces students to climate change research. It provides the knowledge base and skill sets for understanding climate systems, for investigating how they change over time and the impacts of climate change. Through experiential learning, and by integrating data analysis with critical thinking, it provides the skills for investigating the causes of climate change and to explore effective solutions. Through experiential learning, it introduces the tools used to study the Earth's climate systems and for examining the key processes that shape climate patterns over a variety of timescales.

The module further highlights how these physical processes are both influenced by human activities (e.g. fossil fuel combustion, land-use change, and industrialisation) and, in turn, drive profound social, cultural, political and economic change, from shifting agricultural productivity and public health risks to infrastructure vulnerability, migration, and inequality. Drawing on evidence from historical records, contemporary observations, and climate model projections, the module situates the physical science of climate change in direct relation to its societal causes and consequences. Case studies and real-world examples provide a foundation for understanding the interconnected dynamics of climate and society, while also emphasising the urgent need for sustainable responses through mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Module thematic progression:
1. Living in the Anthropocene: situating humanity within Earth system processes and the planetary boundaries framework.
2. Fundamentals of Climate Science: exploring atmospheric dynamics, feedbacks, and evidence of climate change.
3. Climate geopolitics: examining how power, inequality, and global governance shape climate action and inaction.
4. Climate solutions: investigating mitigation, adaptation, and pathways toward climate resilience and justice.

Learning Objectives

Students will complete this module with a certificate in Carbon Literacy (to be done at the beginning of the Autumn semester). A certificate in Carbon Literacy demonstrates the ability to understand, communicate, and act effectively on climate change by applying practical knowledge of carbon impacts, reduction strategies, and sustainable decision-making across professional and everyday contexts.

By the end of this module, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of climate change, including the functioning of the climate system and its interactions with other components of the Earth system.
2. Describe observed and projected impacts of climate change on ecosystems, weather patterns, sea levels, and human societies.
3. Evaluate the role of global and local policy frameworks and understand the responsibilities of different nations and communities in addressing climate change.
4. Discuss the ethical, social, and economic dimensions of the climate crisis, including issues of climate justice and environmental inequality.
5. Assess basic strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
6. Understand and explain nature-based climate solutions and their role in climate resilience.
7. Demonstrate awareness of individual and collective actions that contribute to climate solutions.
8. Apply practical skills to collect, analyse, and present data related to the climate system.
9. Critically analyse and interpret information and arguments related to climate change from multiple sources.
10. Understand the principles of sustainability and the relevance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in responding to climate change.
11. Write and talk fluently about debates in climate science and environmental politics.
12. Think geographically about climate and environmental politics.

Skills

Interpretation of geographical information; critical analysis; referencing.

1. Analysis and interpretation climate and other geographical information and data
2. Understand fundamentals of earth system science
3. Understand climate solutions
4. Critical Analysis
5. Referencing
6. Discussion and debate
1) Appreciate the spatial dimensions of environmental security/politics (T taught; P practiced; A assessed); 2) Apply geographical thinking through UN debates to understanding and potentially resolving environmental conflicts, practices, and perceptions (T; P; A); 3) Gain acquaintance with key thinkers and major concepts that relate to environmental geopolitics (T; P; A); 4) Understand key moments and places in the history of global environmental change (T; P; A);

Assessment