Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Articulate understanding of the basic scientific concepts underpinning natural climate change, anthropogenic climate change and responses

• Critically evaluate information and data on climate change, climate change impacts and responses from a variety of sources including scientific reports, blogs and the media

• Respond to problems related to climate change, its impacts and provide options for possible societal responses

• Apply a Christian Worldview on climate, climate change, its impacts and provide possible responses to diverse audiences

Unit Description

This unit introduces the Earth’s climate system and examines the basis for current and future climate change. The first half of this unit focuses on understanding climate, including the greenhouse effect, the El Nino–Southern Oscillation, monsoon activity, climate feedbacks, ‘tipping points’ and rapid climate change. Recent developments in climate change, based on paleo, historical and modelling research, is presented and critically evaluated. The second half of this unit focuses on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and society, including biodiversity, health, economics, geopolitics, and the human dimensions of vulnerability and resilience. Finally, this unit will consider a range of responses to climate change, focusing on international environmental treaties, international and Australian policy approaches to global warming, and management and adaptation strategies. A Christian worldview perspective on the topic will be included in this unit.

Topics

• Earth’s climate systems
• Effects on climate including greenhouses effect,
• Green house effects on the climate
• El Nino-Southern Oscillation
• Effects of monsoon activity on the climate
• Climate feedbacks
• Tipping points
• Rapid climate changes
• Recent climate change based on paleo, historical and modelling research
• Change on ecosystems and society
• Responses to climate change-international environmental treaties,
• International and Australian policy approaches to global warming, management and adaptation strategies
• Christian response to climate change

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Unit offerings

Face to face: (Every 2nd Year (Even), Semester 2)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.