Climate Change: Science, Perception and Policy
Details
| Department: | Public Administration |
| Number: | PPA 730 |
| Title: | Climate Change: Science, Perception and Policy |
Description
Climate change (global warming) is rapidly becoming one of the most
pressing issues of the twenty-first century. This course introduces
students to the challenges posed by climate change through a unique
multi-disciplinary exploration of the scientific, economic, policy,
communicative, and even philosophical dimensions of the issue. The
course will cover topics such as the current state of scientific
knowledge about climate change, the role of the media in shaping public
opinion on the issue, competing discourses of climate change, risk and
uncertainty in decision-making, costs and benefits of different types
of policies, the Kyoto protocol and other policy initiatives, actions
being taken to address the issue, and the ethical dimensions of the choices facing humanity.
Faculty from SU and ESF in law, economics, earth science, and
environmental studies will co-teach this course and bring to students a
unique dialog that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Moreover, emphasis will be placed on drawing out the general lessons
obtained from a multi-disciplinary approach to climate change: many of
the insights will be applicable to other complex, highly technical
environmental problems. This course is intended to bring together
students from a diverse range of backgrounds and does not have specific
prerequisites.
Note: This course will be first offered in the Spring 2006. It will be taught by David Driesen of the Law School, Mark Meisner from Environmental Studies at ESF, Don Siegel from Earth Sciences and Pete Wilcoxen from CEPA. It will be cross-listed with Earth Sciences, Law and ESF.
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