Note: This course is cross listed with: GOL 600, PPA 730, and LAW 891. The course is being co-taught by myself and three colleagues from Syracuse University:
- David Driesen, Law, website
- Don Siegel, Earth Sciences, website
- Pete Wilcoxen, Economics and Public Policy at the Maxwell School, website
About the Course
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/public administration, 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.
Who Should Take the Course?
This is a graduate level course with no prerequisites. The course will be of interest to those concerned with both environmental communication and environmental policy around the issue of global warming.
Details
- 3 credits
- Spring 2008. Not offered every year.
- Wednesdays 2:30-5:15 pm
- Check the Registrar's timetable to be sure
- Enrollment is approximately 50 students
Syllabus
For more details, download the latest syllabus in PDF format. Future iterations of the course will undoubtedly differ somewhat from what's in this syllabus.
Poster
Get the PDF file of the course poster here. Please share it with others you think might be interested.
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© Andy Singer | Larger view
Used with permission.
"To declare, as some editorialists have done, that the [global] warming has not yet appeared and therefore the theory is wrong is like arguing that a woman hasn't yet given birth and therefore isn't pregnant."
- Bill McKibben
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