GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module provides an overview of global climate change and its impact on human societies and the environment. The science underpinning our understanding of climate change is reviewed along with the policy responses adopted by governments, corporations, non-governmental organisations, and individuals. While the issue of climate change was briefly examined as one of the SDGs (Climate Action) in the Sustainable Development Goals and Indicators module, this module explores the issue of climate change in much greater depth, examining climate science, the impacts of climate change on societies, and the policy response to climate change.

This module is taught on an intensive basis, with classes running over a three / four week period. This intensive teaching format facilitates learning by allowing the student to really focus on the module content. It also assists with cohort development as students work closely together on collaborative tasks that develop their understanding of sustainable development challenges.

Module provider

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

LIU Lirong (Sust & CEE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

• The global climate system


• Unintended consequences: Human impacts on the atmosphere


• Climate models


• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the policy response to climate change


• Climate change denial


• The impact of climate change on societies and the environment


• Climate justice


• Climate change mitigation and adaptation

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

If a student fails the group presentation they will be assigned an individual resit coursework.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to assist students develop and demonstrate their understanding of climate change and its impacts on humans and the environment.  

 

The summative assessment for this module consists of:

- A group presentation on a case study of the impacts of climate change on a community worth 20% of the module mark.

- An analytical essay, worth 80% of the module mark. 

 

Formative assessment and feedback:

Students receive verbal feedback during lectures. There are also weekly seminar sessions during which key global challenges stemming from climate change will be discussed and analysed together by the class, with students receiving informal feedback on the input into these discussions.  Students can prepare a draft analytical essay plan to discuss with the lecturer and receive verbal feedback on the planned structure.

Module aims

• To explore the science of climate change
• To review policy responses to climate change
• To analyse the impacts of climate change on human societies
• To examine how societies are adapting to climate change

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Develop students’ understanding of science of climate change


• Develop students’ knowledge of policy responses to climate change


• Develop students’ analytical skills through the analysis of the impact of climate change on communities and the adaptation measures these communities are adopting.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures and class discussions (11 hours)


• Captured content (11 hours)


• Seminars (11 hours)

Captured content and live lectures will introduce core concepts on the global climate system, climate models, and the policy response to climate change. There will be some scope to discuss these core concepts in the lectures. The seminars will encourage deeper engagement with the content presented in lectures and consider the broader implications of climate change mitigation and adaptation both globally and within the UK.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG1095

Other information

The Centre for Environment and Sustainability is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience, in line with the Surrey Curriculum Framework. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Sustainability: Climate action is one of the UN Sustainability Development Goals. Understanding global climate change is required for effective climate action. This module develops students understanding of the science of climate change and the actions being taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Students demonstrate this understanding via a group presentation on the impacts of climate change on a community, and via an analytical essay.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.