Environmental issues, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and energy consumption and our responses to them are of global concern. In this level 1 course we will explore the most significant and topical global environmental issues affecting societies, ecosystems and the physical milieu. The course will examine socio-economic and political factors in addition to the science behind many of the issues.

One 2-hour lecture and one 2-hour seminar weekly.

Project work: personal consumption report (60%). Students gather personal water consumption over two-weeks and graphically present their findings in a scientific journal style.

Exam (40%)

The aims of this course are to:
1. examine the history and contemporary nature of environmental concern;
2. introduce and analyse key global environmental issues such as climate change and water consumption;
3. examine the science behind some global environmental issues;
4. outline indirect drivers of global environmental change;
5. examine potential interventions to address global environmental issues;

6. introduce scientific report writing skills.

By the end of the course students will be able to:
a) critically assess the development of the environmental concern and idea of sustainable development;
b) provide a detailed objective summary of key global environmental issues;
c) show an understanding of the science behind some global environmental issues;
d) critically analyse the drivers behind a range of global environmental issues;
e) identify and assess potential interventions to address environmental problems;

f) write a report in a scientific format using primary data.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.