Climate change is still a controversial topic, not only among scientists but also among the general public. The outcome of this debate is important to us as a global society because of the policy choices and ultimately the laws that will be passed. The policy choices made in different countries will be important to the local communities and to the global society because the effects of climate change are both local and global. We will be learning about the science behind climate change, and the uncertainties and challenges faced by the scientists and policy makers. We will also learn about how decisions and policies affect climate change issues and the different stakeholders affected by these issues. Basic scientific concepts of climate change will be explained throughout the course and will be enhanced by discussing various academic articles and case studies. The course will also concentrate on team and leadership building skills, effective communication, and critical thinking skills through these scholarly articles and case study discussions. This will help students recognize, among other things, human versus natural causes and impacts of global warming on the environment, diagnose a problem, and come up with solutions to that problem through analysis and reasoning.
