Climate Change

6 EC

Semester 2, period 5

5264CLCH6Y

Owner Master Earth Sciences
Coordinator dr. Cynthia Maan PhD
Part of Master Earth Sciences, track Environmental Management, Master Earth Sciences, track Geo-Ecological Dynamics, Master Earth Sciences, track Future Planet Ecosystem Science, Minor Science for Sustainability, year 1Master Earth Sciences, track Earth System Science, year 1

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

Climate is a critical boundary condition for natural ecosystems and human societies. While past climate change was driven by natural factors, modern climate change is unequivocally caused by human activities, posing significant challenges (and opportunities) for our world.

This course will deepen your knowledge of climate science, moving beyond foundational understanding to actively analyzing, modeling, debating, and communicating solutions. You will critically assess the scientific credibility of climate communication, translate complex scientific information into accessible formats, and engage in policy debates as decision-makers. Through investigating global climate models like En-ROADS, you'll explore the impact of various measures, culminating in the development of concrete, impactful climate action projects. This approach ensures you are not just studying climate change, but actively equipped to play your own role in it.

Study materials

Literature

Practical training material

Software

Objectives

  • The student can explain the interrelationships between important processes forming the Earth's climate.
  • The student understands the function of models in climate change research and for developing effective climate action and policy.
  • The student can assess and review scientific research and present and discuss it in an accessible way.
  • The student can effectively utilize search strategies to locate relevant scientific literature for a specific research question.
  • The student has basic skills on debating about climate politics related topics.
  • The student can make basic statements about the scientific quality of texts/reports/documentaries, can recognize manipulation and misleading techniques in public. communication, and has developed some basic skills to respond effectively

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Self-study
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
  • Supervision/feedback meeting

Lectures, discussions/debate, presentations by students, group-assignments 

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

 

Lectures, discussion and in-class group-assignments.

24

 

Presentation.

16

 
Self-study & Preparations in Groups

100

 
Total

140

 

Attendance

  • Some course components require compulsory attendance. If compulsory attendance applies, this will be indicated in the Course Catalogue which can be consulted via the UvA-website. The rationale for and implementation of this compulsory attendance may vary per course and, if applicable, is included in the Course Manual.

    • Additional requirements for this course:

    Because discussions and presentations are important to meet the objectives, and because these are part of the grading, attendance is mandatory and active participation is required.

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    Canvas individual assignments 'scientific credibility' ( 5%)

    Canvas individual assignments 'En-Roads' (5%)

    EN-ROADS Climate Summit (including preparation,  presentation and debates) (20%)

    Individual scientific paper or IPCC chapter presentation (20%)

    Climate Action Project (40%)

    Reflective Essay on Learning Outcomes; 1-2 pages (10%)

    Inspection of assessed work

    The manner of inspection will be communicated via the digitial learning environment.

    Assignments

    Presenting a scientif paper or IPCC chapter

    • Presenting a scientific paper or a chapter from one of the IPCC reports.

    Canvas assignments

    • Read the study material on Canvas and make the associated assignments.  

    Climate Action Plan

    • Identify a specific climate-related problem and a solution. This problem can be global, national, or—and we encourage this for depth and realism—focused on a more specific context such as your university, faculty, a particular city, a community, or even the design of a targeted public awareness or sensitization campaign. The goal is to propose a concrete, actionable plan to address climate change. 

    The Climate Action Summit

    • Design an action plan for your stakeholder group and present the action plan on a Global Climate Summit.  Group-assignment.

    Course reflection and Learning Outcomes

    • This final individual assignment is an opportunity to synthesize and reflect on your entire learning journey throughout the 'Climate Science' course. Key knowledge, skills and perspectives you have gained; how the various course components contributed to your personal and academic growth, how you envision applying this knowledge and skills in your future academic, professional, or personal endeavors. 

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    Week nr.

    Day

    Subject

    Study materials

    May

    7th

    2

    Kickoff meeting: Planning of the course,  Q & A about the scientific basis (Climate Science, Risk & Solutions) and in-class discussion about scientific credibility. Introduce debating exercise. 

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment: ~9 hours): 

    May

    8th

    3

    In-class debates on politically controversial Climate Change related Theorems. 

     

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment : ~5 hours): 

    • Read the Canvas material on basic principles of structured debate: evidence, argumentation, rebuttal. Understand the mechanics and best practices for the upcoming in-class debate. Think about arguments for the Theorems. 

    May

    11th

    4

    Get familiar with the En-Roads model and with your specific role for the Climate Summit.

     

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment: ~4-hours): 

    • Read the Canvas material on En-Roads and make the Canvas assignments. 

    May

    12th

    5

     

    The Climate Action Summit.

     

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment: ~7 hours ): 

    • Prepare your group presentation and an action plan for your stakeholder group and present the action plan on a Global Climate Summit.  

     

    May

    18th

    		 7 Present a scientific paper or IPCC chapter. 

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment: 18 hours for presenters, 4 hours for non-presenters): 

    • Presenters: Read a scientific paper or IPCC chapter and prepare a 8-min presentation.
    • Students that are not presenting: read two of the presented scientific pieces and prepare a question for each of them as to kick of the Q&A.

     

    May 19th

    8

    Present a scientific paper or IPCC chapter.

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment: 18 hours for presenters, 4 hours for non-presenters): 

    • Presenters: Read a scientific paper or IPCC chapter and prepare a 8-min presentation.
    • Students that are not presenting: read two of the presented scientific pieces and prepare a question for each of them as to kick of the Q&A.

    May

    26th

    		 12 Climate Action and Communication Project.

     

    Before class (Estimated individual time investment: 40 hours) :

    • Prepare a Real Climate Action Plan including presentation.

      Identify a specific climate-related problem and a solution. This problem can be global, national, or—and we encourage this for depth and realism—focused on a more specific context such as your university, faculty, a particular city, a community, or even the design of a targeted public awareness or sensitization campaign. The goal is to propose a concrete, actionable plan to address climate change. 

    After class (Estimated individual time investment: 4 hours ) : write a course review  including personal learning outcomes of 1-2 pages.

    Additional information

     

    A Canvas page is available. Here all the learning material and presentation schemes etc. will be published. 

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • dr. Cynthia Maan PhD