ATS3659 · No Planet B: The climate crisis in historical perspective

Overview

Climate change is the fundamental challenge of the world today, with implications for biodiversity, weather systems, food production, the world economy, global mobility, and national and international security. But how did we get to this point? This unit helps you to understand the contemporary climate crisis by placing it in historical perspective. Over the course of three modules, you will gain a deeper understanding of how and when we came to understand anthropogenic climate change as a global emergency, the science that underpins our understanding of climate change, the unequal effects of climate change on communities and environments around the world, and the varied responses – past, present, and future – of people, societies, businesses, and governments to climate change. This unit does not require any previous study of either history or climate change. If you are pursuing a major or minor in History, the unit offers an introduction to the exciting subfields of environmental and climate history. If you are taking it as an elective, it is designed to complement other disciplinary approaches to climate change by offering a rich historical perspective on the greatest challenge facing the world today.

Areas of study: History

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. recognise and explain key events and concepts in the history of anthropogenic climate change;
2. understand and explain the historical development of knowledge about anthropogenic climate change;
3. analyse and evaluate the role of the past in shaping contemporary attitudes and policies towards climate change;
4. communicate an understanding of climate change and climate history effectively though written and non-written forms;
5. reflect critically on past and present effects of and responses to climate change;
6. reflect critically on how an understanding of climate change and climate history can be applied to civic and/or professional practice.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.