Syllabus Ite

SYLLABUS Fall 2012 DS1005: Climate Change and Energy Class meets: Tuesdays & Fridays 10:30-11:30; Mondays & Thursdays 10:30-11:30 Instructor: Gabriel Cué Office: Of1, 3rd floor Email: gcue@itesm.mxOffice Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:30-13:30 This is an introductory course to global climate change. Throughout the program, we will critically revise the process of change unleashed by the rapidrise of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, historically and today, and its capacity to alter our economic systems, ecological networks and social relationships. At the end of the course, studentswill be expected to show mastery of relevant concepts drawn from the Earth sciences, basic chemistry and physics, economics, and political science, and be able to explain the relevance of these conceptsfor our present understanding of human-caused climate change and for the viability of different proposed solutions. By the end of this course, students will be able to:  Explain and evaluate theevidence for human-caused climate change, in the context of historical climate change, as well as the relevant scientific uncertainties and possible evidence to the contrary. Explain the human causes ofclimate change, including the sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Because energy consumption is central to greenhouse gas emissions, students will understand the global energy infrastructure in ahistorical context and evaluate technological options for reducing emissions. Evaluate the successes and failures of past national and international efforts to address climate change, and evaluateprospects for future management of climate change. Evaluate the issue of climate change from the perspective of individual nations.

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In completing this course, students will improve theirabilities to read and understand research papers from several disciplines addressing climate change. Students will also improve their abilities to communicate through in-class presentations, and to...