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Geography and Environmental Management, Climate Change (GEMCC)

10 graduate courses in the Winter 2014 Graduate Calendar, from Waterloo’s archived copy.

GEMCC 601 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis0.50 units

The course examines the interactive physical, biological and geochemical processes responsible for and resulting from climate change, including anthropogenic influences on these processes. *Eligible for MES.

(Cross-listed with GEOG 641)

SEM · Course ID 010625Archived pageGEMCC 601 today

GEMCC 602 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation0.50 units

This course examines the impacts of changing climate on natural and human systems and focuses on the capacity of societies to adjust to, plan for and cope with changing climate and environmental conditions. *eligible for MES

(Cross-listed with GEOG 676)

SEM · Course ID 009423Archived pageGEMCC 602 today

GEMCC 603 Climate Change Mitigation0.50 units

This course examines the anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the range of strategies to reduce these emissions and to enhance carbon sequestration. The policy frameworks governing climate change mitigation are critically appraised from geopolitical, economic and ethics perspectives. This course also considers the potential role of climate remediation strategies.

(Cross-listed with GEOG 679)

SEM · Course ID 014507Archived pageGEMCC 603 today

GEMCC 610 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios0.50 units

Computer models of the physical climate system are essential tools for investigating future climate change. This course will introduce students to the basic formulation of these models, and their strengths and limitations. Inter-linkages between climate modeling and mitigation and adaptation policy agendas is reviewed and critiqued. The types of climate modeling experiments peformed with such models and scenarios will be reviewed. The latest projections of future climate on a variety of temporal and spatial scales will be presented and evaluated. *Eligible for MES

(Cross-listed with GEOG 652)

Prereq: GEMCC 601

LAB, SEM · Course ID 014506Archived pageGEMCC 610 today

GEMCC 620 Climate and Society0.50 units

This course examines how weather and climate influence human systems, and the international trend twoard improved climate information. The emphasis is on developing competence in using analytical tools to understand the direct and indirect impatcts of weather and climate on human activities and economic sectors. *Eligible for MES.

(Cross-listed with GEOG 674)

SEM · Course ID 014508Archived pageGEMCC 620 today

GEMCC 621 Advancced Climate Change Adaptation0.50 units

Advanced study of adaptation to climate change, which encompasses both adjustments to changing conditions and planning for uncertain projections of future climatic conditions. Topics covered include typologies of adaptation, possible adaptation strategies for major economic sectors, limits to adaptation, maladaptation, approaches to adaptation planning, and adaptation economics and governance. Although examples will be drawn from both developed and developing nations, the emphasis on this course is on adaptation on industrialised and transnational economics.

Prereq: MCC Grads & GEMCC 602

SEM · Course ID 014502Archived pageGEMCC 621 today

GEMCC 622 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction0.50 units

This course explores the complex links between climate change and natural hazards, and related disasters, including disaster risk reduction as an adaptation strategy. Emphasis is placed on examining these concepts in a developing country context. *Eligible for

(Cross-listed with GEOG 677)

SEM · Course ID 014509Archived pageGEMCC 622 today

GEMCC 630 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle0.50 units

This course examines contemporary theories, approaches, and technologies used to study coupled natural-human systems at the intersection of land-use and land-cover change, land management, and the carbon cycle. Topics covered include measurement and modelling techniques to improve carbon accounting, the effects of land use and land management on carbon storage and flux, and international and national policy frameworkds influencing carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. *Eligible for MES

(Cross-listed with GEOG 653)

Prereq: GEMCC 601, 603

LAB, SEM · Course ID 014510Archived pageGEMCC 630 today

GEMCC 640 Climate Policy, Law and Institutions0.50 units

This course provides an in-depth examination of the development and implementation of climate change policy at the international, national and sub-national level. Particular emphasis is on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and other key bilateral/multilateral agreements on mitigation and adaptation relevant to Canada and its major trading partners. Emergent topics related to climate governance, negotiations, and litigation will also be explored.

(Cross-listed with GEOG 678)

Prereq: GEMCC 602, 603,MCC Grd

SEM · Course ID 014511Archived pageGEMCC 640 today

GEMCC 642 Climate Compatible Development0.50 units

Climate compatible development moves beyond the traditional separation of adaptation, mitigation and development strategies to foster development that simultaneously minimizes the harm caused by climate impatcts and minimizes greenhouse emissions without compromising development goals. This course examines successful local, sectoral, national and international case studies of policy and practice within this emerging development paradign from both developing and developed countries.

Prereq: MCC Grads Only, GEMCC 602, 603

SEM · Course ID 014504Archived pageGEMCC 642 today