Climate Policy and Action: Science and Policy Basics

We face an immense challenge to cut global carbon emissions in half by 2030 and make far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society in order to keep global heating to the safest level (1.5 degrees Celsius). To understand this challenge, this program focuses on the basics of climate science and policy in an interconnected way. We unpack the social, political, and economic systems that entrench greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. atmospheric gases that cause global heating), and therefore demand sweeping, transformative change. One way to imagine these changes is through policy responses. We will develop a foundation in the science of climate change to engage in meaningful conversations and debates about policy prescriptions and other climate actions.

This program helps students gain climate literacy and begins to unpack the disparate impacts that climate change has on different communities locally and globally. Building on the work of human geographers, earth, marine, and atmospherics scientists, and environmental sociologists, we will examine the scientific knowledge informing mitigation and adaptation measures. We will review frameworks for integrating science into public policy and start to address some of the challenges of multi-level environmental governance. The fundamental goal of this program is to equip students to better understand basic concepts in climate science, policy, and action.

This class is the first of four programs that comprise the Climate Policy and Action Certificate at Evergreen.