Spring 2022 - GEOG 333 D100
Climate Crisis: Understanding a World on Fire (4)
Class Number: 7900
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Geoffrey Mann
geoffm@sfu.ca
Office: RCB 7226
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Prerequisites:
A minimum of 45 units.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the fundamental social and human-geographical dimensions of climate change: the ideas, tools, and institutions through which human communities and institutions are responding (or not) to the challenges of a warming planet.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course will give students a broad introduction to the fundamental social and human-geographical dimensions of climate change. In particular, it will focus on the fact that the important effects of climate change will be in how human communities and institutions respond to the challenges of a warming planet. Consequently, it will introduce students to the basic scientific “facts of the matter”, but will focus on two crucial effects of these facts: (a) the tools, like economic analysis and forecasting, that we use despite enormous uncertainty to understand climate change and anticipate its effects; and (b) existing and proposed institutions, technologies, and political organization that might allow us to address the political-economic, ecological, and social challenges climate change promises to bring. All of this will be grounded in a concern for distributional impacts, both within and between nation-states. The goal is to help students understand our best estimates of where we are right now with respect to planetary climate change—politically, ecologically, and economically—what has been suggested we might do about the current crisis, and how to analyze the options.
Note: There will be no tutorials during the first week of class.
Spring 2022 courses will be delivered in person based on information available at the time of publishing the outline; please note the delivery mode is subject to change following Provincial Health Officer (PHO) and/or SFU recommendations and orders.
Grading
- Paper 30%
- Group project (policy analysis) 30%
- Participation/tutorial 25%
- In class writing 15%
NOTES:
Evaluation (tentative)
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Selected articles circulated by the instructor or available free through SFU Library
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022
Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place. Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).
Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required. You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.