Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - REM 431 D100

Climate Change and Environmental Management (4)

Class Number: 2936

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    REM 100 or EVSC 100 or GEOG 111; EVSC 201W or REM 221; 60 units; or permission from instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Reviews how climate change is impacting multiple facets of earth system (e.g. atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial and freshwater systems). Students will examine the challenges faced by environmental managers as they attempt to mitigate or adapt to these changes. One major goal of the course is to teach an appreciation of uncertainties and predictability in earth systems, to better address resource management issues on regional to global scales.

COURSE DETAILS:

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing our world. This course provides students with the scientific grounding required to understand Earth’s climate system, the causes of climate change, the impacts of climate change, and the challenges of mitigating and adapting to climate change. The first part of the course is on the science of the climate system (Earth’s energy budget, natural climate variability, atmospheric composition and radiative forcing, the carbon cycle, and climate models). The second part of the course is on current and projected climate risks and impacts, adaptation, and mitigation. We start at the global scale then focus on the Canadian and BC context.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the science of climate change and its effects on the atmosphere, ocean, and ecosystems
  2. Explain the scientific evidence for human-caused climate change to a climate denier
  3. Analyze and communicate potential climate change futures and their uncertainty
  4. Translate complex scientific evidence into accessible decision-support information for policy and planning
  5. Understand potential ecological and socioeconomical impacts of climate change across multiple systems and scales
  6. Critically assess a variety of mitigation and adaptation strategies including their co-benefits, risks, trade-offs, readiness, scalability, costs, and uncertainties.

Grading

  • Assignments 20%
  • Quizzes 50%
  • Final projects 20%
  • Participation 10%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Online readings (journal articles, reports, and media articles) are available on Canvas.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Online readings (journal articles, reports, and media articles) are available on Canvas.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.