The Sustainability Journey: Climate Conversations in English

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

Welcome to "The Sustainability Journey: Climate Conversations in English"! Throughout this course, we aim to equip you with the language skills needed to not just discuss, but genuinely engage in conversations about climate change. By the end, you'll confidently express your understanding, interpretations, and proposed solutions to the climate crisis. Let's spark meaningful conversations about our planet's future!

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Articulate your thoughts on climate change using relevant terminology.

• Analyze case studies and real-world examples from diverse geographical locations, unraveling the complexities of climate change.

• Identify the intricate links between natural climate changes and human impacts, fostering a more holistic understanding.

• Engage in current debates and controversies surrounding climate change, presenting well-informed viewpoints that reflect your evolving expertise.

• Understand a variety of English accents, both native and non-native, in the context of environmental studies, enhancing your communication skills.

• Hone essential professional skills relevant to environmental studies, including information provision, presentation techniques, and more.

• Cultivate effective collaboration skills within international teams, demonstrating respect for your partners and the ability to engage meaningfully across cultural differences.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

The course is dedicated to students at B1+ level of English (CEFR) who have some basic understanding of environmental sicences and are curious about climate change.

Syllabus

During the course you will:

1. Explore the meaning of sustainable development and analyze the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

2. Showcase climate change by describing extreme weather phenomena.

3. Take a closer look at the greenhouse effect, understanding its implications on our environment.

4. Engage in conversations about the effects of global warming and its impacts on human lives.

5. Analyze the natural causes of climate change, unraveling the intricacies of our planet's evolving climate.

6. Discuss the historical perspectives of climate change, acknowledging its evolution over the years.

7. Examine human-induced climate change, exploring our role in shaping the climate narrative.

8. Verify the scientific consensus on climate change, understanding the collective agreement within the scientific community.

9. Explore the storage and circulation of CO2, gaining insights into its role in the Earth's climate system.

10. Analyze the oceanic carbon pump, uncovering the crucial role oceans play in regulating carbon levels.

11. Explore methods for removing CO2 from the atmosphere, contemplating sustainable solutions to combat climate change.

12. Investigate the dynamics of changing human behaviors in response to environmental challenges.

13. Analyze trends in transforming cities for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

14. Compare diverse approaches to making cities greener, fostering sustainability in urban planning.

15. Design and present collaborative efforts, outlining actionable steps towards achieving a chosen SDG.

Reading list

S. Rebecca, "If you win the popular imagination, you change the game" - why we need new stories on climate, The Guardian, (12 Jan., 2023),

K. Myers, et al, "Consensus revisited: quantifying scientific agreement on climate change and climate expertise among Earth scientists 10 years later", Environmental Research Letters Vol.16 No. 10, 104030 (20 October 2021); DOI:10.1088/1748-9326/ac2774

J. Cook et al., "Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature", Environmental Research Letters Vol. 8 No. 2, (15 May 2013); DOI:10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/024024

W. R. L. Anderegg, “Expert Credibility in Climate Change”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Vol. 107 No. 27, 12107-12109 (21 June 2010); DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1003187107