Bio, Hum Bio, Earth Systems 147 (247 for grad students)
CONTROLLING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE 21st CENTURY
Stephen Schneider Armin Rosencranz
Tel. 725-1296 Tel. 725-9704 or 324-3454
Office hours by appt. Office hours Mon., Wed. 3-5
EM: shs EM: armin
Winter 2005 - meets Tues 7 to 9:15 pm in Econ. 139.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Climate change is a worldwide environmental, social and economic challenge. It touches on aspects of air pollution, land use, toxic waste, transportation, industry, energy, government policies, development strategies, and individual freedoms and responsibilities.
Human use of the atmosphere as an unpriced dumping space has led to the buildup of gases and particles that can alter the radiant energy exchange between the earth’s surface and space. Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor are the principal heat-trapping greenhouse gases. Carbon is the underpinning of most fuels used in transportation and
power production. It also makes up about half the dry weight of most vegetation. Human modification of the carbon cycle has far-reaching implications for human welfare and the health of the biosphere. Given the short term planning horizon of most political and economic institutions, climate change presents major policy challenges. This course is designed to clarify the primary issues embedded in those challenges.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The main text is Schneider, Rosencranz and Niles, Climate Change Policy (Island Press, 2002). There will be other current readings, posted on the Bio 147 coursework website. Class members will be evaluated as follows: Research paper, on a self-chosen topic, 15 pages (20 pages for grad students) in two drafts: 60%; power-point presentation of main research findings (on 3/6 or 3/8): 20%; two two-page response papers: 10% each. Both Steve and Armin enjoy lots of give and take, and we encourage questions and comments – as long as a handful of people don’t dominate. Don’t be self-conscious about asking questions, however elemental you think they are. Research paper guidelines will be posted on the website.
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:
Jan. 4 – Introduction (Steve and Armin)
Read all “course materials” for week one on coursework.Stanford.edu.
Jan 11 – Science and Impacts; book, chapters 1 and 2. (Steve) Two-page response paper (explanatory/analytical rather than descriptive) due on coursework readings and science chapters.
Jan. 18 – Economic Analysis (Larry Goulder) Book, Chapters 4 and 6.
Individual meetings with Armin to discuss research paper plans, with ten sources.
Jan. 25 – Global Climate Regulation, Calif. Impacts (Steve and Armin)
Chapters 5 and 3. Two-page response paper due on Wiener chapter.
Feb. 1 – Policy Context (Armin). Chapters 7 through 11 and appendix A.
Feb. 8 – Forests and Agriculture (Holly Pearson and John O. Niles) Chapters 12 and 13.
First draft of research paper due.
Feb. 15 – Development and Equity (Paul Baer, Steve and Armin) Chapters 14 and 15.
Conferences with Armin on first drafts.
Feb. 22 – Energy Choices I (Some energy guru plus Steve and Armin) Chapters 16 and 17.
Final draft of research paper due.
Mar. 1 – Energy Choices II (Steve) Chapters 18, 19, 20.
.Conferences with Armin on final drafts.
Mar. 6 - (Sunday) and 8 – Eight-minute power point presentations by all class members summarizing research findings and conclusions.
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