Biennial course. Next offered in 2015. Not offered in 2016.
Anthropogenic climate change is arguably the greatest existential risk and most intractable wicked problem that humanity has ever faced. This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of climate and climate change science, reviews the history of climate change action internationally and in Australia, and outlines the current and projected state of climate change and climate change action. The course explores the impetus and options for climate change action, the intersection of climate change and sustainable global development, and why, despite the increasing urgency, international and domestic climate action is often limited.
The astrophysical, atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial processes that drive and amplify natural climatic variability and anthropogenic climate change are introduced at a level appropriate for non-science students while selected lectures explore topics at the forefront of current climate science research.
Current and likely future impacts of anthropogenic climate change on ecosystems, human activities, and societal development are considered, including biodiversity, human health, indigenous perspectives, and regional and socio-economic inequality and vulnerability.
Our exploration of communication, denialism, polarisation, ethics, and the roles of academia and research culminates in an in-class discussion of climate change with climate deniers.
Key principles of International Relations and examples from the realpolitik of international treaties are used to investigate actual and potential societal response strategies. International and Australian climate policies, key actors, and international processes are analysed to assess actual and potential unilateral, private, and collective action. The interactions with policy options in other domains (such as economics, foreign aid, energy, and innovation) are also examined. The culmination of the course is a mock treaty negotiation for "The Canberra Agreement" under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Contributors to the course include experts from across the ANU and representatives of various government departments, industry, business, NGOs, community groups, and research organisations.
This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Please direct all enquiries and correspondence to envs3020-convener@anu.edu.au.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Evaluate and critique current understandings of the science and uncertainties of climate change, as well as the vulnerabilities of and potential impacts on biophysical and social systems;
- Engage effectively with denialism, skepticism, and other forms of disagreement in contentious, polarised domains;
- Devise, evaluate, and critique a range of transdisciplinary response strategies to climate change, including international, Australian (national and sub-national), and corporate climate policies;
- Debate, synthesise, and innovate future climate change policy in the context of international climate change negotiations, with application to their professional experience.
Work Integrated Learning
Simulation/Virtual
The major assessment simulates the process operated at National governments when assessing their climate interests and risks. Exposure to specialist industry practitioners also occurs throughout the lecture and workshop series.
Indicative Assessment
- Two quizzes (15) [LO 1,2,3]
- Briefing paper (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Reflective Op-Ed (20) [LO 1,2]
- Extended negotiation or policy analysis or literature review with proposal (45) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session/semester. Delivery format will alternate between a two-week intensive in even years and a semester-length offering in odd years. Students participating online will be able to join activities remotely via Zoom and/or Echo360 Livestream.
For the semester-length offering:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 2-4 x 1 hour lectures plus 1 x 2-4 hour workshop per week.
- The number of lectures per week will decrease during the term and the length of the workshop will increase.
- Approximately 60-70 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for lectures, workshops, presentations and other assessment tasks.
For the two-week intensive offering:
- Pre-class recorded lectures (up to 10 hours) will provide core foundational climate science and policy. These lectures will form the core of the material assessed by the two quizzes.
- The face-to-face component will consist of 60 contact hours delivered intensively over 2 separate blocks comprising lectures, workshops, seminars, and tutorials.
- Approximately 60 hours of self-directed study which will include preparation for lectures, workshops, seminars, presentations and other assessment tasks.
PG students will participate in up to 10 seminars on advanced topics, research skill development, and research ethics. Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Please refer to course site in the Learning Management System.
Assumed Knowledge
Students with a limited science background may find completing this course, ENVS6307, prior to taking ENVS6204 beneficial as ENVS6307 presents broad climate science relevant to policy.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4980 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $6720 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7870 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |
| 8891 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | Online | N/A |