MASC 644 GLOBAL WARMING AND THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Global warming is a world-wide issue that has caught the attention of several governments and addressing this issue requires understanding the processes that lead to its occurrence so that measures can be taken by individuals, cooperate bodies and governments to mitigate the impacts. The course aims at giving in-depth understanding to students on the causes, effects and measures to mitigate global warming and climate change. The course will cover areas such as Global warming; History and current trends; Driving forces; Major causes, impacts, threats, and opportunities for the marine and coastal environment; Sea level rise and its implications on coastal development; Assessment, vulnerability, adaptation, enhancement, sustainability, and mitigation of impacts on coastal ecosystems and coastal communities; Contemporary and novel approaches at reducing global warming (biofuels, waste to energy, carbon financing) and international agreements; Communicating climate change; and, Modelling and predicting climate change and its impacts.