London, United Kingdom

Climate Change and Sustainability in Practice

There are more than 750 million people living on islands, from the densely populated urban centres of the Philippines and Hawaii’s to the atolls and archipelagos of the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean. Climate change is a global challenge that requires locally designed interventions and action. Islands are at the front line of the effects of climate change. Key challenges: rising temperature and sea levels, lack of fresh water supply, plastic pollution, sewage blockages, high number of tourists in season time, dependence on fossil fuels imports and high prices. This module provides an understanding of the relationships between human needs and resource use under different climatic scenarios with focus on islands. It explores different perspectives on the goals of improving human wellbeing and environmental.

Our goal is to expose you to a range of issues and understand trade-offs between resource use and draw on practical case studies (islands), discuss possible solutions, how to communicate and engage with decision makers and general public. We choose islands as case studies, because there are more than 750 million people living on islands, from the densely populated urban centres of the Philippines and Hawaii’s to the atolls and archipelagos of the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean. Furthermore, islands are at the front line of the effects of climate change. Key challenges: rising temperature and sea levels, lack of fresh water supply, plastic pollution, sewage blockages, high number of tourists in season time, dependence on fossil fuels imports and high prices.

Course leader

Dr Catalina Spataru

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). No prior subject knowledge is required to study this module but students are expected to have a keen interest in the subject area.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

Show the practical application of our academic content, helping them to embed the SDGs into their studies and their working lives
Analyse the complex interrelationships between human, resource use, natural environment, including cause/effect relationships across scales from the local to the global and placing the issues within the wider debates surrounding sustainability
Explain how managers need to compromise when making decisions, and to acknowledge the fact that any decision in the management of resources and sustainable development will involve trade-offs
Learn to communicate the idea to policy makers and to a wider audience
Appreciate the relevance of group work and group decision-making processes in sustainable development practice

Credits info

7.5 EC
7.5 ECTS, 4 US, 15 UCL

Fee info

GBP 2585: There is a built-in tuition fee discount for students who study for 6 weeks (2 modules).
GBP : Students have the option of staying in UCL Accommodation close to campus in vibrant central London.