University of Sussex
MSc in Climate Change and Development
Masters Programme in Climate Change and Development
Autumn Term
Module: Ideas in Development and Climate Change
Convenor: Tom Tanner (IDS)
Teaching: IDS 100%
Summary
This course introduces students to the history of main ideas and themes within development and links these to climate
change issues and debates. In the first half of the course, development concepts are introduced through an
examination of different disciplinary perspectives on development studies, including anthropological perspectives,
human development, political science, poverty and inequality, rights-based approaches, and globalisation.
In the second half of the course, students are introduced to the main themes around climate change and
development, including the IPCC and UNFCCC, disaster risk reduction, adaptation to climate change, mitigation and
low carbon development. Presented by a range of senior research Fellows from IDS, the course aims to address
theoretical and methodological perspectives on development, relating these to the challenges of policy and practice in
the context of a changing climate. Each lecture will be followed up by a seminar in which students work further on the
topics, relating development issues to climate change challenges with a tutor drawn from the IDS climate change
fellows.
Major topics
Disciplinary perspectives in development
- Historical
- Anthropological
- Political science
- Economics
- Interdisciplinarity
Development issues in climate change
- UNFCCC
- Adaptation
- DRR
- Mitigation
- Climate and development finance
Assessment: 4000 word course paper and presentation.
Indicative Reading
Adger, W.N., S. Huq, K. Brown, D. Conway, and M. Hulme (2003) Adaptation to climate change in the developing world Progress in Development
Studies 3 (3): 179195.
Bates, R., 200l, Prosperity and Violence. The Political Economy of Development, New York and London: W.W. Norton and Co.
Centre for the Future State, 2005, Signposts to More Effective States: Responding to Governance Challenges in Developing Countries, Sussex:
Institute of Development Studies.
Cornwall, Andrea and Karen Brock, 2005, 'What do Buzzwords Do for Development Policy: A Critical Look at Participation, Poverty Reduction
and Empowerment, Third World Quarterly, September.
Fischer, F., 2003, Reframing Public Policy: Discursive Politics and Deliberative Practices, Oxford: OUP.
Hunt, Diana, 1989, Economic Theories of Development: An Analysis of Competing Paradigms, London: Harvester Wheatsheaf,
Kabeer, N., 1994, Reversed Realities: Gender Hierarchies in Development Thought, London: Verso,
Keeley, J. and I. Scoones, 2003, Understanding Environmental Policy Processes. Cases from Africa, London: Earthscan.
Killick, T., 2001, 'Globalisation and the Rural Poor', Development Policy Review, Vol.19, No. 2, pp 155-80.
McCulloch, N., L.A. Winters, and X. Cirera, 2001, Trade Liberalization and Poverty: A Handbook, London: Centre for Economic Policy Research.
Ockwell, D.G. (2008). Energy and economic growth: Grounding our understanding in physical reality. Energy Policy, Vol. 36(12): 4600-4604.
Thin, N., 2002, Social Progress and Sustainable Development, London: ITDG.
Winkler, H. and Vorster, S. (2007). Building bridges to 2020 and beyond: The road from Bali. Climate Policy Volume 7, Number 3 pp240-254.
Module: The science of Climate Change
Convenor: Professor Martin Todd
Teaching: Geography 100%
Summary
The course is specifically designed to be accessible for students from a range of academic and professional
backgrounds. The material introduces students to the physical science basis of climate change, recognising that the
audience is comprised substantially of non-climate specialists. The course provides an overview of how the global
climate system operates. This includes explanation of the different components of the climate system and how they
interact; the radiation budget and the concept of radiative forcing which is the main driver of climate change; the
composition of the atmosphere, how heat is transferred around the planet through the general circulation of the
atmosphere and ocean; how the concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is regulated by bio-
geochemical cycles on land and ocean. The course then considers the natural and human influences on the radiation
budget over recent millenia and how we can attribute observed climate changes to these. The course concludes with
an evaluation of projections of the future climate and associated uncertainty. There is strong emphasis on how climate
influences society and livelihoods, for examply through extreme climate and weather events. Throughout, the course
will explain the methods and tools used in studying climate, notably climate datasets and climate models. The course
will document the history of climate change science, and exemplify the structures which steer science including the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Major topics
The Earth System
The radiation budget
Drivers of climate variability & Change
Global bio-geochemical cycles
Observed climate
Climate models
Detection and Attribution of climate change
The IPCC process
Climate projections at global-regional scales
Tipping points in the climate systems.
Assessment: Exam
Indicative Reading
Climate change 2007 : the physical science basis Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
Climate change 2007 : synthesis report. Published:Paris : IPCC Secretariat, 2007.
The economics of climate change : the Stern review Published:[Cambridge, UK] : Cambridge University Press, 2007. / Nicholas Stern.
Climate change 2007 : impacts, adaptation and vulnerability Working Group II contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Climate change 2007 : mitigation of climate change : summary for policymakers Working Group III contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of
the IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Houghton, JT, Global Warming: The complete Briefing, 2004. CUP
Hulme, M. Why we disagree on climate change., 2009, CUP
Spring Term: Students take TWO of the following options
1. Module: Climate resilient development.
Convenor: Tom Tanner
Teaching: IDS 70%, Geography 30%
Summary
The course analyses the overlaps between disasters, climate change and poverty, focusing on climate change
adaptation and disaster risk reduction approaches and their contribution to achieving climate resilient development.
This course introduces key concepts underpinning climate resilient development, including vulnerability, risk,
uncertainty, and resilience, as well as the role of climate and disasters science in informing policy and practice.
Lectures will balance theoretical debates with issues in international policy, (especially the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change) and practical case study examples from development policy and practice. Each lecture will be
followed up by a seminar in which students work further on the topics, relating development issues to climate change
challenges with a tutor drawn from the IDS climate change fellows.
Major topics
Downscaling global climate data (Geography)
Impact modelling and sectoral planning (Geography)
Seasonal forecasts and early warning (Geography)
Vulnerability based approaches and community based adaptation
Climate change linkages with migration and conflict
National adaptation planning
Disaster risk reduction practices
Mainstreaming and organisational change
Adaptation delivery instruments
Economics of adaptation and adaptation finance
Assessment: 5000 work course paper
Indicative Reading
Adger, W.N., S. Huq, K. Brown, D. Conway, and M. Hulme (2003) Adaptation to climate change in the developing world Progress in Development
Studies 3 (3): 179195.
Adger, W.N., et al, 2007: Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and
Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, M.L. Parry et
al (eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Eakin, H. and Luers, A.L. (2006) Assessing the Vulnerability of Social-Environmental Systems Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol.
31: 365-394
Eriksen, S.H. and OBrien, K. (2007) Vulnerability, poverty and the need for sustainable adaptation measures Climate Policy Volume 7, Number 4,
pp337352
Gallopn, G. C. (2006). "Linkages between vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity." Global Environmental Change 16(3): 293-303.
Leary, N., Adejuwon, J., Barros, V., Burton, I., Kulkarni, J. and Lasco, R. (eds.) (2008) Climate Change and Adaptation. Earthscan, London.
McGray, H., Bradley, R. and Hammill, A. (2007) Weathering the Storm: Options for Framing Adaptation and Development. WRI: Washington DC.
Schipper ELM and Burton, I. (eds.) (2008) The Earthscan Reader on Adaptation to Climate Change. Earthscan, London.
Stern N (2007) The role of adaptation in sustainable development (also called Adaptation in the developing world), Chapter 20, In The economics of
climate change: the Stern Review. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Tanner, T.M. and Mitchell, T. (eds) Poverty in a Changing Climate. IDS Bulletin 38.4 Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK.
Wilby, R.L. and Dessai, S (2009) Robust adaptation to climate change. Weather 52(1)
Wilby, R.L., Troni, J., Biot, Y., Tedd, L., Hewitson, B.C., Smith, D.G. and Sutton, R.T. 2009. A review of climate risk information for adaptation and
development planning. International Journal of Climatology, 10.1002/joc1839.
2. Module: Low carbon Development
Convenor: Dave Ockwell
Teaching: IDS 33%, Geography 33%, SPRU 33%.
Summary
This course considers the implications of Climate Change mitigation policy and the transition to a low carbon
development for developing countries. Students will engage with critical debates (including tensions and
commonalities between developed and developing economies) in relation to climate change and economic
development. These are definitive of the contemporary international policy debate and on-going negotiations under
the auspices of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
Major topics
- Climate change scenario generation
- Greenhouse gas emission and stabilisation targets
- Technology and technology transfer
- Renewable energy, CCS, geo-engineering
- Low carbon pathways and transitions
- Carbon Offsetting
- Energy models
- Carbon markets
- CDM and post Copenhagen international market instruments
- REDD
Assessment: 5000 word course paper
Indicative Reading
Adams, J. (1993) The Emperor's Old Clothes: The Curious Comeback of Cost-benefit Analysis. Environmental Values 2:247-260
de Araujo MSM, de Campos CP, Rosa LP (2007) GHG historical contribution by sectors, sustainable development and equity. RENEWABLE &
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Pages: 988-997
Friman M, Linner BO (2008) Technology obscuring equity: historical responsibility in UNFCCC negotiations. CLIMATE POLICY Volume: 8
Issue: 4 Pages: 339-354
Giddens, A. (2009) The Politics of Climate Change. Wiley, Chichester.
Grubb, M. (2000). The Kyoto Protocol: A Guide and Assessment Royal Institute of International Affairs, London.
Helm, D. and Hepburn, C. (2009). The Economics and Politics of Climate Change. OUP, Oxford.
Hulme, M. (2009). Why We Disagree About Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Jacobs, M. (1991). The Green Economy, Pluto, London.
Jackson, M. Prosperity without Growth. Economics for a Finite Planet, Earthscan, London
Ockwell, D.G., J. Watson, G. MacKerron, P. Pal and F. Yamin (2008). Key policy considerations for facilitating low carbon technology transfer to
developing countries, Energy Policy 36 (11): 4104-4115.
Ockwell, D.G., L. Whitmarsh and S. O'Neill (2009) Reorienting climate change communication for effective mitigation - forcing people to be green or
fostering grass-roots engagement? Science Communication 30: 305-327.
Pearce, D. et al. (1995). Blueprint for a Green Economy, Earthscan, London
Sanwal M (2009) Reflection on the climate negotiations: a Southern perspective. CLIMATE POLICY Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Pages: 330-333
Scrase, I. and MacKerron, G. (eds) (2009). Energy for the Future: A New Agenda. Palgrave, Basingstoke.
Wang, T., and J. Watson. 2007. Who owns China's emissions? Tyndall Briefing Note No.23. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, SPRU,
University of Sussex, Brighton. Available at [Link]
3. Module: Challenges in climate prediction
Convenor: Martin Todd
Teaching: 100% Geography.
Summary
Climate modeling has strongly shaped the climate change issue. This course provides non-climate specialist students
with a comprehensive overview of the science of climate prediction, and highlights many of the crucial applications of
models. The course covers the principles of climate modelling, recent development in seasonal-decadal prediction
and then considers the development of Earth System Models for multi-decadal climate change projections. As such,
the course considers the interaction between the different components of the climate system and our ability to model
these. The emphasis is on those components that may invoke substantial feedbacks within the climate system. This
includes clouds, aerosols and sea/land ice and the bio-geochemical cycles of greenhouse gases involved in
vegetation, soils and the oceans. There is a major emphasis on the global carbon cycle. The likelihood of rapid and
abrupt climate changes associated with various 'tipping points' in the climate system will be considered. Recent
initiatives to quantify uncertainty in climate prediction will be assessed. Throughout the course, there is a clear
emphasis on how climate modelling relates to the mitigation policy agenda, for example through greenhouse gas
stabilisation regimes, verification of mitigation policies, and to adaptation activities. This course is specifically designed
to be accessible for students from a range of academic and professional backgrounds.
Major topics
- Earth system Science
- Uncertainties in climate projections
- Modelling for greenhouse gas stabilisation regimes
- Climate feedbacks
- The carbon cycle
- Advances in modelling
- Seasonal-decadal prediction
- Abrupt climate change & tipping points in the climate system
Assessment: 5000 work course paper
Indicative Reading
Climate change 2007 : the physical science basis Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
Climate change 2007 : synthesis report. Published:Paris : IPCC Secretariat, 2007.
The economics of climate change : the Stern review Published:[Cambridge, UK] : Cambridge University Press, 2007. / Nicholas Stern.
Climate change 2007 : impacts, adaptation and vulnerability Working Group II contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Climate change 2007 : mitigation of climate change : summary for policymakers Working Group III contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of
the IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
4. Module: Climate change & Energy Policy
Convenor: Gordon McKerron
Teaching: 100% SPRU.
Summary
This second term option will analyse the conceptual and policy-related issues in energy policy and climate change.
Key approaches include economics (including institutional and behavioural), political science, policy analysis and
decision analysis. Theories of transition to sustainable energy futures will be a specific focus, and appropriate
governance structures and appraisal methods will be analysed. Key sustainability issues in the energy policy debate
to be covered include: the trade-offs and synergies between sustainability and other policy objectives; technology
choice issues, especially in relation to nuclear power and renewables; environmental and economic regulation and
their interaction; the different levels of policy intervention (international, national, regional/local); problems in
implementing energy efficiency policies and their relation to carbon emission reductions; problems in policy aproaches
based on long-term scientific predictions of climate change.
Major topics
- History of energy policy
- Public policy-making: objectives, trade-offs, legitimacy in context of sustainability
- Transition theories
- Policy-making dilemmas
- Liberalisation: origins and impacts
- Energy, climate change, security and sustainability
- Markets and Governments
- Nuclear power and renewables
- Climate change policy
- Energy demand reduction
- Fossil fuels and low carbon
- Technology transfer to developing countries
- International energy policy
- Mitigation policy in the non-energy sectors (Forestry, REDD, agriculture, geo-engineering.
Assessment: 5000 work paper
Indicative Reading
Scrase and G. MacKerron (eds) Energy for the Future Palgrave, 2009
M Grubb et al. The Kyoto Protocol RIIA 1999
D Helm Climate Change Policy OUP 2005
N. Stern Stern Review: economics of climate change UK Treasury 2006
Cabinet Office (as above), chapter 6 on security of supply
J Stern UK gas security: time to get serious Energy Policy 32:17, 2004
UK Committee on Climate Change Building a low-carbon economy - the UK's contribution to tackling climate change December 2008
J Watson et al Technology and carbon mitigation in developing countries Background Paper for UN Human Development Report 2007, November
2007
Summer term
1. Module: Research Methods
This course provides training in accessing, processing and manipulatiion of geographic data for climate
change, policy and development studies. The course has five components
(i) Classic and contemporary research strategies. Research designs and writing a research proposal
Research ethics, plagiarism and information sources
(ii) Qualitative research methodology. Interviews and participant observations
(iii)Statistical analysis. This component aims to provide training and guidance in applied statistics for
postgraduate students of various backgrounds who already have some acquaintance with elementary
statistics. It has two main components.
(a) Basic training in the use and application of methods in students own research. This will cover
multivariate analysis (covering, analysis of variance, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, principal
components, cluster analysis, etc.)
(b) Guidance to strengthen students ability to interpret and assess statistical work undertaken by others in
applications reported in the academic publications likely to be encountered by students
(iv). Climate data analysis. This component provides training in the characteristics of large scale global
climate data sets and their analysis. The aim is to provide students with (a) Increased understanding of (i)
climate dataset characteristics (ii) the methods of climate prediction science (iii) possible future climate
scenarios and the associated uncertainty. (b) Key skills in climate data analysis and visualisation, including
dataset processing, display, trend analysis, compositing, statistical analysis, downscaling, uncertainty
analysis and 4-D visualisation. Students will gain familiarity with the range of observational datasets
available and the climate model output from the IPCC AR4 and model intercomparison projects. Through
specific projects the students will gain direct experience of data analysis using thee suite of web-based
climate analysis and climate change impact tools, as well as programming experience using the GrADS
scripting language.
(v) GIS. The object of this course is to introduce students to the possibilities and problems associated with
the use of Geographical Information Systems, Remote Sensing and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) in
the design and monitoring of individual projects and development planning strategies. Some 'Hands On'
time will be possible along with illustrations of the various capabilities of these techniques. In recent years
development Agencies have become aware of the potential of GIS based techniques in the provision of
information for both monitoring and research. For example, poverty mapping has become a popular tool
with the FAO and cognate agencies. The widespread availability of Google Earth has brought the value of
georeferenced and highly visual data to a new audience. The course will consist of 5 weeks of lectures and
practical classes which will discuss aspects of the application of GIS techniques, including the use of
remote sensing data and GPS. GIS applications will be specifically directed at climate change scenarios.
Students will also take selected relevant Professional Skills for Development workshops which run through
all three terms.
Assessment: 2500 work short term paper
Indicative Reading
Chalmers, A.F. 1999. What is this thing called Science? 3 rd edition. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.: Indianapolis.
Creswell, J.W. 2008. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches, 3rd ed. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA. .
Flick, U. (2006). An introduction to qualitative research, 3rd ed. London: Sage Publications.
Hay, I. (2005). Qualitative research methods in human geography, 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford Uni-versity Press.
Marwell, A. (2005) Qualitative research design : an interactive approach, 2nd ed. Thousands Oaks: Sage Publication.
Garner, R.( 2005). The joy of stats : a short guide to introductory statistics in the social sciences. Broadview Press.
Various on-lione guides and tutorials for climate analysis
2. Module: Individual Dissertation
This course provides students taking the programme with the opportunity to complete under expert
supervision a dissertation on a topic of their choosing relevant to the programme themes. Students will be
embark on the preparation of the Dissertation following the Research Methods course and the submission
of the Research Proposal/Plan (RSP). A desk-based or original empirical study will be undertaken, enabling
students to pursue in-depth research in an aspect of climate change and development or policy, policy. The
Dissertation will be 15, 000 words in length.
Indicative Reading
Chalmers, A.F. 1999. What is this thing called Science? 3 rd edition. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.: Indianapolis.
Creswell, J.W. 2008. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches, 3rd ed. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA. .
Flick, U. (2006). An introduction to qualitative research, 3rd ed. London: Sage Publications.
Hay, I. (2005). Qualitative research methods in human geography, 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford Uni-versity Press.
Marwell, A. (2005) Qualitative research design : an interactive approach, 2nd ed. Thousands Oaks: Sage Publication.
Garner, R.( 2005). The joy of stats : a short guide to introductory statistics in the social sciences. Broadview Press.
