CLIMATE CHANGE
CE 76516

Course Objectives:
This course broadens the knowledge on fundamentals of climate change with respect to climate change science; and its causes, effects and uncertainties about climate change. It broadens the idea on technology, technological options for mitigating climate change, adaptation measures, risk analysis, economics, policy options and their impact on outcomes.

1. Climate Change Science
   (10 hours)
1. Introduction to climate change science
1. Radiation balance, atmospheric and ocean circulations, Historic climate change, El Nino
2. Feedback effects, impacts of land use, albedo, clouds, ocean storage of CO,
3. CHGs and energy use, inventory of CHCs, the carbon cycle
4. Natural and anthropogenic actors
2. Key indicators of global climate change and evidence
1. Carbon dioxide concentration
2. Global surface temperature
3. Arctic sea ice
4. Land ice
5. Sea level
3. Causes
1. Effect of greenhouse gases: greenhouse gases, consequences of change in natural greenhouse gases
2. The role of human activities: industrialization, combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, forest fires, agricultural farming
3. Solar irradiance: sun is the driver of climate system in Earth, role of solar radiance in climate change
4. Effects/impacts
1. More frequent wildfires
2. Air pollution
3. Longer periods of drought in some regions
4. Extreme weather
5. Deforestation
6. Agriculture change
7. Ecosystem and biodiversity
8. Economic effects
9. Diseases
10. Water scarcity
5. Uncertainties about climate change
1. Forcings: Solar irradiance, Aerosols, dust, smoke, and carbon particles
2. Feedbacks: cloud, carbon cycle, ocean circulation, precipitation, sea-level rise
2. Technology
   (15 hours)
1. Role of human activities
1. Combustion of fossil fuels in industry, transport, electricity generation, households, etc.
2. Deforestation
3. Agricultural farming
2. Climate change and Infrastructure
1. Buildings infrastructure
2. Transportation infrastructure
3. Energy infrastructure
4. Water and waste infrastructure
3. Technological options for mitigating climate change
   Mitigation technologies and practices, environmentally effective policies, measures and instrument, key constraints and opportunities in the following sectors
1. Energy supply
2. Transport
3. Buildings
4. Industry
5. Agriculture
6. Forestry/forests
7. Waste
4. Adaptation measures
   Adaptation options/strategy, underlying policy frame, key constraints and opportunities to implementation by sector
1. Water
2. Agriculture
3. Infrastructure and settlement
4. Human health
5. Tourism
6. Transport
7. Energy
5. Risk analysis and climate change
1. Identify the impacts and the level of risk
2. Compare the risks posed by a climate change
3. Prioritize adaptation policy
4. Assess the costs and benefits of adaptation actions (quantitative risk analysis)
5. Preparation and planning
6. Integration with existing risk management practices
7. Integration with other activities
3. Economics
   (8 hours)
1. Population growth & economic groMh as climate change drivers
2. Costs of abatement, adaptation, and impacts
3. Consequences of alternative regimes of action & inaction for economic growth, employment, trade
4. Carbon trade. Economic analysis of CDM and other GHC mitigation profects
5. Socio-economic impacts of climate change in Nepal
6. Funding sources
4. Policies
   (8 hours)
1. The Montreal Protocol, agenda 21
2. UNFCC and The Kyoto Protocol
3. National adaptation program of action (NAPA) to climate change, Ministry of Environment 2010
4. Hydropower Development Policies 1992 and 2001
5. Rural Energy Policy 2006
6. Climate Change Policy in Nepal 2011
5. Legal Aspects
   (4 hours)
1. Water Resources Act 1992
2. Environment Protection Act 1997 & Rule 1997
3. Forest Act 1993
4. Forest regulation 1995

Tutorial:

1. Introduction
   (2 hours)
   Impacts likely to be on farms, forests, fisheries, agriculture, water resources, health, property, ecosystems etc.
2. Technology
   (2 hours)
1. The role of humans & their technology in causing climate change
2. Technological options for mitigating climate change
3. Technological options for adapting to it
3. Economics
   (7 hours)
1. Determination of costs of abatement, adaptation, and impacts
2. Consequences of alternative regimes of action & inaction for economic growth, employment, trade
4. Policy (on climate change)
   (4 hours)
1. Policy options and their impact on outcomes
2. Actors and interests in the climate debate and the evolution of perceptions & interests over time
3. Finding a global climate policy framework that is adequate, equitable, and attainable
4. Uncertainty and prudence in public policy

Project work:

1. Concepts and development of cause and effect of greenhouse gases, consequences of change in natural greenhouse gases.
2. The role of humans & their technology in causing climate change.
3. Technological options for mitigating climate change.
4. Consequences of alternative regimes of action & inaction for economic growth, employment, trade.
5. Policy options and their impact on outcomes
6. Uncertainty and prudence in public policy on climate

References:

1. Holdren, 2007,
2. www.AAAS.org

Evaluation Scheme:
The questions will cover all the chapters in the syllabus. The evaluation scheme will be as indicated in the table below:

Chapter	Hours	Marks Distribution*
1	10	16
2	15	24
3	8	15
4	8	15
5	4	10
Total	45	80

*There could be minor deviation in mark distribution.