POL 361 - The Science and Politics of Climate Change

The Earth’s climate crisis represents a nexus of dynamic natural systems with increasing pressures from human decision-making. Understanding the current predicament and our potential futures requires a collective, interdisciplinary understanding of climate science and climate politics. The Science and Politics of Climate Change combines environmental physical science and political social science perspectives to examine the dynamics of climate change and the political and policy responses to it. The course explores the fundamental science of the Earth’s climate system, timescales of natural climate variability, and drivers of modern climate change that define the anthropocene. We meanwhile explore the role of science in policy making, but also the ever changing politics of the scientific process in producing questions that guide future agendas. We approach climate politics and policymaking in the United States from national, subnational, and local perspectives. We examine the political and scientific origins of solutions to climate change, including the mitigation of greenhouse gas production; adaptation of the human and natural world to a warming planet; and significant interventions in the earth’s climate system in the form of geoengineering. Throughout the course, we consider the profound implications that climate change effects and solutions have for the distribution of resources in society. We also wrestle with the ethics of climate change, including the prioritization of climate change over other issues. This course is intended for students with little to no prior knowledge of climate science or American political institutions.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Instructional Method: Lecture-conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Notes: This is an interdisciplinary course offered by faculty from the Chemistry and Political Science departments.
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.