Climate Change and Land Use
Course content
Climate Change and Land Use is an interdisciplinary course
offered by the University of Copenhagen. It is open for MSc
students and continuing education students with a relevant BSc
background in natural sciences, social sciences and economics.
The focus of the course is the effects of climate change on land
use and the corresponding feedback effects of land use on
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The course covers a range of the UN
Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on SDG2 (zero
hunger), SGD7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG11 (sustainable
cities and communities), SDG12 (responsible consumption and
production), SDG13 (climate action) and SDG15 (life on
land).
It features a comprehensive analysis of climate change and land
use in relation to food, fodder, timber and bioenergy production,
an overview of the global N and C cycles, and a comparison of
regional differences in land use and agricultural/silvicultural
traditions in developed versus developing countries. Global demand
for arable land, drivers of land use change and land use governance
is discussed in relation to climate change, food security and
environmental sustainability.
An analysis of how different land use systems can be managed to
adapt to current and long-term climate change is performed together
with an analysis of the potential for reducing GHG emissions in
agriculture and forestry by carbon sequestration, fossil fuel
substitution, circular production and food system transition.
Future perspectives for sustainable land use are analyzed with
respect to sustainable intensification versus sustainable
extensification, technological solutions for sustainable land use,
and future land use scenarios for food, fodder, timber and
bioenergy production and consumption.
MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Climate Change
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
MSc Programme in Global Environment and Development
The aim of the course is to give a solid understanding of
climate change and land use in relation to food, fodder, timber and
bioenergy production. After completing the course the student
should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Describe global, regional and local impacts of climate change on
agriculture and forestry
- Summarize how land use and land use change is affecting climate
change
- Identify global demand for arable land and drivers of land use
change
- Outline major regional differences in land use,
agricultural/silvicultural traditions and ecological footprint
Skills:
- Select and apply relevant scientific tools to analyze options for
climate change adaptation in agriculture and forestry
- Assess different strategies for reducing GHG emission by carbon
sequestration, fossil fuel substitution and resource use
optimization in the land use sector
- Compare global, regional and local land use governance policies
Competences:
- Discuss and debate scientific papers on climate change and land
use
- Cooperate and work independently to complete a conference poster
or scientific manuscript investigating a case specific research
questions on climate change and land use
- Reflect on the future perspectives for sustainable land
use
The teaching and learning methods consist of lectures, theoretical exercises, critical discussion of scientific papers, debates, role-playing, reflections on learning outcome, and problem oriented group work on a conference poster or a scientific manuscript dealing with a case specific research question within the studied subjects of the course.
The learning resources consist of selected scientific articles, reports and book chapters which will be made available online.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Continuous collective feedback to the student's work on the conference poster/scientific manuscript project and multimedia project is given at regular project work and supervision sessions.
At the final exam collective feedback is given to each group after all students within the group have been examined individually.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 15 minuttes
- Type of assessment details
- No preparation time before the oral exam.
Students will be assessed on the basis of their individual performance in an oral exam covering the conference poster/scientific manuscript and the general curriculum - Exam registration requirements
-
Contribution to conference poster/scientific manuscript
- Aid
- Written aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
- Re-exam
-
Re-exam: Oral examination, 15 minutes. As the ordinary exam.
If the student has not contributed to the submitted group poster/manuscript an individual poster/manuscript on a selected research question within the studied subjects of the course must be submitted two weeks before the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assessment
Please see the description of learning outcome
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 18
- Preparation
- 64
- Exercises
- 24
- Project work
- 100
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NPLK14030U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedulegroup
-
C
- Capacity
- 60
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student. - Studyboard
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Christian Bugge Henriksen (3-69686e4676726b7434717b346a71)
Teacher
Bhim Bahadur Ghaley (co-responsible)
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende