Climate Change; Science, Impacts & Responses

Dates to be confirmed

20 April 2009 - Climate ScienceProgramme led by: Dr Helen Brindley, Imperial College London

This module will provide a primer on the basic science of climate change, suitable for non-specialists, as an introduction to the subsequent modules of the course. The level of the treatment will allow course attendees to access the important principles of climate change in terms of simple examples and explanations. Experts will discuss a range of subjects. These include the basic physics of the greenhouse effect; the main greenhouse gases; the role of aerosols in climate change; natural climate variability and the climate of the 20th century, both as observed and modelled. It will also review feedback processes and their associated uncertainties; coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models and projections of future climate change, such as the impact on temperature, precipitation and sea level. The work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has an important role across many areas covered in this programme. This is introduced and explained.

The greenhouse effect and radiative forcing
Prof Joanna Haigh, Imperial College London

The role of aerosols
Prof Ken Carslaw, University of Leeds

Observations of climate change
Prof Phil Jones, University of East Anglia

Modelling & prediction of climate variability and change
Dr Jason Lowe, Hadley Centre

Detection and attribution of climate change
Dr Peter Stott, Hadley Centre

The role of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Ms Yamide Dagnet, Department of Energy and Climate Change

21 April 2009 - Designing the International Climate Policy Regime - New Instruments and Lessons from International Market Mechanisms

Programme led by: Dr Axel Michaelowa, University of Zurich and Perspectives GmbH

2009 will be a milestone year in international climate policy, with the Copenhagen conference slated to set up a regime for the period after 2012. With the backdrop of the economic crisis, these negotiations will be challenging. At the same time, lessons from the policy instruments of the Kyoto Protocol regime start to emerge. Will regulation or markets play the key role in the post-2012 regime? Can the gold rush in the Clean Development Mechanism be seen as a sign of success or failure? What are the prospects for reform of the international market mechanisms in a post-2012 regime? The setting of emission commitments, the role of (sectoral) benchmarks, the balance of demand and supply in the international market and the thorny question of additionality and baselines for project-based mechanisms will be discussed.

Overview of the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and outlook on post-2012 negotiations
Prof Michael Grubb, Imperial College London and the Carbon Trust

A scenario for post-2012 climate policy
Kristian Tangen, Point Carbon

The lessons of market mechanisms for the design of the post-2012 policy regime
Dr Axel Michaelowa, University of Zurich and Perspectives GmbH

Benchmarks - a panacea for international climate policy?
Nicolas Mueller, Perspectives GmbH

Concluding discussion: Prospects for the Copenhagen regime
Prof Michael Grubb, Imperial College London and the Carbon Trust

22 April 2009 - Mitigation Technologies and Policies

Programme led by:  Dr Robert Gross, Imperial College London

This module will examine the current and emerging options for mitigating emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, with a focus on energy technologies, costs and related policies. It will summarise the main technologies involved for energy efficiency and low-carbon energy supply, including low carbon transport. It will review the roles of renewable sources, natural gas & clean coal with carbon removal and disposal, nuclear power, decentralised heat and power and low carbon cars, shifting transport mode and changing transport patterns. It will explain economic analysis and modelling techniques for assessing mitigation costs in scenarios of national and global emissions. It reviews assessments of the business case for investment in low carbon technologies and the policies needed to promote innovation. The day also reviews behavioural aspects related to energy efficiency, innovation and low carbon tra nsport. Hence the module will discuss various strategies for pursing low carbon policy objectives, and will link modelling and asses sment of mitigation cost through the potential for a range of technologies and behavioural changes to the policy options available to encourage lower carbon energy and policy imperatives that moving to a lower carbon future create.

E conomics and modelling of CO2 mitigation
Dr Neil Strachan, Kings College London

Low carbon energy technologies: demand side actions
Dr Nick Eyre, Oxford University

Low carbon energy technologies: renewables, carbon capture & nuclear power
Dr Tim Cockerill , Imperial College London

Low carbon transport
Phil Watson, E4Tech Consulting

The Mckinsey resource cost curve approach
Bruce Duguid, The Carbon Trust

Mitigation technologies and policies - an oil industry perspective
Prof Paul Rutter, Imperial College

Accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy
Mark Williamson, The Carbon Trust

23 April 2009 - Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Agriculture and Forestry

Programme led by: Dr Charlotte Streck, Climate Focus BV, The Netherlands

This module will discuss forestry and agricultural contributions to anthropogenic greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. It will start with an overview over the role of agriculture and forestry under the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, regulated and voluntary carbon markets foll owed by an introduction into the current discussions on creating incentives for the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Next, it will review options for mitigating net GHG emissions through forestry and agricultural activities (including bioenergy and biomass products) and review how countries are beginning to implement improved land management for GHG mitigation. The module will discuss land-use related topics like permanence; leakage; monitoring and verification; the relationship of GHG mitigation with other land use objectives such as food, feed and timber production. It will cover economic considerations in land-based GHG mitigation and practical experience from land-use projects, including REDD, CDM and voluntary carbon market projects.

An Introduction to Climate Change Regulation and Forestry
Dr Charlotte Streck, Climate Focus BV, The Netherlands

Forestry Mitigation Options: REDD and Afforestation/Reforestation
Dr Igino Emmer, Silvestrum, The Netherlands

Mitigation options through management of agricultural land and role in the Kyoto Protocol and voluntary carbon markets
Dr Pete Falloon, Met Office Hadley Ce ntre, Exeter

Mitigation options through bioenergy and biomass products and the role in the Kyoto Protocol
Dr Ausilio Bauen, Imperial College London

The economics of land-based GHG management
Dr Michael Obersteiner, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria

Carbon Standards and the Perspective of a Verifier
Sebastian Hetsch, TUV SUD, Germany

Experience from GHG mitigation projects and perspectives from industry
Dr Richard Tipper, Ecometrica

24 April 2009 - Impacts and Adaptation

Programme led by: Dr Pam Berry, Environment Change Institute, University of Oxford

Climate change has the potential for widespread impacts, many of which will be detrimental to humans and their well-being and adaptation represents one of the strategies for addressing these impacts. This module will examine the impacts of climate change and possible adaptation strategies in a range of contrasting sectors. The focus will be on sectoral and national policy implications for adapting to climate change, including water resource management, biodiversity and conservation, coastal zone management and urban areas in the context of both developed as well as developing countries. It will also examine how decisions are made about adaptation options and policy, as well as the costs and financing of adaptation. National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) will be used to explore possibilities for adaptation in developing countries.

Sea level rise and coastal resources
Prof Robert Nicholls, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Climate change and water resources: impacts and adaptation
Dr Declan Conway, University of East Anglia

Climate change impacts and adaptation options for biodiversity
Dr Pam Berry, Environment Change Institute University of Oxford

Climate change impacts and adaptation in cities
Dr David Dodman, International Institute for Environment and Development

Decision strategies for adapting to climate change
Dr Robert Willows,Environment Agency

National Actions Plans for Adaptation
MJ Mace, Independent Consultant

Adaptation - Economics, Costs and Finance
Dr Samuel Fankhauser, Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics