Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
30818:[2025 Spring]Introductory Course to Climate Change and Global Warming(G1) 2025 Spring Thu3 College Of Law,College Of Economics,College Of Business Administration,College Of Social Sciences,College Of International Relations,College Of Policy Science,College of Image Arts and Sciences,College of Science and Engineering,College of Information Science and Engineering,College of Life Sciences,College of Sport and Health Science (tentative name) INASAWA IZUMI 2

Campus

BKC

Class Venue

BKC

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The course will be basically conducted by PPT materials together with in-person communications. However, from time to time, students may be requested to take on-line lectures by utilizing PC or other electric devices. Accordingly, please check Manaba+R from time to time to obtain most-updated information from the lecturer. On-line lectures would be through zoom (in such cases URL to be uploaded in Manaba+R.)

The method this course tries to take is to overview the basics of climate change and global warming issues by (i) reviewing internationally recognized reports and documents and (ii) objectively looking into attempts of international frameworks. To confirm and strengthen the obtained knowledge, several group discussions and presentations sessions are scheduled.

Students will first obtain the scientific knowledge about global warming and climate change by following United Nations' reports. Students will then collect information about the current status and outlook of world energy supply and demand situations by looking into International Energy Agency's reports. After these sessions, the international frameworks to address the challenges will be discussed together with the history of international negotiations. Based on these discussions, the course deals with the options to cope with climate change and global warming, focusing on Renewable Energy. Finally students will be provided with the concept of sustainability and its inter- and intra- generational meanings will be explained.

The course is in English and all students are expected to actively participate in the discussions.

Student Attainment Objectives

Through this course, students are expected to:
・obtain thorough understandings of key issues on climate change and global warming,
・obtain basic knowledge about world energy situations, energy policies, the roles of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency,
・collect information about principal measures and international frameworks, and
・comprehend the concept of sustainability to cope with the global challenges.

Through this course, students can develop comprehensive abilities to recognize global problems and directions to solve them.

Recommended Preparatory Course

None

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor(When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction / Communications among students and the lecturer

As for "+R-Jugyo", please refer to manaba+R. The URL of "this "+R-Jugyo" will be shown in the "Course News" section. Students are expected to take this "+R-Jugyo" before the 1st session.

2

Basic Issues of Global Warming and Climate Change

UNFCCC, IPCC Reports

3

Tracing the Past
<Mini-Group Discussions and Presentations>

Causes, Measures to trace into the past evidence.

4-5

International Frameworks: Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement

For Session 5, one Special Lecture by a guest speaker is expected on variety of environmental issues (TBC: To Be Confirmed.)

6

Global Energy Trend

Outlook of energy use and future projection

7-8

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
<Mini-Group Discussions and Presentations>

For Session 8, one Special Lecture by a guest speaker is expected on how companies have been responding (TBC: To Be Confirmed.)

9

Emissions Trading

Measures to prevent Climate Change and Global Warming, Economic Measures

10

Sustainability
<Mini-Group Discussions and Presentations>

Development of the concept: ex. Weak and Strong Sustainability

11-13

Group Discussions and Preparation of Presentations

Discussions, and preparing materials for Presentation

14

Group Presentations and Wrap-Up

Discussions and self-checking the academic knowledge students have obtained

Class Format

The course will be basically conducted by PPT materials together with in-person communications.
However, from time to time, students may be requested to take on-line lectures (Zoom) by utilizing PC or other electric devices.

Students have opportunities to watch videos in the class.

Recommendations for Private Study

Students are expected to be attentive to news articles on climate change, global warming and energy issues.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment 
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)
100

Students are evaluated based on a short-paper (60%) to be submitted at the end of term period (deadline date to be instructed by the lecturer). Active participation in discussions (20%) and group presentations (20%) will be also evaluated. If the group presentations do not take place, other assignments (essays) will be evaluated as 20%.

Grade Evaluation Method (Note)

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

In order to deepen understandings, students are expected to review the handouts of past sessions.

Textbooks

Textbooks (Frequency of Use, Note)

This course is not based on textbooks.

Reference Books

Reference Books (Frequency of Use, Note)

None

Web Pages for Reference

None

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System (manaba+R),Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

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URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/