NUTR 0256: Climate Change Risk and Adaptation in Food Systems and Beyond

Climate change is one of the most pressing problems in the world today. This course will focus on the projected impacts of climate change around the world and related adaptations (risk management), with particular attention to humanitarian impacts and food systems. We will cover climate risk assessment, risk perception, risk communication, and climate risk management/adaptation. In doing this, we will cover major climate impacts by sector, as well as their interactions and humanitarian implications. We will use AI in this class.

Each week of class will have two components: a lecture and a lab. The lecture will consist of instructor presentation of content as well as student reflection and discussion. The lab will consist of an exercise or simulation of technologies and methods related to climate impact assessment and management. There is no prior experience needed for the labs.

Students will experiment with different methodologies to assess climate risk and identify impact modeling methodologies that are most appropriate for specific applications. Students will learn why people perceive risk differently and experiment with innovative methods to communicate risk. In the risk management section, students will critique alternative risk management strategies and identify equity and justice implications. As a final project, students will develop a proposal for the Green Climate Fund, which is the largest global fund to address climate change.

More information on the course syllabus.