Level 7 Masterclass UCLA June 3-4

Course Level: Level 7 Master's Course

Continuing Professional Education Credit: 8 hours

Course Description:

This course provides a theoretical framework and training outline for building resilience to climate change. Participants will gain an understanding of the concepts of vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and social-ecological systems in the context of climate change. They will also learn to identify the risks and impacts of climate change on different systems and sectors, and to design and implement effective adaptation and mitigation measures. The course will cover three main sections: understanding climate change, building resilience to climate change, and action planning and implementation.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the concepts of vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and social-ecological systems in the context of climate change.

• Identify the risks and impacts of climate change on different systems and sectors.

• Design and implement effective adaptation and mitigation measures.

• Develop action plans and identify relevant tools and resources for implementing resilience-building measures in their communities.

Course Outline:

I. Introduction (30 minutes)

• Importance of building resilience to climate change

• Overview of theoretical framework and training outline

II. Theoretical Framework (2 hours)

• Definition of resilience and its importance in adapting to climate change

• Vulnerability: understanding the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of social-ecological systems

• Adaptive capacity: the ability of systems to cope with and recover from climate impacts

• Social-ecological systems: the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental systems

• Governance and institutions: the role of policies and regulations in building resilience

• Community participation: the importance of engaging local communities in building resilience

III. Understanding Climate Change (2 hours)

• Introduction to climate science

• Impacts of climate change on different systems and sectors

• Vulnerability assessment

IV. Building Resilience to Climate Change (2 hours)

• Vulnerability and adaptive capacity in the context of climate change

• Social-ecological systems and their vulnerabilities

• Governance, institutions, and community participation in building resilience

V. Action Planning and Implementation (1.5 hours)

• Action planning and resource mapping

• Stakeholder engagement

• Case studies and best practices

VI. Policy Recommendations (30 minutes)

• Encourage the adoption of climate-smart policies and regulations

• Promote community-based approaches to building resilience

• Increase funding for resilience-building projects

• Improve access to information and technology for building resilience

• Enhance international cooperation and collaboration on building resilience

VII. Conclusion (30 minutes)

• Recap of theoretical framework and training outline

• Importance of building resilience to climate change for global sustainability efforts

• Call to action for individuals, communities, and governments to take steps towards building resilience.

Assessment:

Participants will be assessed based on their participation in discussions and activities throughout the seminar. They will also be required to develop an action plan for implementing resilience-building measures in their communities, which will be reviewed by the instructor.

Course Materials:

• PowerPoint slides for each section

• Handouts on key concepts and case studies

• Relevant research papers and reports

References:

Adger, W. N. (2019). Social and ecological resilience: Are they related? Progress in Human Geography, 43(2), 291-301.

Folke, C. (2016). Resilience (Republished). Ecology and Society, 21(4), 44.

IPCC. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

O'Brien, K., Pelling, M., Patwardhan, A., Hallegatte, S., Maskrey, A., Oki, T., ... & Zavala, P. (2019). Towards a sustainable and resilient future for all: Harnessing natural and social capital for sustainable development. UN Environment Programme.

Course Delivery:

This course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, discussions, and interactive activities. Participants will be encouraged to engage in peer learning through small group discussions and exercises. The course will be delivered online through a learning management system (LMS), and participants will have access to course materials and resources through the LMS.

Prerequisites:

This course is designed for professionals who have a basic understanding of climate change and its impacts. Participants should have a bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.

Target Audience:

This course is intended for professionals working in the fields of environmental science, sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. It is also suitable for policymakers, community leaders, and practitioners working on climate change-related issues.

Course Credits:

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Level 7 Master's Course Certificate with 8 hours of Continuing Professional Education credit.

Course Fee:

The course fee is $195 per participant.

Note:

The syllabus is subject to change based on the latest research and developments in the field of climate change.

Registration https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/573222512967