CH-DEN: Climate Change Denialism

Course Description: This graduate-level course on Climate Change Denial provides a comprehensive exploration of the phenomenon of climate change denial, its underlying factors, and its implications for society, policy, and the environment. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from climate science, psychology, sociology, and communication studies to examine the causes and consequences of climate change denial. Students will critically analyze the strategies and tactics employed by climate change deniers and develop a nuanced understanding of this complex issue.

Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students will:

1. Understand the Science of Climate Change:
   • Gain a solid foundation in the scientific consensus on climate change, its causes, and its impacts.
2. Analyze the Reasons for the Controversy:
   • Explore the rational and irrational factors that contribute to climate change denial and ongoing controversies.
3. Examine Societal and Political Drivers:
   • Investigate the role of societal factors, including political ideology, in fostering climate change denial as well as alarmism.
4. Critically Assess Denialist Strategies:
   • Evaluate the strategies and tactics employed by climate change deniers, including misinformation campaigns and lobbying efforts.
5. Explore Communication and Media Influence:
   • Analyze the role of media, communication, and public discourse in perpetuating climate change denial.
6. Assess the Implications for Policy and Action:
   • Consider the impact of climate change denial on policy-making, environmental protection, and global efforts to address climate change.
7. Develop Critical Thinking Skills:
   • Enhance critical thinking and analytical skills through rigorous examination of denialist arguments and evidence.
8. Engage in Constructive Dialogue:
   • Foster respectful and constructive dialogue with individuals who hold climate change denial beliefs.
9. Promote Climate Change Education and Advocacy:
   • Explore strategies for promoting climate change education and advocacy in the face of denialist challenges.
10. Advance Evidence-Based Decision-Making:
    • Encourage evidence-based decision-making and informed public discourse on climate change issues.

Note: This course is designed to foster a respectful and open-minded exploration of climate change denial while emphasizing the importance of scientific consensus and evidence-based decision-making in addressing climate-related challenges.

• Credit value: 3-6 (US standard) | 6-12 (ECTS standard)
• Indicative duration (full-time): 4-10 weeks
• Indicative duration (part-time): 5-12 weeks
• Certificate: Yes

COURSE METHODOLOGY

This course is based on standard EUCLID methodology. Students may refer to the following resources:

• Academic Guidelines (HQ version)
• Academic Guidelines (most recent version even if unofficial)
• Student Orientation Guidelines (most recent version even if unofficial)
• Zotero instructions for EUCLID students
• Grammarly instructions for EUCLID students

COURSE OBJECTIVES | LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

• Explain clearly how M&E frameworks fit in the overall field of M&E
• Identify key stakeholders
• Construct an evaluation using statistical and database management
• Develop professional report-writing skills
• Discuss the features of AU and OECD framework gives as case studies.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIAL

Course material is provided in the form of embedded videos, audio MP3s, and/or downloadable PDFs.

COURSE INSTRUCTOR | ASSOCIATED FACULTY

Please see faculty profile(s) for this course at https://www.euclid.int/facultyprofiles.asp

COURSE SYLLABUS | ACCESS TO 7 PERIODS