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Climate Change: Why People Disagree (PPMN20002)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Not available in 2022
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
Overview
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Science says it’s real. Why is it that some people disagree?
This subject explores why some people dispute climate change, despite high levels of scientific agreement about the physical processes leading to global warming. It will take seriously the widest possible range of perspectives on climate change, locally, nationally and globally, and ask which views and what knowledge counts when it comes to climate change.
This subject will critically investigate the ways in which scientific knowledge, competing value systems, and considerations of power intersect when it comes to climate change policy. It will give students the concepts and tools to understand and engage with disputes around climate change and equip them to understand other controversial policy questions.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Understand and critically compare competing understandings and framings of climate change and climate change policy both in Australia and globally;
- Understand the different types of knowledge and expertise, the competing values and interests, and the role of public opinion and democratic deliberation which shape climate
- Understand the ways in which knowledge about climate change is developed and communicated;
- Use the knowledge and insights gained to help in interpreting and evaluating other controversial and so-called 'wicked' policy problems;
- Communicate effectively in oral and written formats.
Generic skills
Upon successful completion of this subject, students will have skills in:
- reading, writing and presenting clearly and analytically
- conducting library searches for relevant literatures
- understanding multiple perspectives including those they do not share
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
100 credit points of undergraduate study
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Some familiarity with the issue of climate change, or completion of the University Breadth subject ‘Introduction to Climate Change’ (UNIB10007), is recommended.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
In order to pass this subject, students must attend and regularly participate in a minimum of 75% of tutorials.
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Group presentation Hurdle requirement | Week 5 | N/A |
Individual written contribution to a group presentation project which will connect to essay
| Week 5 | 15% |
An essay
| Due the week prior to the non-teaching break | 50% |
An exam (equivalent to 1,500 words)
| During the examination period | 35% |
| Hurdle requirement: In order to pass this subject, students must attend and regularly participate in a minimum of 75% of tutorials. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2022
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 15 February 2024