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Climate Change and Public Policy

Develop your knowledge of climate change policy and explore the innovations and unique solutions to the global climate crisis.

2,336 enrolled on this course

Scientist and businessman trying to solve climate change
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info
The CPD Certification Service

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies. Find out more.

Uncover the complexities of climate change

Climate change presents the most profound challenge to have confronted human social, political, and economic systems.

On this four-week course, you’ll explore the fundamentals of climate change. You’ll focus on the interaction between science, economics, and public policy, providing an introduction to environmentalism from the private sector.

Explore the common policy proposals to fight climate change

You’ll begin by focusing on China and the US, examining their climate policies and what changes they need to make to reduce their climate impact.

Then, you’ll look at a range of climate policy ideas, from command and control to carbon taxes. You’ll discuss the opportunities and challenges of each policy, allowing you to come to your own conclusion of which, if any, is the better option.

Discover innovative climate change solutions such as carbon capture and geoengineering

Energy production is the largest driver of climate change. As energy demand grows, the world needs to shift to cleaner energy sources and technological innovations.

This course will take you through a variety of clean energy solutions, such as nuclear, wind, solar, and natural gas. You’ll also explore the human innovations that are leading the fight against climate change, including geoengineering.

Learn from climate policy experts at the Adam Smith Center and the IER

This course has been designed and created by the Adam Smith Center and Jordan McGillis, Deputy Director of Policy at the Institute for Energy Research (IER).

McGillis has written extensively on energy policy, including IER’s 2019 White Paper on carbon taxes, which makes him well-positioned to provide you with a holistic and incisive examination of the causes, environmental effects, and policy implications of climate change.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Climate Change and Public Policy Basics

    • Protest sign bearing the words, "One World", held aloft.

      Course Introduction

      We will cover the following pertinent questions – What is climate change? Why is it happening? What is being done? How is the climate system investigated?

    • Iceberg drifting in a lake.

      Climate Change Basics

      Let's get down to the nuts and bolts of climate change.

    • Pillars of a majestic government building.

      Public Policy Basics

      Find out how climate change has changed policy principles and priorities.

    • A bustling Chinese city.

      Regional Focus: China

      How has China responded to climate change?

    • The American flag billowing outside a building.

      Regional Focus: United States of America

      How has America responded to climate change?

    • A student making notes on a desk.

      End of Week 1

      Let's recap what we've learned.

  • Week 2

    Importance of Markets

    • The word "stop" inked on the road.

      Policy Ideas: Command and Control

      Command and Control policies are top-down solutions typically enacted by governments. How do they work and what role do they play in climate policy?

    • A modern-day factory increasing manufacturing output.

      Policy Ideas: Free Markets

      In contrast, market-based solutions rely on decentralisation. How do free markets address climate change problems?

    • Industrial chimneys belching plumes of smoke

      Policy Ideas: Carbon Taxes

      Carbon taxes are one leading example of a market-based solution to climate change. How effective are they?

    • A student making notes on a desk.

      End of Week 2

      Let's recap what was covered this week.

  • Week 3

    Energy Mix and Solutions

    • Man contemplating  under the vast night sky.

      Energy Mix

      What is an energy mix? What are some energy solutions within the energy mix?

    • Nuclear plants generating electricity.

      Energy Solutions: Nuclear

      Should nuclear energy be harnessed to mitigate climate change?

    • Onshore wind farm generating electricity.

      Energy Solutions: Wind and Solar

      Can wind and solar energy illuminate new ways of dealing with climate change?

    • Natural gas extraction plant.

      Energy Solutions: Natural Gas

      How can we harness natural gas to combat climate change?

    • A compact fluorescent lamp illuminating the dark.

      Energy Efficiency

      How efficient are cleaner sources of energy?

    • An Electric Vehicle (EV) being charged in the city.

      Electric Vehicles

      How are electric vehicles better for the environment?

    • The chemical formula (CO2) written in the sky.

      Carbon Capture and Storage

      What is carbon capture and sequestration?

    • A student making notes on a desk.

      End of Week 3

      Let's recap what was covered this week.

  • Week 4

    Human Creativity and Technological Innovation

    • Ideas and concepts being drawn on a glass board.

      Importance of Human Innovation

      Most accounts of climate change do not factor the power of human innovation. How could it move the needle on climate progress?

    • A magazine article encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit.

      Entrepreneurship

      If innovation is important, then entrepreneurs are the central actors in society. Indeed, environmental entrepreneurship promises a new wave of progress in our fight to improve the climate.

    • Puffs of clouds.

      Geoengineering

      Geoengineering is one example of human ingenuity. While still in its early stages of research, one wonders what role it will play in the future.

    • Group of people working together.

      The Importance of Local Decentralisation

      Central governments may often be too removed from the local environment. Local, ground-up solutions can prove to be more effective in mitigating climate change.

    • End of Week 4

      Let's recap what was covered this week.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply economic theories and frameworks to environmental issues
  • Explain how climate change is a public policy issue
  • Evaluate different climate policies and their effectiveness
  • Discuss the social and political challenges of climate change
  • Compare the commercial and environmental attributes of various energy solutions
  • Describe how market processes and human innovation achieve good environmental outcomes

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in climate change or public policy. It will be especially useful for students pursuing economics, political science, public policy, or sociology, and for professionals working in environmental and resources sectors.

Who will you learn with?

Bryan Cheang

Dr. Bryan Cheang is an academic political economist from King's College London. His research is on economic development and public policy. He also is the Founder of the Adam Smith Center, Singapore.

Jordan McGillis

Jordan McGillis serves as the Deputy Director of Policy for the Institute for Energy Research. He is an expert on global energy trends, international climate negotiations and climate change policy.

Who developed the course?

Adam Smith Center logo

Adam Smith Center

The Adam Smith Center is an independent, non-profit organisation in Singapore dedicated to economics and public policy education.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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