Climate Change - Effects on the Landscape and Potential Solutions
Climate change is a global problem but the associated challenges are often felt and addressed locally. This course will give you the theoretical background and practical tools to help communities tackle challenges related to planning and managing their landscapes in the face of climate change. You will learn about options for planning and design of the physical landscape, for example through blue-green infrastructure like green roofs, rain gardens, and street trees to reduce the impacts of flooding, urban heat island effect, and other threats amplified by climate change.
After an introduction to climatology and climate science through reading, lectures and group discussion, you will learn from experts on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. The course culminates in a problem-based project, where you will work with students from different disciplines to identify a local climate-change related challenge and present a strategy to address the challenge. The course is suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds, including spatial planning, landscape architecture, landscape engineering, geography, ecology, and environmental science.
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is not yet activated
The course evaluation is open between 2025-03-17 and 2025-04-07
Additional course evaluations for LK0401
Academic year 2023/2024
Climate Change - Effects on the Landscape and Potential Solutions (LK0401-30121)
2024-01-15 - 2024-03-19
Academic year 2022/2023
Climate Change - Effects on the Landscape and Potential Solutions (LK0401-30003)
2023-01-16 - 2023-03-21
Academic year 2021/2022
Climate Change - Effects on the Landscape and Potential Solutions (LK0401-30240)
2022-01-17 - 2022-03-23
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
LK0401 Climate Change - Effects on the Landscape and Potential Solutions, 15.0 Credits
Klimatförändringar - effekter på landskapet och möjliga lösningarSubjects
Horticultural Science Landscape Architecture Landscape Architecture Horticultural scienceEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelModules
Title | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
Single module | 15.0 | 0001 |
Advanced study in the main field
First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G2F)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 60 credits in some combination of the following subjects:• architecture
• landscape architecture
• built environment
• design
• spatial planning
• geography
• landscape science
• environmental science
• ecology
• biology
• forest science
• horticulture
• agricultural science
and English B or equivalent.
Objectives
After the course the student should be able to:
• explain and demonstrate the main mechanisms underpinning global climate patterns and climate change
• explain potential direct and indirect effects of climate changes for local landscapes
• generate and explain defensible strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation for neighbourhoods, cities and landscapes
• provide support for adequate communications on mitigation and adaptation to climate changes
Content
This course offers a broad introduction to climate change effects and potential solutions at spatial scales ranging from global to local, with a focus primarily on the neighbourhood, city and landscape scales at which many planning and management decisions are made and carried out. Topics addressed during the course include Introduction to Climatology and Climate Change Science; Speed of human caused climate changes; Direct and indirect effects; How can we mitigate climate changes? How can we adapt society to changes? Local strategies for mitigation and adaptation; How can climate change strategies support Sustainable Development? How can nature-based solutions (green roofs, rain gardens, street trees etc.) help with urban adaptation? What is required for communication on mitigation and adaptation to climate changes to be effective?
The course comprises lectures, exercises (compulsory), project work: planning and presentation (compulsory), group assignments and literature studies.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Assessment is based on performance in written examination, seminars, exercises and project work.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management
Further information
Litterature list
1. An Introduction to Physical geography and the Environment. Fourth edition.** Author: Holden J (editor) ISBN:** 9781292083575 Description: Chapters 3.4, 5.1-5.2, 6-9, 10.4, 13, 22 and 26 [204 pages]
2. Urban adaptation in Europe: how cities and towns respond to climate change Author: European Environment Agency ISBN: ISBN 978-92-9480-270-5 [Urban adaptation in Europe: how cities and towns respond to climate change] (https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/urban-adaptation-in-europe Compendium Description: Set of publications and hand-outs, approximately 300 pages