ZA334 Social aspects of climate change

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Tomáš Chabada, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lukáš Dolák, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies (50,00 %), Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science (50,00 %)
Prerequisites
The course is intended for postgraduate (MSc) students. General knowledge of climate change and its impacts is required to attend the course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to discuss the problem of climate change from a social science perspective and to develop the competence of students to interpret and understand climate change from this perspective. The course is strongly focused on current events regarding climate change and presupposes the active involvement of students in the form of a discussion on this event. The collective and individual work will result in the capability to search, interpret and critically discuss particular topics regarding climate change.
Learning outcomes
Students are familiar with the theoretical and terminological basis of social sciences concerning climate change. Students are oriented within recent research and a discussion in the social sciences studies of climate change. Students are able to reflect and analyze various perspectives on selected topics associated with climate change. Students can better understand barriers and benefits which influence climate change behaviour. Students can apply acquired knowledge in climate change communication to the public.
Syllabus
  • 1. Theoretical approaches to the study of climate change
  • 2. Modernity, risk society and climate change
  • 3. Climate crisis as a cultural problem
  • 4. Psychology of climate change
  • 5. Climate change as a sociological problem
  • 6. Climate attitudes and behaviour of public I.
  • 7. Climate attitudes and behaviour of public II.
  • 8. Trends in public opinion about climate change I.
  • 9. Trends in public opinion about climate change II.
  • 10. Climate change movement: History and contemporary trends
  • 11. Climate justice issues
  • 12.Climate change communication I.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BEATTIE, Geoffrey; MCGUIRE, Laura. The psychology of climate change. Routledge, 2018, 122. ISBN 9781138484528.
  • CLAYTON, Susan; MANNING, Christie (ed.). Psychology and climate change: Human perceptions, impacts, and responses. Academic Press, 2018, 312. ISBN 9780128131305.
  • DIETZ, Thomas; SHWOM, Rachael L.; WHITLEY, Cameron T. Climate change and society. Annual Review of Sociology, 2020, 46: 135-158.
  • HULME, Mike. Why we disagree about climate change : understanding controversy, inaction and opportunity. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2009, xxxix, 392. ISBN 9780521898690. info
  • NORGAARD, Kari Marie. The sociological imagination in a time of climate change. Global and Planetary Change, 2018, 163: 171-176.
  • SMITH, Philip and Nicolas HOWE. Climate change as social drama : global warming in the public sphere. First published. New York: Cambridge university press, 2015, vii, 242. ISBN 9781107503052. info
  • WELCH-DEVINE, Meredith; SOURDRIL, Anne; BURKE, Brian J. (ed.). Changing climate, changing worlds: local knowledge and the challenges of social and ecological change. Suiza: Springer, 2020, 266. ISBN 9783030373122.
  • YUSUF, Juita-Elena Wie; JOHN III, Burton St (ed.). Communicating Climate Change: Making Environmental Messaging Accessible. Routledge, 2021, 230. ISBN 9780367479534.
Teaching methods
Lectures, problem task solving, experience sharing, discussions, self-experiencing activities, individual readings and homework.
Assessment methods
The course assessment will be conducted continuously during the semester. Students are expected to participate in the discussions actively.
The evaluation comprises:
1) Group presentation
2) Essay
3) Final exam
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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