The Climate-Energy Challenge

This course will examine future climate change in the context of Earth history, and then consider various strategies for what might be done to deal with it. The likely impact of continued greenhouse gas emissions will be explored, emphasizing the scientific uncertainties associated with various predictions, and how this can be understood in the context of risk.

• Explore how scientists measure ancient temperature and carbon dioxide levels
• Investigate the basic physics and chemistry that control climate
• Review the scientific basis for climate change predictions
• Identify impacts of climate change on human societies and natural ecosystems

• Learners should be familiar with basic algebra, chemistry and geometry (U.S. high school level or higher)