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IPCC Science - ENV00069M

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change under the auspices of the United Nations. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific information relevant to the understanding of climate change. This module aims to equip students with a detailed knowledge base of the latest IPCC assessment. Lectures will cover the main chapters of the Working Group 1 report (The Physical Science Basis), supplemented by material from the Working Group 2 (Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability) and Working Group 3 reports (Mitigation of Climate Change). Important new developments since the publication of the latest assessment reports will also be covered through discussion of recent journal papers.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module the student will have gained knowledge and skills as follows:

Subject content

  • The history of the IPCC, its principles and its process
  • Climate change scepticism
  • The Earth's climate system and human impacts
  • Quaternary climate and sea-level change
  • Recent changes in the oceans, cryosphere and atmosphere
  • Climate modelling
  • Climate impacts
  • Climate predictions

Academic and graduate skills

  • Ability to summarise and discuss current research in climate science
  • Application of climate science in post-graduate employment

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

Exam feedback form to be returned within 4 weeks of hand-in date.

Indicative reading

IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 1535 pp, doi:10.1017/CBO9781107415324.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.