MJ2476 Strategies in the Global Climate Agenda 6.0 credits

Course contents

The course will cover the following areas:

• The climate change threat and the international agenda for addressing the problem
  The theoretical part of the course gives the student background information about climate change and milestones in the development of the international climate agenda. Key concepts such as mitigation, adaptation, flexible mechanisms to the climate convention etc. are discussed. Climate change is analyzed in the context of various sectors, e.g. industrial, residential, commercial, energy, transport, agricultural and forestry. Different country perspectives are considered and various stakeholders’ perspectives reviewed (e.g., private sector, government, institutions, end-users and international agencies).

• Climate change mitigation tools and strategies
  The students will use analytical tools to evaluate opportunities for climate change mitigation. They will evaluate the flexible mechanisms used internationally including CDM, emissions trading schemes, etc, and analyze the impact of various mitigation measures. This also covers institutional/policy aspects and global partnership in the preparation of national climate change strategies. ‘Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)’ and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be discussed in the context of low-carbon and climate-resilient future.

• Climate change negotiations as a platform for reducing the climate threat
  The climate convention has set the stage for global climate policies. What is the role of these negotiations, how long have they reached and how far can they push for change?

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successfully completing the course, the student should be able to:

1. Explain climate change policies in different sectors and development contexts (developed     and developing nations) aimed at a low carbon and climate-resilient future
2. Calculate the effect of mitigation options (climate policy measures) using transparent and   harmonized GHG accounting procedures
3. Formulate strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at project and national level.
4. Evaluate the international perspective on climate change such as setting development   priorities, financing low-carbon projects, capacity building and technology transfer, and   development assistance 

5. Explain the roles of national and international stakeholders in the global climate change   agenda

Course disposition

A series of lectures and seminars are planned to meet the ILOs of the course. The course has 12 lectures (24 hours), 4 seminars, 2 project works, 1 interactive exercise, and 1 individual assessment. 

The lecture series include the following topics:

• Understanding of climate change science: issues and perceptions
• Climate change polices and its importance
• Measuring climate change mitigation: Lifecycle assessment and the need of a              harmonized system
• Different measures and tools for climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Low carbon transition: Tools for analysing emissions reduction projects         
• Low-Emission Development Strategies (LEDS)/ Nationally Determined Contributions      (NDCs)
• The role of bioenergy on climate change mitigation
• Climate change mitigation in the transport sector
• Corporate approach and finance to promote climate change measures
• The need for monitoring and verifying commitments under the Climate Convention and its protocols.

Specific prerequisites

The students should have good understanding of various energy technologies and interactions between the different parts in an energy system. The students should have basic knowledge about the global energy and climate agenda. 

Recommended prerequisites: MJ2413 "Energy and Environment" 6cr.
Good English skills are required.

Recommended prerequisites

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Equipment

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Literature

• The Special Report, on Global Warming of 1.5 °C , IPCC 2018: https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
• IPCC, 2011. Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press,
• United Nations / Framework Convention on Climate Change (2015). Adoption of the Paris Agreement. 21st Conference of the Parties, Paris: United Nations. Articles 2, 4, 5, and 14.
• Global Carbon Budget 2016. Earth System Science Data, 8, 605-649.
• United Nations General Assembly (2015). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Seventieth Session of the General Assembly, New York: United Nations Sustainable Development Summit. p1-6; 14-27. (21 pages)
• United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policymakers. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Rockström, J., et al., 2009. Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Ecology and Society 14, 2, 32. (23 pages)
• A new diplomacy for sustainable development, Bo Kjellen, 2008 Rautledge
• Daniel J. A. Johansson, U. Martin, P. and Christian A., 2006. The cost of using global warming potentials: Analysing the trade-off between CO2, CH4 and N2O. Climatic Change 77. pp. 291–309
• IPCC Assessments reports (I, II, II, IV,V), summary for policy makers: www.ipcc.ch
• Olsen, Karen Holm; Arens, Christof; Mersmann, Florian (2018). Learning from CDM SD tool experience for Article 6.4 in the Paris Agreement. Climate Policy.
• Lecture notes and handouts

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

• INL1 - Individual assignment, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• PROA - Project work 1, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• PROB - Project work 2, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• SEM1 - Seminar, 0.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Notes on activities:

Activity 1 - SEM1/Seminar 1: Analysis of climate policies in different sectoral and development contexts
Activity 2 - PROA/Project work 1: Transparent and harmonized GHG accounting for climate change mitigation
Activity 3 - PROB/Project work 2: Low carbon transition strategies: national actions and projects for emissions reduction
Activity 4 - INL1/Individual assignment 1: Multilateral negotiations on country positions and relevant actions to advance the implementation of the UNFCCC

Course activities and grading criteria is found in coursePM and can be updated for each course period.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

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Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

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Examiner

Dilip Khatiwada

Ethical approach

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Course web

Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.

Offered by

ITM/Energy Technology

Main field of study

Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

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