ENS 430 Human Dimensions of Climate Change
Questions that address whether the climate is changing and whether humans have a significant role in these changes are questions for science, but at the same time, they are questions with strong human dimensions. Using theory and methods from ethics, economics, sociology, politics, literature, communication, and religion, this class pushes students to grapple with how humans are changing the climate, and what these changes mean for human life. Some human institutions are more vulnerable, and others more resilient, to the impacts of climate change. This class considers questions like the following: How does climate science get communicated, and what is the meaning of words like consensus or tipping point? How will climate change manifest itself in human communities? How are these communities responding politically, economically, and socially to mitigate and adapt to future changes?
Prerequisite
ENS 210 and sophomore standing or higher, or permission of the instructor.