SSUD71-318: Climate Change: Adaptation and Resilience

This subject introduces Earth and Global Systems, climate mechanisms, ocean and atmospheric interactions and changes to those that will raise significant challenges for human survival.  Major issues include drought, desertification, rising temperatures, natural disasters, pandemics, loss of habitats and agricultural land. Rising sea levels and severe weather events will impact human habitation, cause forced migration, change food production, habitat loss and loss of animals and fish stocks. These changes will challenge health and economic systems, geopolitical boundaries, global communities, international law, and our treatment of others and the natural world. Forced population movement and migrations as well as changes in disease patterns will compound these problems, particularly with a growing world population. The subject provides a broad background to climate change and its associated problems so that people can face their future with a greater understanding of how to tackle a changing world. Based on this understanding, students are then introduced to the relationship between climate science and environmental management actions to address the impacts of a changing climate. Students will evaluate and develop strategies, policy objectives and the implementation of action plans for adaptation, mitigation and resilience. International organisations and agreements addressing climate change will be examined. The roles of governments, business and communities will be assessed.  Local, national and global action plans will be examined to provide a clear understanding of how this global issue is impacting on the future sustainability of the planet.