Everything You Wanted to Know About Climate Change But Were Afraid to Ask

Understanding a world systems problem as complex, multilayered, and fundamentally chaotic as climate change may seem a tall order. Even so, it appears to be a civic duty for those of us concerned about the fate of the earth, our species, and the biosphere over the next century and more. This course will attempt to demystify and deconstruct this “wicked problem”, through the analysis of different sectors of the economy such as energy, manufacturing, and agriculture. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of actionable, tractable strategies to combat climate change effectively that can be implemented by individuals or organizations. Students will come out of the course with an enhanced understanding of a slow-motion crisis unfolding in real-time, that is both planet-wide and deeply personal; while striving for a more granular understanding of potential projects or policy prescriptions that may contribute, however modestly, to treating the issue.