Climate change poses significant risks to all of humanity and raises profound questions about politics and ethics. This
module provides an introduction to key themes in social, political and moral aspects of climate change research. In so
doing, it provides a pathway for students taking the MA Climate Change to explore their particular interests and
concerns in order to pursue these in more detail in subsequent optional modules. Topics may include Justice and
Mitigation; Can Capitalism Cope with Climate Change?; Global Climate Governance; Unsustainable Consumption;
Carbon Offsetting; Justice and Adaptation; Security Narratives in the Politicisation of Climate Change; The Geopolitics
of Sustainable Energy Transformations; How Climate Change Challenges Current Political & Social Orthodoxies; The
Anthropocene; Colonialism, Race and Indigenous Perspectives; Loss and Damage; Geoengineering

The aim of this module is to introduce students to some of the key social, political and ethical questions posed by
climate change and to challenge students to think beyond technological approaches to climate change. The module
aims to equip students:
• to understand the political, social and moral questions raised by climate change and policies
aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change.
• to develop their abilities to construct, analyse and evaluate
arguments concerning how we should address these challenges around climate change in both theory and practice.
• to present their own arguments on these issues in a rigorous, empirically informed, systematic, and creative way.
• to develop their analytical skills and capacity to engage in political and normative theorising.

Learning outcomes
• Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of political issues around climate change, and arguments for and
against different policies in response to climate change, for example to promote adaptation and mitigation, and
ascertain their strengths and weaknesses
• Have the ability to apply the theories and arguments analysed in the module to some central questions about
climate politics facing contemporary societies.
• Demonstrate enhanced key skills such as written communication skills, problem solving, and information
technology skills.
• Construct and substantiate a comprehensive and sophisticated argument