Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas

Environment and Global Changes

Code

722041025

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas

Department

Geografia e Planeamento Regional

Credits

10

Weekly hours

3 letivas + 1 tutorial

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

a) To know Man’s impact on the Environment;
b) To identify the main environmental problems of the present and its consequences;
c) To characterize the main environment changes, its evolution and global character;
d) To understand the relevance of the climate change in the Environment;
e) To relate Man’s interference on the environment with the global changes;
f) To evaluate the implementation of adaptation and mitigation policies.

Prerequisites

None.

Subject matter

1) Introduction to the key problem of the Environment and the global changes
2) Evolution of the Man’s intervention on the environment throughout the times
3) Global character of the relation between Man and Environment in the present
4) Main contemporary’s problems with repercussions at global level: population growth, pressure on resources and climate change
5) Man’s Intervention on the biosphere and its consequences on vegetation, soils, water, atmosphere, morphology, agriculture, human health
6) Climatic change, uncertainties, feedbacks, scenarios and its consequences
7) Measures/policies of adaptation and mitigation.

Bibliography

Brown, L. R. (2006). Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and Civilization in Trouble. Nova York: Earth Policy Intitute, pp. 3-40.

Goudie, A. (2000). The Human Impact on the Natural Environment (5ª ed.). Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 1-36 e 419-433.

Nordhaus, W. (2013). The Climate Casino: Risk, Uncertainty, and Economics for a Warming World. London: Yale University Press, pp.149-182.

Pittock, A. B. (2005). Climate Change. Turning up the Heat. Londres: Earthscan. pp.133-206.

Reid, H. (2014). Climate Change and Human Development. Londres: Zed Books, pp. 1- 17 e 223-250.

Santos, F. D. (2012). Alterações Globais. Os desafios e os riscos presentes e futuros. Lisboa: Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, pp 21-136 e 159-181.

Schipper, E. L. F. & Burton, I. (eds.) (2009). Adaptation to climate change. London: Earthscan, pp. 1-89.

Teaching method

- Theoretical lessons with presentation of the syllabus of Environment and Global Changes and encouraging the interaction student-teacher;
- Participative lessons, encouraging the interaction student-teacher and student-student with presentations by students on the seminar works;
- Research work supervising.

Evaluation method

- Reading of a set of thematic texts, evaluated in a written test: [40%]
- Elaboration of a written work or preparation of a study visit report: [15%)]
- Elaboration and presentation of a written work resulting from autonomous research and supported by diverse bibliography and documentary information: [35%]
- Participation: [10%]

[According to the FCSH Assessment Standards, the proposed evaluation elements to introduce students in the first class may suffer readjustments, particularly in the percentage of each element.]

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