99634 - Development and Climate Change

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the complex phenomenon of climate change, as well as an understanding of the main interdependencies between the economic and political aspects and the local, supranational and global dimensions. At the end of the course, students will be able to: a) identify the main consequences on some areas of the economy, society and international politics; b) describe the origins and evolution of international agreements and programmes aimed at addressing the problem of climate change; c) understand the impact of climate change on different regions/areas of the world; d) critically analyze the effects of climate change on political and economic development, with particular attention to the impact on poverty.

Course contents

Climate change is no longer a distant environmental challenge but a defining issue for global development and international politics. Recent events – including the unprecedented spring heatwave affecting the United States and Mexico in 2026, record-breaking early summer heatwaves across Europe in June 2026, prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa, and increasingly frequent and destructive floods and tropical cyclones worldwide – highlight how anthropogenic climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. The urgency of accelerating both climate change mitigation and adaptation has never been greater. At the same time, the impacts of climate change and the capacity to respond are shaped not only by climate policies but also by patterns of demographic change, socioeconomic development, governance and inequality.

This course provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of climate change and its interactions with development, population, society and public policy across local, national and global scales. The course is organised around five interconnected themes, covering the scientific basis of climate change, its links with sustainable development and population dynamics, its impacts on society, and the policy and governance responses needed to achieve climate resilience and sustainable development.

1. Climate change and sustainable development

• Climate science and observed climate change
• Climate change, development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Climate mitigation and adaptation

2. Population dynamics and climate change

• Population growth, ageing and urbanisation
• The role of population dynamics in climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Population heterogeneity, inequality and differential vulnerability

3. Climate change impacts on population and society

• Health
• Migration and displacement
• Food security and livelihoods
• Human development and poverty

4. Climate justice and governance

• International climate agreements and institutions
• Climate justice and equity
• Intergenerational and gender perspectives
• Just transition and climate policy
• Geoengineering: opportunities and challenges

5. Climate action

• Climate action in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. explain the interactions between climate change, development, and global political and economic processes;
2. describe the origins and evolution of international climate agreements, institutions and policy responses to climate change;
3. analyse how climate change affects different regions and sectors – including health, migration, food security, and human development – and evaluate the implications for sustainable development;
4. critically assess how inequalities, demographic characteristics and local socioeconomic conditions shape vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change across countries and population groups.
   

NOTE: ONLY MASTER’S LEVEL STUDENTS CAN ATTEND THIS COURSE. THIS APPLIES TO BOTH HOME AND ERASMUS STUDENTS.

Readings/Bibliography

Adger, W. N., Fransen, S., Safra de Campos, R., & Clark, W. C. (2024). Migration and sustainable development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(3), e2206193121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2206193121

Hunter, L. M., Gray, C., & Véron, J. (Eds.). (2022). International Handbook of Population and Environment. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76433-3_1

Leichenko, R., & O’Brien, K. (2019). Climate and Society: Transforming the Future (1st edition.). Cambridge UK: Polity.

Muttarak, R. (2021). Demographic perspectives in research on global environmental change. Population Studies, 75(sup1), 77–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2021.1988684

For an accessible introduction to climate science, see:

Marvel, K. (2025). Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet. New York, NY: Ecco.

Teaching methods

Face-to-face/on line lessons, seminars and in-class presentations and discussions.

Lecture: 8 two-hour lectures with slides (total 16 hours)

Seminar: 6 two-hour seminars (total 12 hours)

The course will use the platform virtuale.unibo.it, students are required to register on the platform

Assessment methods

Attending students

For students attending class regularly, the final evaluation will be composed by two parts:

1. Group or individual project/assignment. Instructions on the project will be distributed in class. (45% of the final grade)
2. Final exam (55% of the final grade)

Non-attending students

For those who do not attend the classes, the final evaluation will be composed by two parts:

1. Oral exam will be based on the recommended readings for the seminar (available in the virtual platform) (45% of the final grade)
2. Final exam (55% of the final grade)

Teaching tools

Slides, videos, virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Raya Muttarak