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  4. Environment and Global Changes

Environment and Global Changes

Objectives

1. To know Man’'s impact on the Environment;
2. To identify to the main environmental problems of the present and its consequences;
3. To characterize the main modifications of the environment and its evolution;
4. To perceive the relevance of the climate change in the Environment;
5. To relate Man’'s interference on the environment with the global changes;
6. To evaluate the implementation of adaptation and mitigation policies.

General characterization

Code

722041025

Credits

10.0

Responsible teacher

José Eduardo Silvério Ventura

Hours

Weekly - 3

Total - 280

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

None.

Bibliography

Brown, L. R. (2006). Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and Civilization in Trouble. Nova York: Earth Policy Institute, pp. 3-40.
Goudie, A. (2000). The Human Impact on the Natural Environment (5ª ed.). Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 1-36 e 419-433.
IPPC (2021). Climate Change 2021. The Physical Science Basis. Six Assessment Report. WMO/UNEP (disponível em: ippc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/).
Reid, H. (2014). Climate Change and Human Development. London: Zed Books, pp. 1- 17 e 223-250.
Santos, F. D. (2016). 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.
Wagner, G. Weitzman, M. L. (2016). Choque climático. As Consequências económicas de um planeta mais quente. Lisboa: Bertrand Editora, 123-150.

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

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

Subject matter

1. Introduction to the main 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.