Environment and Global Changes
Objectives
a) To know Man’s impact on the Environment;
b) To identify to the main environmental problems of the present and its consequences;
c) To characterize the main environment changes, its evolution and global character;
d) To perceive 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.
General characterization
Code
722041025
Credits
10.0
Responsible teacher
Maria José Leitão Barroso Roxo
Hours
Weekly - 3
Total - 280
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
- 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/).
- Nordhaus, W. (2013). The Climate Casino: Risk, Uncertainty, and Economics for a Warming World. London: YaleUniversity Press. pp.149-182.
- Reid, H. (2014). Climate Change and Human Development. Londres: Zed Books. pp. 1- 17 e 223-250.
- Santos, F. D. (2016). Alterações Globais. Os desafios e os riscos presentes e futuros. Lisboa: Fundação FranciscoManuel dos Santos. pp 21-136 e 159-181.
- Silva, J. A. (Coord.) (2020). "As Alterações Climáticas. Os Desafios para Portugal depois do Acordo de Paris".Lisboa:Edições Colibri. 151p.
- 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-instructor;
- Participative lessons, encouraging the interaction student-instructor and student-student with presentations by students on the seminar works
- Research work supervising
Evaluation method
Continuous assessment - Oral presentation of a topic within the UC with preparation of record (including title, plan, key words, abstract and bibliography(20%), Participation. (5%) + Assiduity. (5%)(10%), Reading of a set of thematic texts, which will be assessed in a written test. (35%) + Preparation of a written essay with oral presentation based on bibliography and diverse documental information,resulting from autonomous research. (35%)(70%)
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 andclimate 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.