Course for international guest/part time students

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Organization

TTK Department of Social and Economic Geography

Code

climatesspl20gx

Title

Climate change: science, society, politics

Usual semester

Autumn

Published semester

2026/27/1

ECTS

5

Language

en

Learning outcomes

Aim of course: climate change became a dominant environmental topic in the last two decades. Relatedly, our ideas has remarkably changed on the environment, environmental protection and policy. What is more, re-thinking the workings of science got new impetus, not to mention the several issues in society and economics. The aim of the course is to give an overview about the research in social science and science studies addressing the topic of climate change, to present those approaches and problem understandings, which help to present and to identify climate change as a social issue. The course has a specific aim to create a multi- and interdisciplinary atmosphere, which serve the analysis of climate change from different angels that could be fruitful for students with different scientific backgrounds.

Course content

Introduction. Approach of the course The concept of climate and the social history of climate Science history of climate change Science history of climate change in Hungary The performance of climate science Perception of climate change and weather Climate change discourses Climate change debates, climate skeptics Climate change communication The economics of climate change. Climate change and development Mitigation policy Adaptation policy Climate engineering, climate futures

Assessment method

Based on oral presentations of the students.

Bibliography

Castree, N. 2014. Making sense of nature. Representation, politics and democracy. Routledge, NY Dryzek, J. 1997. The politics of the earth: environmental discourses. Oxford University Press, Oxford Hulme, M. 2009. Why we disagree about climate change. Understanding controversy, inaction and opportunity. – Cambridge University Press, New York 392 p. Hulme, M. 2016. Weathered. Cultures of Climate. Kings College London, London Hulme, M. ed. 2020. Contemporary Climate Change Debates. A Student Primer. Routledge Pielke Jr., R.A. 2010. The Climate Fix. What Scientists and Politicians Won’t Tell You About Global Warming. Basic Books, New York Weart, S. R. 2008.The discovery of global warming. – Second Edition. Harvard University Press (Online version: http://www.aip.org/history/climate/index.html).

Programmes of the course