Professor Emerita of Environment and Sustainability
Climate Change and Adaptation
What You'll Learn
- Critically analyze the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change, and their relationship with development and adaptation.
- Explain different definitions of adaptation and show how each connects to development across different levels of decision-making and governance.
- Synthesize and integrate multiple disciplines and methods to design and evaluate sustainability solutions.
- Understand the implications of different adaptation actions for climate justice.
5 Modules
25 Hours
5 hrs per module (approx.)
About Climate Change and Adaptation
Climate change hits hardest where people and environments are most vulnerable. Adapting to it is as much a social challenge as a technical one. In "Climate Change & Adaptation," you'll explore the social dimensions of adaptation and how it shapes livelihoods, especially in less-developed regions.
The course examines the concepts at the heart of climate adaptation and impacts: vulnerability and resilience, the ways human societies have historically adapted to climate variability and change, and future adaptation needs that will shape development to come.
This is the second course in the "Climate Solutions" series, a three-course series on addressing climate change with innovative, community-centered strategies that protect biodiversity for the benefit of all.
Skills You'll Gain
- Environmental Economics
- Environmental Health Management
- Environmental Science
- Sustainability Initiatives
- Sustainability Procedures
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Climate Change Adaptation and Development. As you begin this course, take a moment to review the syllabus below to better understand the course goals, expectations, assessment methods, policies, and the support resources available to you throughout your learning experience.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change & Adaptation
- Lesson 1: Introduction to the Course
- Reading: Welcome to the Course!
- Reading: Course Syllabus
- Video: Meet your Instructor
- Reading: Pre-Course Survey
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce Yourself!
- Lesson 2: Adaptation & Development in the SDGs
- Video: Scoping Adaptation & Development in SDG 13 and Beyond
- Reading: Exploring Adaptation & Development in the SDGs
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Findings From Your SDG Exploration
- Reading: Understanding Climate Change & Adaptation in the SDGs
- Lesson 3: Understanding Climate Change and Modeling Approaches
- Video: What is Climate Change? (Guest Lecture)
- Discussion Prompt: How is Climate Change Affecting Your Life?
- Reading: Deeper Dive Into Climate Modeling
- Lesson 4: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Sustainable Development
- Reading: What is the IPCC?
- Video: Drivers of Climate Change
- Video: Defining Vulnerability
- Video: Responses to Climate Change
- Discussion Prompt: Global Climate Change and You
- Graded: Module 1 Quiz
Module 2: Impacts of Climate Change on Water
- Lesson 1: Adaptation & Management
- Video: State of Water Worldwide
- Video: Impacts of Climate Change on the Water Cycle
- Reading: Our World in Data Exploration - Clean Water
- Discussion Prompt: Trends in Water Around the World
- Video: Water Governance and Climate Change
- Video: Introduction to the Cochabamba Water War
- Reading: Gala Case: Water Privatization in Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Discussion Prompt: Cochabamba Water War Wrap-Up
- Lesson 2: Water Cycle
- Video: Integrated Water Resources Management
- Reading: Integrated Water Resources Management Reading
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on Integrated Water Resources Management Readings
- Video: Introduction to Cape Town's "Day Zero"
- Reading: Gala Case: Cape Town Water Crisis
- Reading: Introduction to the Gallery Tool
- Graded: Gallery: Lessons Learned from "Day Zero"
- Graded: Module 2 Quiz
Module 3: Adaptation & Disasters
- Lesson 1: Climate-Driven Disasters, Development, and Risk Management
- Video: Climate-Driven Disasters, Development, and Risk Management
- Video: The Costs of Disaster
- Lesson 2: Adaptive Development
- Video: Adaptive Development
- Reading: New Dimensions in Disaster Risk, Exposure, Vulnerability, and Resilience
- Discussion Prompt: Reflections on "New Dimensions in Disaster Risk, Exposure, Vulnerability, and Resilience"
- Video: Disaster in Bangladesh
- Discussion Prompt: Gender Relations and Disaster Vulnerability
- Reading: Firsthand Account of Impacts of Flooding
- Reading: Gala Case: Implementing Poverty Alleviation Interventions Among the Ultra-Poor
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on the Gala Case
- Lesson 3: Disaster & Inequality
- Video: Disaster & Inequality
- Discussion Prompt: Considering Disasters' Varying Impacts on Different Countries
- Lesson 4: Disaster Management & Relief
- Video: Disaster Management & Relief
- Graded: Module 3 Quiz
Module 4: Adaptation in Urban & Rural Setting
- Lesson 1: Impact of Climate Change on Cities
- Video: The Importance of Cities + Impacts of Climate Change on Cities
- Reading: Our World in Data Exploration - Urbanization
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Findings from Our World In Data
- Lesson 2: Impact of Climate Change on Rural Settings
- Video: Importance of Rural Livelihoods
- Lesson 3: Building Adaptive Capacity
- Video: Building Adaptive Capacity
- Video: Case Study: Lagos, Nigeria
- Reading: Flooding in Lagos (Urban Example)
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on Lagos Example
- Video: Case Study: Northeast Brazil
- Reading: Gala Case: Climate & Development in Northeast Brazil (Rural Example)
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on the Gala Case
- Graded: Module 4 Quiz
- Lesson 4: Responses to Climate Change in Urban and Rural Settings
- Video: Solutions to Climate Change
- Reading: The Netherlands' Adaptation to Climate Change
Module 5: Climate-Resilient Pathways
- Lesson 1: Climate-Resilient Pathways
- Video: Frameworks
- Video: Climate-Resilient Pathways
- Video: Solutions
- Video: A Call to Action
- Lesson 2: Tell an Adaptation Story
- Reading: Introduction to the Task
- Reading: Adaptation Story Requirements
- Graded: Tell an Adaptation Story
- Lesson 3: Course Wrap-Up
- Reading: Post-Course Survey
- Reading: Keep Learning with Michigan Online
Grading Policy
To pass this course, learners must achieve an overall grade of 80% or higher. There are four module-level quizzes worth 15% each (60% total), one graded gallery activity worth 10%, and one peer-reviewed assignment worth 30% of the final grade.
Lecturer III in Environment and Sustainability
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No degree or prior experience required. Anyone interested in climate solutions, innovation, or global development can succeed in the course.
