Peqod :: Classes - Columbia University Catalog of Classes

Extreme climate and weather events can lead to cascading failures that can spread within and across socio-environmental systems and sectors, often disproportionally affecting underserved communities. Climate change is projected to lead to more frequent and more severe extreme weather events amplifying the likelihood of Complex Climate Risks through multivariate, concurrent and sequential climate extremes affecting societal systems (e.g., food, health, supply chains, finance) and critical infrastructure (e.g., water, energy, communication, transportation) in complicated ways that are challenging to anticipate and prepare for. Understanding and mitigating Complex Climate Risks in a changing climate in compliance with climate equity and justice requires joint efforts from a broad range of scientific communities across disciplines and temporal and spatial scales - from local to global extent, synoptic to decadal variability, and hazard characterization to detailed risk and impact assessment. In recognition that univariate risk assessments might fail to acknowledge amplified risks for societies, from inter-related hazards and affected sectors, a complex risk perspective is increasingly required in the context of understanding climate impacts, resilience and adaptation.

This course will provide an introduction to Complex Climate Risks by discussing recent frameworks developed to address them under current and future climate conditions. Several recent real-world eventsin which societal impacts were amplified by compounding climatic drivers and interactions with societal systems, leading to e.g. conflicts and migration, amplified mortality and failure of critical infrastructures are reviewed. Examples include the 2010 heatwave which caused increased mortality and harvest failures and their connection to the Arab Spring uprising a year later, the links of a year long with the Syrian Civil and the mass migration that followed in 2015 and the 2021 February Texas cold-spell that left millions without electricity and water for days under severe cold conditions in particular in poorer neighbourhoods. This course will provide the students with a thorough understanding of Complex Climate Risks, the typology of different compounding hazards and statistical approaches bridging the physical and societal spheres for a more integral climate risk assessment.

Guided by recent literature quantitative and qualitative frameworks that aim at assessing current and future climate risks to turn them into actionable informa

Department: Climate School
TR 6:15 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Kai Kornhuber
Info
1.5 points

Details

CLMT G5016

Building Equitable Community Partnership

Building Partnerships in

Disaster management is a continuum that is affected by decisions, investments and dynamics that occur before, during and after disasters. The issue of equity in disaster management is emerging from an abundance of evidence that shows that societal inequities often translate into inequitable outcomes and disproportionate impacts from disasters. Community engagement strategies are often touted as a solution to the inequities, but many aspects of community participation are complex, with additional
effort and investments required for working with vulnerable and marginalized communities. Further, power dynamics between disaster experts and vulnerable communities may bias approaches to disaster management as well as representation within relevant power structures. This seminar is designed to provide an introduction to some of the variables that impact vulnerability and inequity in disaster management, ultimately leading to inequitable outcomes. It also provides an overview of current and emerging strategies in community engagement designed to foster a “whole of community” approach to disaster management.

The purpose of this course is to prepare those entering the climate policy and practice workforce for addressing these challenges by providing an overview of issues of equity and building community partnerships in disaster management. At the end of this course learners will be able to:

Describe social determinants of disaster vulnerability and resilience

Describe how governance and financial structures can drive inequity in the disaster cycle

Identify whole community approaches for disaster management

Identify mechanisms to develop partnerships with underserved communities and emergent partners in disaster management

Demonstrate the ability to develop strategies for disaster management based on best practices for community engagement and addressing equity concerns.

Department: Climate School
TR 5:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
1.5 points

Details

CLMT GR5018

DATA ANALYSIS WITH PYTHON

Department: Summer Session (SUMM)
MW 9 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
Instructor: Gregory M Eirich
CULPA: 1 Info
3 points

Details

QMSS S5019

INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING

Department: School of Professional Studies (DVSP)
M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Andrew Blum
Info
3 points

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BUSI PS5020

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Department: Sustainability Management
MW 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Alexander Heil
Info
3 points

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SUMA PS5020

THEORY & PRACTICE OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSME

THEORY & PRAC OF LIFE CYC

Department: Sustainability Management
TR 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
Instructor: Adriana B Kliegman
Info
3 points

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SUMA PS5021

MARKETING STRATEGY

Department: School of Professional Studies (DVSP)
M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Sandy Becker
Info
3 points

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BUSI PS5025

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AND S

CORP SUST REPORTING & STR

Department: Sustainability Management
TR 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Carl A Otto
Info
3 points

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SUMA PS5025

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: DEVELOP/IMPLEMENT NEW

Department: School of Professional Studies (DVSP)
R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Michael E Jr McGuire
Info
3 points

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BUSI PS5030

Financing Renewable Energy

Department: Climate School
F 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Nadejda Zaets
CULPA: 3 Info
3 points

Details

CLMT G5031

DECISION MODELS & MANAGEMENT

DECISION MODELS & MGMT

Department: Sustainability Management
MW 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
Instructor: Lucius J Riccio
CULPA: 4 Info
3 points

Details

SUMA PS5033

GHG EMISSIONS: MEASURING AND MINIMIZING

GHG EMISSIONS CARBON FOOT

Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are now at a record high, and the world’s scientific community agrees that continued unabated release of greenhouse gases will have catastrophic consequences. Many efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, both public and private, have been underway for decades, yet it is now clear that collectively these efforts are failing, and that far more concerted efforts are necessary. In December 2015, the world’s nations agreed in Paris to take actions to limit the future increase in global temperatures well below to 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5°C. Achieving this goal will require mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors, both public and private. Critical to any attempt to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions is a clear, accurate understanding of the sources and levels of greenhouse gas emissions. This course will address all facets of greenhouse gas emissions accounting and reporting and will provide students with tangible skills needed to direct such efforts in the future.

Students in this course will gain hands-on experience designing and executing greenhouse gas emissions inventories for companies, financial institutions and governments employing all necessary skills including the identification of analysis boundaries, data collection, calculation of emissions levels, and reporting of results. In-class workshops and exercises will complement papers and group assignments. A key component of this course will be critical evaluation of both existing accounting and reporting standards as well as GHG emissions reduction target setting practices.

This course will introduce many of the challenges facing carbon accounting practitioners and will require students to recommend solutions to these challenges derived through critical analysis. Classes will examine current examples of greenhouse gas reporting efforts and will allow students the opportunity to recommend improved calculation and reporting methods.

Department: Sustainability Management
TR 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
3 points

Details

SUMA PS5035