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Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 18 hours
  • Course by University of Cape Town
  • Offered by

About

This course challenges you to consider how one might lift societies out of poverty while also mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. We explore the inherent complexity of developing country governments wanting to grow their economies in a climate-friendly way. You will be introduced to an approach with which to address this challenge. The approach consists of a facilitated process whereby academic researchers and high-level influential actors within society co-produce knowledge. You will track this process in four Latin American countries - Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and South Africa. You will hear from various professionals about their contexts and the different challenges and opportunities the process includes. This course will cover topics such as facilitation process techniques, energy modeling, scenario building, innovation, and policy making. You will have the opportunity to respond to these topics with ideas and reflection from your own context. Whether you are a climate change practitioner, work in development, or are simply curious about how climate mitigation is understood, this course will give you insights into the complexity of how countries from the South pursue development goals while addressing climate mitigation. The course is free to enroll and take. You will be offered the option of purchasing a certificate of completion, which you become eligible for if you successfully complete the course requirements. This can be an excellent way of staying motivated! Financial Aid is also available.

Modules

Course introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Introduce yourself

1 Videos

  • Introduction to climate mitigation

2 Readings

  • Meet your instructors
  • How this course works

Complex problems

    • 3 Videos
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Complexity of climate change and development
  • Climate change - a super wicked problem
  • Our theory of change

Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios (MAPS)

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • MAPS 101: the MAPS approach

1 Readings

  • What is the MAPS programme?

What to do

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 1 Practice Quiz

1 Peer Review

  • Week 1 writing task: Complex problems

1 Discussions

  • Week 1: your questions on super wicked problems

1 Videos

  • Reflection and what's next

1 Readings

  • Week 1: Resources

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Change and how it happens

1 Videos

  • Introduction: change through co-production of knowledge

Facilitating change

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Motivating change agents in a system

Building scenarios

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 2 Practice Quiz

5 Videos

  • Designing the scenario building process
  • Building scenarios for mitigating climate change
  • Process design in Brazil
  • Using the Chaordic Stepping Stones process
  • Reflection

What to do

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 2: Mandating and co-production of knowledge

1 Videos

  • What's next

1 Readings

  • Week 2: Resources

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Seeking and producing research

1 Videos

  • Introduction

Climate modelling

    • 3 Videos
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Types of models
  • Model selection and sourcing of data
  • Communicating the model outputs

Research community

    • 3 Videos
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Who does the modelling?
  • Building development pathways in Peru
  • Reflection

What to do

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 3 Practice Quiz

1 Peer Review

  • Week 3: Models for your greenhouse gas emissions

1 Discussions

  • Week 3: your questions on research and modelling

1 Videos

  • What's next

1 Readings

  • Week 3: Resources

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Learning from setbacks and failure

1 Videos

  • Introduction: mind the gap

Understanding the gap

    • 3 Videos
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Defining the mitigation gap: global carbon budget
  • Developing national required-by-science and equity scenarios
  • Realising the mitigation gap scenario results

Technical and political reasons

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 4 Practice Quiz

4 Videos

  • Reasons for the gap: technical perspective
  • Reasons for the gap: political perspective (part 1)
  • Reasons for the gap: political perspective (part 2)
  • Reflection: learning from failures

1 Readings

  • Technical and political examples

What to do

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 4: Minding the mitigation gap

1 Discussions

  • Week 4: your questions on the mitigation gap

1 Videos

  • What's next?

1 Readings

  • Week 4: Resources

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Thinking and innovating

1 Videos

  • Introduction: responding to mitigation challenges

Global scale initiatives

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Improving tools
  • Looking at science

1 Readings

  • Technical and systemic approaches

Local scale initiatives

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • New perspectives
  • Looking to the future
  • The next generation
  • Reflection

1 Readings

  • Responses at local and project levels

What to do

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 5 Practice Quiz

1 Peer Review

  • Week 5 writing task: Innovations

1 Discussions

  • Week 5: your questions on responding to mitigation challenges

1 Videos

  • What's next?

1 Readings

  • Week 5: Resources

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Developing a climate mitigation policy

1 Videos

  • Introduction: MAPS impacts on public policy

Towards domestic policy

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Bridge from knowledge to domestic policy
  • Knowledge on socio-economic implications of mitigation
  • Example on how MAPS Chile results were used for local pollutants domestic policy

1 Readings

  • Bridge from knowledge to domestic policy examples

Towards international policy

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 6 Practice Quiz

4 Videos

  • Sectoral mitigation action plan in Colombia
  • Use of evidence in the Colombian sectorial mitigation plans
  • Bridge from domestic policy to international contributions
  • MAPS Chile informing the INDC

1 Readings

  • Bridge from domestic policy to international contributions examples

What to do

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Sharing your written assignments

2 Videos

  • Climate Change Mitigation discussion with Harald
  • Reflection

Course wrap-up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Final exam

1 Videos

  • Course Conclusion

1 Readings

  • Week 6: Resources

Investigate policy that impacts on you

    • 1 PeerReview
Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

  • Honors writing task: Policies

Auto Summary

"Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries" is an insightful course within the Science & Engineering domain, designed to explore the intricate balance between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in developing nations. Led by expert instructors from Coursera, this course delves into the unique challenges faced by governments in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and South Africa as they strive to advance their economies sustainably. Participants will engage with a facilitated process that brings together academic researchers and high-level societal influencers to co-produce actionable knowledge. Through this journey, learners will gain practical skills in facilitation techniques, energy modeling, scenario building, innovation, and policy making, all while reflecting on their own contexts. Ideal for climate change practitioners, development professionals, and anyone interested in climate mitigation strategies, this professional-level course offers a free enrollment option, with the opportunity to earn a certificate of completion. Financial aid is also available to ensure accessibility. With a substantial duration of 1080 hours, this course promises a comprehensive and motivating learning experience.

Harald Winkler
Instructor

Harald Winkler