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University of Iceland1

Course Announcement. Climate Adaptation Policy

Thu, May 31, 2012
This Ph.D. course, Climate Adaptation Policy, is Organized by the NORD-STAR Graduate Training Program, 13-17 Agust 2012 at  the University of Iceland, Reykjavik (5 ECTS credits).
Course leaders: Professor Björn-Ola Linnér, Linköping University, Professor Richard Klein, Stockolm Environment Institute and Linköping University
Organizers: NORD-STAR and University of Iceland

Lecturers:
Dr. Anentt Möhner, UNFCCC
Dr. Don Lemmen, Natural Resources Canada
Professor Roger Pielke, University of Colarado
Professor Björn-Ola Linnér, Linköping University
Professor Brynhildur Davidsdottir, University of Iceland
Professor Carina Keskitalo, Umeå University
Dr. Harro van Asselt, Stockholm Environment Institute
Professor Mette Termansen, Aarhus University
Professor Michael Goodsite, Aarhus University
Professor Richard Klein, Stockholm Environment Institute and Linköping University
Dr. Sirrku Juhola, Aalto University

Lecturer topics, examples
  • Adaptation under the UNFCCC
  • Adaptation assessment, planning and implementation in Canada
  • Analyses of linkages between adaptation and other policy areas
  • Arctic adaptation
  • Decision-making under uncertainty
  • EU member state adaptation policy
  • Experts decision making
  • Extreme events: costs and policies
  • Legal aspects of Climate Policy
  • Panel discussion on international climate policy
  • The development of adaptation policy
Content of the course
The course will cover the following topics:
  • Research on and for climate adaptation: methodological and theoretical perspectives.
  • Adaptation needs: how are they identified, how can they be followed up.
  • Adaptation policy and decision-making: rationale, goals, governance and implementation.
  • Adaptation challenges: uncertainties in climate change impacts, financing, economic development, energy access.
  • Economics of climate adaptation.
  • Examples from the Nordic Countries, the EU, North America, Africa.
  • Adaptation and its links to the mitigation, energy security, land use, social development, infrastructure, including consideration of trade-offs and co-benefits.
Learning objectives

Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course the participants should be able to:
  • Identify key issues in adaptation policy
  • Define and discuss key concepts related to climate adaptation used in policy discussions and in the research community
Skills and abilities
On completion of the course participants should have:
  • Ability to formulate relevant research questions and evaluate the applicability of scientific studies on adaptation to different policy levels.
  • Ability to participate effectively in discussions and analysis of adaptation policy.
  • Ability to assess current and future challenges for adaptation policy through scientific analysis.
Organization
The course Climate Adaptation Policy is organized by the Nordic Centre of Excellence for Strategic Adaptation Research (NORD-STAR, www.nord-star.info) within the Nordforsk top-level research initiative. Prof. Björn-Ola Linnér and Prof. Richard Klein are responsible for the course. It is hosted by the University of Iceland in Reykjavik.
The 5 ECTS credits course involves a five-day programme in Iceland, which includes lectures, working groups discussions and a field trip. In addition participants are required to read relevant literature and prepare a short paper beforehand. The papers will be reviewed by the lecturers as well as other students before the course and discussed during the course. The papers will be revised and resubmitted after the course based on the reviews and the lectures.

Costs
The course is free for all Ph.D. candidates affiliated with NORD-STAR. Registration fee for others is 4000 DK, but a limited number of scholarships is available. Participants cover their own travel and accommodation.

Contact
For more information and applications please contact: Ms. Bjargey Gudbrandsdottir, University of Iceland, email: umhverfi@hi.is. Or visit our website www.nord-star.info
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