F1ES 4200 - Adaptation to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States

This course offers a critical introduction to the multiple challenges of SIDS in a changing climate, and to islanders' resilience and opportunities for adaptation in island contexts. The course first examines to what extent SIDS are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and identifies options for but also barriers to effective adaptation and more resilience. In a second part, the course focuses on three specific dimensions of adaptation : climate finance ; migration ; and the social construction of vulnerability and adaptation.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to

• understand the complexities of vulnerability to climate change impacts, and apply this to the unique situation of SIDS
• identify and critically evaluate different adaptation options, including migration;
• critique and position themselves vis-à-vis discourses of vulnerability, “sinking islands” and (mal-) adaptation.

Professional Skills

• Understanding of current adaptation discourses
• Understanding of current climate finance architecture and adaptation project proposals
• Evaluation of adaptation options from different perspectives

This course is a seminar: the focus is on acquiring skills, which implies active learning. The key to success is your preparation (i.e., reading the assigned papers), and active participation in in-class discussions and exercises.

The assessment consists of three parts:

First, you write a short mid-term paper around the GCF simulation exercise. The mid-term paper consists of two parts, of no more than 1.5 pages each: a position paper, in which you outline your assessment and ranking of the proposed adaptation projects; and a reflection paper, in which you reflect the exercise and develop your personal position on the adaptation projects and GCF funding. The mid-term paper is due on 18 March, and must not exceed 3 pages. The mid-term paper represents 25% of the final mark, and has to be submitted through Moodle as a pdf named “lastname_firstname_midterm.pdf”.

Second, you work by yourself or in groups of up to 3 students on a research question of your choice, and present your work in the form of a poster on the last day of class. The research question must be communicated by 25 February, and approved by me (via Moodle). This is your opportunity to get some feedback and advice on the question you want to address, and how to address it. You will present the poster on the last day of class (15 April), and will then submit a final version by 30 April. The poster represents 50% of the final mark, and must also be submitted through Moodle as pdf named “lastname[s]_poster.pdf”.

Third, you are expected to come prepared to class (by reading one of the assigned readings) and participate actively in class discussions and exercises. You will document in your participation and how it affects your learning at the end of each session, and prepare a one-page reflection on your active participation, including a suggested mark for your participation and a justification of this mark. This reflection is due by 20 April, and counts for 25% of the final mark. It must also be submitted through Moodle as a pdf named “lastname_firstname_participation.pdf”.

-In session: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

-Reading and Preparation for course: ca. 4 hours a week / 50 hours a semester

-Research and Preparation for Group Work: 20 hours a semester

-Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 50 hours a semester