Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation

Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation

This course is part of Climate Change and Global Affairs Specialization

Instructor: CFR Education

Included with Coursera Plus

Learn more

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

27 hours to complete

3 weeks at 9 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

27 hours to complete

3 weeks at 9 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How climate change is impacting humans and environments around the world.
How humans can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity.
How humans can limit damage caused by climate change and adapt to a warming world.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

16 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Climate Change and Global Affairs Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

There are 6 modules in this course

Climate change—or what many refer to as global warming—is one of the most significant threats that humanity faces.

"Climate Change and Global Affairs: Mitigation and Adaptation" explores the impacts of climate change worldwide, alongside the strategies available to address this global threat. After completing this course, learners will be able to identify and explain climate change's impacts on humans and the environment, evaluate existing pathways for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, assess different strategies to adapt to climate change's many effects, and evaluate emerging technological approaches to combating climate change. By enrolling in this course, you join a host of policymakers, professionals, and students committed to addressing climate change. By tackling this global challenge, we work to build a more sustainable future.

In this introductory module, we discuss course aims, organization, and measures for assessment. By familiarizing themselves with this material, learners will prepare themselves for success in later, more content-driven modules.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 discussion prompt

In the context of climate change, mitigation refers to the policies and actions that are meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit future warming. Module Two explores the different ways humans emit greenhouse gases, as well as the various steps and strategies that exist to mitigate these emissions. Key areas of exploration include: industry, energy systems, buildings, transportation, and agriculture and land use.

What's included

6 videos19 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 30 minutes

Before You Begin2 minutesPreview module
Renewable Energy Sources: How They Work7 minutes
Industry Sector Emissions: What is Causing Them?6 minutes
How Does the Agriculture and Land Use Sector Create Greenhouse Gas Emissions?6 minutes
How does the Transportation Sector Emit Greenhouse Gases?3 minutes
How Does the Buildings Sector Cause Greenhouse Gas Emissions?3 minutes

19 readingsTotal 195 minutes

Introduction to Module Two10 minutes
How to Lower Energy-Sector Emissions10 minutes
Energy-Sector Mitigation: What’s Holding Us Back?10 minutes
What Are Humans Doing to Mitigate Energy-Sector Emissions?10 minutes
How Can the World Work Together on Greener Energy?10 minutes
How to Lower Industry-Sector Emissions10 minutes
Industry-Sector Mitigation: What Can Be Done?10 minutes
What is Holding Back Industry-Sector Mitigation?10 minutes
What is Being Done?10 minutes
How to Lower Agriculture and Land-Use Emissions10 minutes
How to Reduce Agriculture and Land Use Emissions10 minutes
What Are Humans Doing to Mitigate Agriculture and Land Use Emissions?10 minutes
How to Lower Transportation-Sector Emissions10 minutes
How Can Governments Help Mitigate Transportation-Sector Emissions?15 minutes
What Challenges Exist for Mitigating Transportation-Sector Emissions?10 minutes
How to Lower Buildings-Sector Emissions10 minutes
Strategies to Mitigate Emissions in the Buildings Sector10 minutes
What is Holding Us Back from Mitigating Buildings-Sector Emissions?10 minutes
What is Being Done to Mitigate Buildings-Sector Emissions?10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Module Two Quiz30 minutes
Knowledge Check: The Energy Sector30 minutes
Knowledge Check: The Industry Sector30 minutes
Knowledge Check: The Agriculture and Land Use Sector30 minutes
Knowledge Check: The Transportation Sector30 minutes
Knowledge Check: The Buildings Sector30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Module Two Introductory Discussion Forum (Optional)10 minutes
Module Two Discussion Forum10 minutes

Module Three explores climate change's varied impacts on human life and the broader environment. It pays particular attention to the efforts that individuals, governments, and industries are making to adapt to a warming world, as well as the social concerns that accompany these efforts.

What's included

2 videos18 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

2 videosTotal 9 minutes

Before You Begin1 minutePreview module
How Climate Change Worsens Extreme Weather7 minutes

18 readingsTotal 250 minutes

Introduction to Module Three10 minutes
How to Protect Against Extreme Weather10 minutes
How Forecasting Can Safeguard Against Extreme Weather15 minutes
Other Strategies To Safeguard Against Extreme Weather 20 minutes
How to Address the Economic Costs of Climate Change15 minutes
What Infrastructure is Under Threat from Climate Change?15 minutes
Adaptation Strategies for Economies and Infrastructures15 minutes
How Climate Change Affects Our Health10 minutes
Climate Change and Human health20 minutes
Climate Change and Disease10 minutes
What Can Countries Do About Climate Change’s Health Threats?10 minutes
How Does Climate Change Impact Food and Water Security?10 minutes
How Climate Change Threatens Water Supplies in a Warming World15 minutes
How Climate Change Threatens Food Supplies in a Warming World20 minutes
Introduction10 minutes
Climate Change Threatens to Displace Many People 20 minutes
How Climate Change Worsens Inequality15 minutes
How Does Climate Change Increase Inequality Within Countries?10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Module Three Quiz30 minutes
Knowledge Check: Extreme Weather30 minutes
Knowledge Check: Economic Damage and Resilient Infrastructure30 minutes
Knowledge Check: Climate Change and Human Health30 minutes
Knowledge Check: Climate Change and Food and Water Security30 minutes
Knowledge Check - Climate Change and Society30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Module Three Introductory Forum10 minutes
Module Three Discussion Forum10 minutes

Energy is essential for modern society, but at the same time, energy consumption is one of the core drivers of greenhouse gas emissions. Module Four examines the basics of energy, as well as ways to replace fossil fuel-generated energy with electricity and make sure that electricity is generated as cleanly as possible.

What's included

2 videos16 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

2 videosTotal 11 minutes

Before You Begin2 minutesPreview module
Why Countries Need Energy Storage9 minutes

16 readingsTotal 195 minutes

Introduction 10 minutes
What is Energy?15 minutes
What is Electrification?10 minutes
How Are Humans Working to Electrify Energy?15 minutes
How to Generate Electricity Cleanly10 minutes
Why Energy Storage is Essential for a Green Transition10 minutes
The Future of Energy Storage10 minutes
Green and Resilient Energy as a Security Measure15 minutes
How Can Climate Change Threaten a Country’s Energy Security?15 minutes
How Can Countries Better Protect the Energy Grid?10 minutes
How Renewable Energy Sources Can Boost a Country’s Energy Security10 minutes
How Energy Conservation Can Help Fight Climate Change10 minutes
Why Reducing Energy Consumption is Important10 minutes
How to Increase Energy Efficiency20 minutes
How Individuals and Governments Can Work to Conserve Energy15 minutes
Does Energy Conservation Work?10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module Four Quiz30 minutes
Knowledge Check: Energy and Electrification30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Module Four Introductory Discussion Forum10 minutes
Module Four Discussion Board (Optional)10 minutes

Module Five explores the history of climate-combatting technology, as well as the new and emerging technologies that industries and governments are adapting to address climate change. Key areas of exploration are artificial intelligence (AI) and geoengineering.

What's included

1 video11 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

1 videoTotal 2 minutes

Before You Begin2 minutesPreview module

11 readingsTotal 135 minutes

Introduction to Module Five10 minutes
What Technologies Have Humans Developed to Combat Climate Change?10 minutes
Climate Technology Timeline20 minutes
How Can AI Combat Climate Change?10 minutes
Five Ways AI Can Combat Climate Change10 minutes
Could AI Accelerate Climate Change?10 minutes
What is the Future of AI and Climate Change?10 minutes
Geoengineering to Combat Climate Change10 minutes
What is Geoengineering?20 minutes
What are the Concerns About Geoengineering?15 minutes
What Are the Rules Around Geoengineering?10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 5 Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Discussion Board10 minutes
Module Five Discussion Board (Optional)10 minutes

Module Six concludes the course. In it, learners will read a brief summary of the material they have covered, take a full course assessment, and explore some additional steps to continue their climate learning journey.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 2 minutes

Course Summary2 minutesPreview module

4 readingsTotal 170 minutes

Introduction to Module Six10 minutes
Supplementary Resources90 minutes
Course Project: Solar Geoengineering (Optional)60 minutes
Congratulations!10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 60 minutes

Full Course Assessment60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Solar Geoengineering Discussion Forum (Optional)10 minutes

Instructor

CFR Education

Council on Foreign Relations

3 Courses35 learners

Offered by

Council on Foreign Relations

Recommended if you're interested in Governance and Society

Council on Foreign Relations
Climate Change: The Basics
Course
Council on Foreign Relations
Climate Change: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

CFR Education offers a three-course specialization on climate change and global affairs. While learners may complete these courses in any order, we recommend completing them in the following order:

- Climate Change and Global Affairs: The Basics - Climate Change and Global Affairs: Mitigation and Adaptation - Climate Change and Global Affairs: Policy Opportunities and Obstacles

This course is offered over a six-week period. It covers the following topics:

Week 1: Introduction to Course

Week 2: Mitigating Climate Change

Week 3: Adapting to Climate Change

Week 4: Energy Challenges

Week 5: Emerging Technologies

Week 6: Course Conclusion

Purchasing a Certificate to this course provides you with access to all course materials, including graded assignments.

Upon completing the course and passing all required assessments, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page, where you can download or share it at any time.

A Course Certificate includes the course name, the instructor’s signature, the logo of the partner institution offering the course, a verification URL that allows others to check the certificate’s authenticity, and a statement that Coursera has confirmed the identity of the learner who completed the course.

Course Certificates do not include academic credit from the partner institution offering the course, the final grade you received in the course, your ID photo, the hours you spent working on coursework, or a printed or mailed copy of the Course Certificate.

If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. You are able to upgrade to a paid Certificate at any time during or after your audit.

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation

What you'll learn

Details to know

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Build your subject-matter expertise

Earn a career certificate

There are 6 modules in this course

Module One: Course Introduction

What's included

Module Two: Mitigating Climate Change

What's included

Module 3: How the World Can Adapt to Climate Change Impacts

What's included

Module 4: Energy Challenges

What's included

Module 5: Emerging Technologies

What's included

Module 6: Conclusion

What's included

Instructor

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Governance and Society

Climate Change: The Basics

Climate Change: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Advance your career with an online degree

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

Is there a correct order to take the CFR Education climate courses?

What is the format of this course?

What will I receive if I purchase the Certificate for this course?

More questions