Climate Change: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities

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Climate Change: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities

This course is part of Climate Change and Global Affairs Specialization

Instructor: CFR Education

Included with Coursera Plus

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6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

18 hours to complete

3 weeks at 6 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

18 hours to complete

3 weeks at 6 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How local and national governments can use policy to implement climate action.
How countries have worked together to approach climate change over time.
How policymakers balance the costs and benefits of different policy options when taking climate action.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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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.

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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: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities" explores the complex policy landscape shaping global climate action—from local and national strategies to international agreements. After completing this course, learners will be able to evaluate the steps governments can take in combating climate change, identify the costs and benefits of different climate policy options, identify and explain the major international agreements that exist to combat climate change, and assess the challenges and ethical complexities of contemporary mitigation efforts. 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 opening module, we discuss course aims, organization, and measures for assessment. By familiarizing themselves with this introductory material, learners will prepare themselves for success in later, more content-driven modules.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 discussion prompt

Module Two explores the policies that individual governments can adopt to address climate change. It pays particular attention to the benefits and challenges of each policy, explaining why certain policies are easier to adopt - and maintain - than others.

What's included

1 video16 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

1 videoTotal 2 minutes

Before You Begin2 minutesPreview module

16 readingsTotal 190 minutes

Introduction to Module Two10 minutes
How Government Regulations Help Fight Climate Change10 minutes
What Are Environmental Regulations?10 minutes
What do Environmental Regulations Target?20 minutes
Challenges for Environmental Regulations10 minutes
How Target Setting Can Help Guide Climate Action10 minutes
What is a Climate Target?20 minutes
How Policymakers Craft Useful Targets10 minutes
Do Climate Targets Work?10 minutes
Other Steps Individual Governments Can Take to Combat Climate Change10 minutes
Five Steps Governments Can Take To Combat Climate Change15 minutes
How State and Local Governments Can Fight Climate Change10 minutes
What Do the Federal Government and State Governments Do to Address Climate Change?10 minutes
How States Can Take Meaningful Climate Action Without Federal Support15 minutes
How States and the Federal Government Handle Climate Disasters10 minutes
Can States Lead the Way in the Fight Against Climate Change?10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module Two Quiz30 minutes
Knowledge Check: Environmental Regulations15 minutes
Knowledge Check: How State and Local Governments Can Fight Climate Change15 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

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

Module Three explores the dollars and cents behind government climate policy, paying particular attention to taxes, subsidies, and cap-and-trade schemes. The module investigates the strengths and weaknesses of each policy, explaining why governments might adopt one policy - or a mix of policies - to lower emissions and help stop climate change.

What's included

3 videos12 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 17 minutes

Before You Begin2 minutesPreview module
How Do Subsidies Work?7 minutes
How Do Carbon Taxes Work?8 minutes

12 readingsTotal 130 minutes

Introduction to Module Three10 minutes
How Subsidies Can Reduce Emissions10 minutes
How Are Governments Using Subsidies to Address Climate Change?15 minutes
How Carbon Taxes Can Reduce Emissions10 minutes
Carbon Taxes Around the World10 minutes
How Cap-and-Trade Systems Can Reduce Emissions10 minutes
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cap-and-Trade Policies10 minutes
Combining Options10 minutes
How Can Governments Hold Each Other Accountable for Climate Mitigation?10 minutes
How Does a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Work?15 minutes
Do Any Countries Have CBAMs Today?10 minutes
What Are Potential Issues with CBAMs?10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module Three Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Module Three Discussion Forum (Optional)10 minutes
Module Three Discussion Forum10 minutes

Module Four explores the international agreements that governments have made to tackle climate change, as well as the challenges to upholding those agreements. Key agreements covered include the 1987 Montreal Protocol, 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and 2015 Paris Agreement.

What's included

3 videos8 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 8 minutes

Before You Begin2 minutesPreview module
How Climate Change is a Collective Action Problem3 minutes
How the Paris Agreement Helps Stop Climate Change2 minutes

8 readingsTotal 95 minutes

Introduction to Module Four10 minutes
Challenges in Coordinating Climate Action10 minutes
How Can International Agreements Help Fight Global Warming?10 minutes
Major International Climate Agreements20 minutes
Do International Agreements Really Work?10 minutes
The Paris Agreement10 minutes
Commitment to Paris Agreement Goals Varies15 minutes
The Future of the Paris Agreement10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Module Four Quiz30 minutes
Knowledge Check: International Climate Agreements30 minutes
Knowledge Check: The Paris Agreement30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Module Four Discussion Forum (Optional)10 minutes
Module Four Discussion Board (Optional)10 minutes

Module Five examines current challenges to global climate action, from ethical issues relating to the green transition to the challenge of meeting the costs that this transition will incur.

What's included

2 videos12 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

2 videosTotal 9 minutes

Before You Begin…1 minutePreview module
Challenges and Opportunities in the Green Transition7 minutes

12 readingsTotal 120 minutes

Introduction to Module Five10 minutes
What is Climate Finance?10 minutes
Why is Confronting Climate Change So Expensive?10 minutes
What Role Does the Public Sector Play in Combatting Climate Change?10 minutes
What Role Does the Private Sector Play in Combatting Climate Change?10 minutes
How Can the Public and Private Sectors Work Together?10 minutes
How to Make the Green Transition Just and Equitable10 minutes
How to Ensure a Just Transition10 minutes
How Earth’s Minerals Are Helping the World Meet Its Climate Goals10 minutes
What Are Critical Minerals?10 minutes
Challenges Associated With Mining Critical Minerals10 minutes
The Future of Critical Minerals10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module Five Quiz 30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 10 minutes

Module Four Discussion Forum (Optional)10 minutes
Module Five Discussion Forum (Optional)0 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 Conclusion2 minutesPreview module

4 readingsTotal 170 minutes

Introduction to Module Six10 minutes
Supplementary Resources90 minutes
Course Project: Global Climate Change Policy (Optional)60 minutes
Congratulations!10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 60 minutes

Full Course Assessment60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Global Climate Change Policy Discussion Forum10 minutes

Instructor

CFR Education

Council on Foreign Relations

3 Courses36 learners

Offered by

Council on Foreign Relations

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Council on Foreign Relations
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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

Week 1: Introduction to Course

Week 2: Policymakers’ Toolbox on Climate Change

Week 3: How Market-Based Policies Can Encourage Climate Action

Week 4: How Governments Can Work Together to Tackle Climate Change

Week 5: Overcoming Challenges in a Climate-Changed World

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: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities

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

Welcome to Navigating a Climate-Changed World: Policy Obstacles and Opportunities

What's included

Module Two: Policymakers’ Toolbox on Climate Change

What's included

Module Three: How Market-Based Policies Can Encourage Climate Action

What's included

Module 4: How Governments Can Work Together to Tackle Climate Change

What's included

Module 5: Overcoming Challenges in a Climate-Changed World

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: Mitigation and Adaptation

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