Discover your carbon footprint - and what it means for the planet

All the issues surrounding this controversial and emotive subject will be under the microscope at Cambridge University’s Institute of Continuing Education as a unique course begins next month.

The e-learning course, entitled The Global Climate Challenge, will be taught over 12 weeks from April 12.

It integrates online learning and three Saturday day schools. Participants will use their own carbon footprint to appreciate the problems in bringing emissions in greenhouse gasses down to levels less harmful to the earth’s climate.

The Institute’s Dr Lynne Harrison said: “With climate change being high on the international agenda, this course explores current thinking and discusses concerns that we all share for the future of our planet.”

The course is being led by Dr Julian Paren and Dr Julian Priddle and aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to hold an informed opinion about current climate change issues.

They will investigate how climate systems are modelled and look at the potential effects of human activity on the global environment.

Paying attention to changes since the height of the Industrial Revolution, the course will look at changes since the 1850s and will investigate a model of climate change since 1900 that purports to separate natural and human induced events.

Armed with the knowledge of these issues - and looking at recent initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol - students will be able to critically examine key issues in the climate change debate.

Those undertaking the course will be assessed via a series of written activities/assignments. Tutors will be on hand to provide personal support, guidance and feedback. The credit rating of the course is 20 points at level one.

The three 10am-4pm Saturday day schools take place at Homerton College on April 12, May 10 and June 21.

Further information can be found at https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/courses/online-courses or call 01954 280399.