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Doing Economics

Measuring Climate Change

Eileen Tipoe and Wendy Carlin

4.6

Based on 52 ratings

, see reviews

Eileen Tipoe and Wendy Carlin

This course will give you practical experience in working with real-world data, with applications to important policy issues in today’s society. Each week, you will learn specific data handling skills in Excel and use these techniques to analyse climate change data, with appropriate readings to provide background information on the data you are working with. You will also learn about the consequences of climate change and how governments can address this issue.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Understand how data can be used to assess the extent of climate change

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Understand how data can be used to assess the extent of climate change

• Produce appropriate bar charts, line charts, and scatterplots to visualise data

• Calculate and interpret summary statistics (mean, median, variance, percentile, correlation)

• Explain the challenges with designing and implementing policies that address climate change

No prior knowledge in economics or statistics is required for this course. No knowledge of Excel is required, except a familiarity with the interface and how to enter and clear data.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1

This module explains why climate change is a serious global issue, and how we can use data to understand the extent of climate change.

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Provides a strong foundation for beginners who want to understand data handling and climate change

Develops essential data analysis skills in Excel for real-world applications

Offers practical experience in handling and interpreting climate data

Empowers learners to understand the consequences of climate change and explore policy solutions

Taught by experienced instructors with expertise in climate change and data analysis

No prior knowledge in economics or statistics is required, making it accessible to beginners

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Reviews summary

Practical climate data analysis for beginners

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and accessible introduction to measuring climate change with data. Students widely praise the hands-on Excel exercises for building foundational data analysis skills, making it an excellent choice for absolute beginners in economics, statistics, or data. The instructor's clear explanations and engaging content are frequently highlighted as significant strengths. While overwhelmingly positive for its target audience, some learners with prior experience found the content to be too basic, suggesting it's best suited for those seeking a thorough but introductory approach.

Integrates important climate change issues with data analysis.

"It was great to learn data skills applied directly to the critical issue of climate change and its economic implications."

"The real-world examples about CO2 emissions and policy implications were very impactful and relevant to current events."

"I gained a better understanding of how economics relates to environmental challenges through practical data application."

Learners praise the clarity and engaging nature of the lectures.

"The instructor explained complex topics in a very clear and understandable way, making it easy to grasp."

"Lectures were well-structured and kept me engaged throughout the course, which is rare for online courses."

"I particularly liked the explanations on causality and spurious correlation; the professor made it easy to grasp."

Strong focus on applying Excel to real-world climate data.

"The practical exercises in Excel using real-world data were incredibly helpful for solidifying my understanding."

"I found the hands-on Excel work to be highly beneficial; it's a great way to learn practical data analysis."

"The course effectively uses Excel to teach relevant data analysis, which is a highly practical skill for current issues."

Excellent for learners new to economics, data, or climate.

"This course is an excellent introduction to using data analysis for climate change, especially for beginners."

"I appreciated how the course started with the very basics of Excel and statistical concepts, making it easy to follow."

"Great for absolute beginners with no prior economics or statistics background; I found it very clear and helpful."

Content is introductory; less suitable for experienced learners.

"This course is definitely for absolute beginners, not for anyone with even a slight background in economics or data analysis."

"For someone already familiar with basic stats or Excel, it might feel a bit slow and repetitive at times."

"I appreciated the slow pace as a beginner, but I can see how it might be too basic for others seeking advanced topics."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Doing Economics: Measuring Climate Change with these activities:

Review 'Climate: A New Story'

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Review this book to equip yourself with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of climate change, providing a strong foundation for the course.

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Read the introduction and first three chapters.
Summarize the key arguments and evidence presented in the chapters.

Review 'The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming'

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Gain a comprehensive overview of the potential consequences of climate change by reviewing this book, complementing the course materials.

View The Uninhabitable Earth (Adapted for Young... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and first three chapters.
Summarize the key arguments and evidence presented in the chapters.

Analyze climate data

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Practicing data analysis skills will help you to interpret the data you encounter in the course.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Find a dataset on climate change.
Use Excel to create charts and graphs of the data.
Calculate summary statistics for the data.

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Complete the Excel tutorial on data visualization

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Complete the Excel tutorial to gain the practical skills in data visualization that are essential for the course.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Watch the video tutorials on creating bar charts, line charts, and scatterplots.
Apply the techniques to the climate change data provided in the course.

Join a study group

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Discussing the course material with other students will help you to better understand the concepts.

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Find a study group that meets regularly.
Come to each meeting prepared to discuss the assigned reading.
Participate in the discussion and ask questions.

Calculate summary statistics for climate change data

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Practice calculating summary statistics to enhance your understanding of data analysis and interpretation in the context of climate change.

Browse courses on Summary Statistics

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Calculate the mean, median, variance, percentile, and correlation of the temperature data.
Interpret the results and explain their significance in understanding climate change trends.

Study Climate Change Economics

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Reading this book will help you understand the economic principles that explain climate change and how to take action.

View Economics of the Environment: Selected Readings on Amazon

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Read Chapters 1-5 to gain an overview of the topic.
Read Chapters 6-10 to learn about the economic models used to analyze climate change.
Read Chapters 11-15 to learn about the policy options available for mitigating climate change.

Write a blog post or article on climate change

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Writing about climate change will help you to clarify your understanding of the topic and communicate it to others.

Browse courses on Climate Change

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Choose a topic that you are interested in.
Research your topic.
Write a draft of your blog post or article.
Get feedback on your draft.
Publish your blog post or article.

Career center

Learners who complete Doing Economics: Measuring Climate Change will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Climate Scientist

Climate Scientists study the Earth's climate system and how it is changing over time. They use data to understand the causes and effects of climate change. This course would be a valuable resource for Climate Scientists, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Climate Scientists understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Scientist

Energy Analyst

Energy Analysts work with data to assess energy trends and patterns. They also develop and implement strategies to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This course would be a great fit for Energy Analysts, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Energy Analysts understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Energy Analyst

Sustainability Analyst

Sustainability Analysts work with data to assess the environmental impact of businesses and organizations. They also develop and implement strategies to improve sustainability. This course would be a valuable resource for Sustainability Analysts, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Sustainability Analysts understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Analyst

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts work with data to assess the impact of policies and regulations. They also develop and implement strategies to improve policy outcomes. This course would be a great fit for Policy Analysts, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Policy Analysts understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Environmental Economist

Environmental Economists use data to analyze the economic impacts of environmental policies. They also develop and implement strategies to improve environmental quality. This course would be a great fit for Environmental Economists, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Environmental Economists understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Economist

Environmental Analyst

Environmental Analysts work with data to assess environmental trends and patterns. They also develop and implement strategies to address environmental issues. This course would be a great fit for Environmental Analysts, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Environmental Analysts understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course would be a valuable resource for Data Analysts, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Data Analysts understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Wind Energy Engineer

Wind Energy Engineers design and install wind energy systems. They use data to analyze the performance of wind energy systems and to identify opportunities for improvement. This course would be a valuable resource for Wind Energy Engineers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Wind Energy Engineers understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wind Energy Engineer

Geothermal Energy Engineer

Geothermal Energy Engineers design and install geothermal energy systems. They use data to analyze the performance of geothermal energy systems and to identify opportunities for improvement. This course would be a valuable resource for Geothermal Energy Engineers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Geothermal Energy Engineers understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geothermal Energy Engineer

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts use data to assess the risks associated with different events. They also develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks. This course would be a valuable resource for Risk Analysts, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Risk Analysts understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Geographer

Geographers study the Earth's physical and human geography. They use data to analyze geographic trends and patterns. This course would be a great fit for Geographers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Geographers understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geographer

Meteorologist

Meteorologists study the Earth's atmosphere and how it affects weather patterns. They use data to forecast the weather and track weather events. This course would be a valuable resource for Meteorologists, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Meteorologists understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Meteorologist

Hydrologist

Hydrologists study the Earth's water resources. They use data to analyze water trends and patterns. This course would be a great fit for Hydrologists, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Hydrologists understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hydrologist

Forester

Foresters manage forests and other natural resources. They use data to analyze forest trends and patterns. This course would be a valuable resource for Foresters, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Foresters understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forester

Solar Energy Engineer

Solar Energy Engineers design and install solar energy systems. They use data to analyze the performance of solar energy systems and to identify opportunities for improvement. This course would be a valuable resource for Solar Energy Engineers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with climate data. The course would also help Solar Energy Engineers understand the challenges and opportunities associated with addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solar Energy Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Doing Economics: Measuring Climate Change.

Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis

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Is the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the science of climate change. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on climate change, including the physical science basis, impacts, adaptation, and mitigation. This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the science of climate change.

Doing Economics

Measuring Climate Change

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical climate data analysis for beginners

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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