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Doing Economics

Measuring Climate Change

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.

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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

• 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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Week 2
This module explores the effect of climate change on temperature variability and extreme weather events, and explains how we can use statistical summary measures to document changes in temperature distributions over time.
Week 3
This module uses data to summarise the relationship between CO2 emissions and global temperatures, explains methods of identifying causal relationships between two variables, and discusses the problem of spurious correlation.
Week 4
This module explains how policymakers can use survey data and models to evaluate climate-related policies, and discusses the relationship between environmental policy and environmental quality.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
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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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'
Review this book to equip yourself with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of climate change, providing a strong foundation for the course.
Show steps
  • Read the introduction and first three chapters.
  • Summarize the key arguments and evidence presented in the chapters.
Review 'The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming'
Gain a comprehensive overview of the potential consequences of climate change by reviewing this book, complementing the course materials.
Show steps
  • Read the introduction and first three chapters.
  • Summarize the key arguments and evidence presented in the chapters.
Analyze climate data
Practicing data analysis skills will help you to interpret the data you encounter in the course.
Browse courses on Data Analysis
Show steps
  • Find a dataset on climate change.
  • Use Excel to create charts and graphs of the data.
  • Calculate summary statistics for the data.
Five other activities
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Show all eight activities
Complete the Excel tutorial on data visualization
Complete the Excel tutorial to gain the practical skills in data visualization that are essential for the course.
Browse courses on Data Visualization
Show steps
  • 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
Discussing the course material with other students will help you to better understand the concepts.
Show steps
  • 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
Practice calculating summary statistics to enhance your understanding of data analysis and interpretation in the context of climate change.
Browse courses on Summary Statistics
Show steps
  • 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
Reading this book will help you understand the economic principles that explain climate change and how to take action.
Show steps
  • 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
Writing about climate change will help you to clarify your understanding of the topic and communicate it to others.
Browse courses on Climate Change
Show steps
  • 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
Landmark study on the economics of climate change. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the economic costs of climate change and the benefits of taking action to mitigate climate change. This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the economic implications of climate change.
Provides a powerful and moving account of the current extinction crisis. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.
Provides a comprehensive plan for reversing global warming. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the solutions to climate change.
Provides a clear and concise explanation of the science of energy. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the challenges of transitioning to a sustainable energy future.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the energy system. It covers a wide range of topics, including the history of energy, the different types of energy sources, and the challenges of transitioning to a sustainable energy future. This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the energy system.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the energy sector. It covers a wide range of topics, including the history of energy, the different types of energy sources, and the challenges of transitioning to a sustainable energy future. This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the energy sector.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the science of climate change. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the basics of climate change.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the climate crisis. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the basics of climate change.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the science of climate change. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the basics of climate change.

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