Our Earth's Future from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Climate Change Is Happening: See It

Human-induced climate change is happening. But in order to explore the evidence for this claim, we must first ask two questions: “What is science?” and “What is climate?” Once we understand how science is done and the basic dynamics of the climate system, we’ll focus on how scientists study ice cores, and see how evidence of climate change in the past is fundamental to understanding what lies ahead.

It All Comes Down to the Ocean

Both the ocean’s sheer size – it covers seventy percent of our planet’s surface – and the properties of water make the ocean a major player in Earth’s climate system. An enormous reservoir of heat, the ocean is an important mechanism of heat storage and exchange with the atmosphere, which has important implications for climate change. We’ll focus on one of the consequences of warming: melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. How might this melting lead to future sea level rise? Scientists are studying geological records of past warming, and associated sea level rise, to see what the future may bring.

Climate Change is Happening: Model It

An important counterpart to observational evidence is computer modeling, an essential tool for investigating how the climate system works and how it will respond to continued greenhouse gas buildup in the atmosphere. How do we know that a model is accurate? One way is to consider a past event, enter the historic climate data, and see if the model successfully “hindcasts” the event in reasonable detail. Ever more detailed, today’s supercomputer models can even help identify the potential causes of climate events on a regional scale, as climatologist Dr. Michela Biasutti explains using her research on droughts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Living with Climate Change

Climate change is often framed as a future phenomenon, but it’s clear that people are already experiencing the consequences. What are the effects? It depends to some extent on where, and how, you live. For example, in the Pacific Islands, where sea level rise is threatening entire ways of life, communities have come together to prepare. What happens when there’s no place to go? Coastal communities aren’t the only ones at risk; food insecurity may one day threaten us all. And of course, humans are not the only species affected, and some will be at even greater risk in the future.

Mitigate, Adapt, or Suffer?

What happens next? We don’t know, but the answer depends far less on scientific data than on human action—or inaction. The major uncertainty is the future rate of greenhouse gas emissions, which is impossible to predict because it depends on socioeconomic, technological, and political developments. Furthermore, the risks posed by different kinds of natural phenomena vary widely, and similar events can have very different consequences depending on where and even when they occur. How will the effects be distributed, and how resilient are we? Hurricane Sandy provided lessons about our willingness to accept and plan for a future where severe climate events happen more frequently.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation in interpreting climate change data for non-scientists

Delves into the complex phenomena of ice sheet melting and sea level rise

Develops critical thinking skills through the analysis of scientific research

Emphasizes the societal impacts of climate change on a global scale

Empowers learners to effectively communicate climate change concepts

Requires no prior knowledge in climatology, making it accessible to a broad audience

Reviews summary

Climate change: now and in the future

Learners say this is a well-received course that gives a broad understanding of the science of climate change. The science presented is complex and technical, but the explanations provided make it accessible to beginners. Lectures are engaging and informative, and there are plenty of supporting materials and quizzes to help you solidify what you've learned. The course is well-structured and flows logically. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of climate science to the latest research on climate change. The quizzes are challenging but fair, and the feedback is helpful. Overall, learners say this course is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the science of climate change.

Can motivate learners to take action

"This was a very well-put together class."

"Many questions that I had in my mind were answered lucidly while navigating through this course."

"This course is really a good one to improve our knowledge on our earth."

"I'm really blessed with this course."

High-quality lectures and materials

"All the presenters were excellent."

"The course included a lot of technical concepts that I was not familiar with."

"I thought that all the presenters were excellent."

"The lectures on Forcings and Feedbacks made me understand climate systems in a much advanced way."

"I was particularly engaged with all the videos and found them informative."

In-depth, college-level science

"The lectures on Forcings and Feedbacks made me understand climate systems in a much advanced way."

"I had to go through some of the presentations more than once to grasp the information."

"This course has a fair amount of science in it, and the quizes are more challenging than in some others, but I would definitely recommend giving it a go."

"This is the best course I've found in terms of understanding the science and evidence of climate change."

Can be challenging for beginners

"I was surprised that, with the large number of students, I was apparently the only one who submitted comments and, furthermore, received no responses."

"This course provided a high level overview of the causes of climate change."

"I found the lecture content very wordy and needs editing."

"It would help to provide the reference material that is revealed at the end of the course up front."

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 Our Earth's Future with these activities:

Review Earth's systems science

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Refresh your understanding of Earth's systems science to strengthen your foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Earth Science

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Review key concepts of Earth's systems science, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
Read introductory articles or textbooks on Earth's systems science to gain a general overview.
Watch videos or documentaries that explain the interactions between Earth's systems.

Explore climate data platforms

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Familiarize yourself with climate data platforms to enhance your understanding of real-world climate data.

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Identify key climate data platforms such as NASA's Earth Data, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, and the World Bank's Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Follow tutorials or documentation to learn how to access and navigate these platforms.
Explore different types of climate data available on these platforms, such as temperature, precipitation, and sea level.

Attend climate change conferences or webinars

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Expand your knowledge and connect with professionals in the field by attending climate change events.

Browse courses on Networking

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Identify upcoming climate change conferences or webinars relevant to your interests.
Register and attend the events, taking notes and actively participating in discussions.
Connect with speakers, attendees, and experts to learn about their research and perspectives.

Five other activities

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Participate in climate change outreach programs

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Apply your knowledge and make a meaningful contribution by volunteering in climate change outreach initiatives.

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Identify local or online organizations involved in climate change outreach and education.
Contact the organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities and requirements.
Participate in outreach events, presentations, workshops, or other activities to educate and engage the public about climate change.

Develop a climate change infographic

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Enhance your understanding of climate change and improve your communication skills by creating an infographic.

Browse courses on Climate Change Communication

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Gather and organize key data and information about climate change.
Choose a design tool and template that suits your infographic's purpose and audience.
Design and develop the infographic, using clear visuals, concise text, and relevant data.

Mentor students or peers in climate change science

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Deepen your understanding of climate change while supporting the learning of others by becoming a mentor.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify opportunities to mentor students or peers through programs, organizations, or online platforms.
Share your knowledge and expertise on climate change science, data analysis, and communication.
Provide guidance and support to mentees as they develop their skills and understanding.

Solve climate change problem sets

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Sharpen your problem-solving skills by working through climate change problem sets.

Browse courses on Climate Science

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Find problem sets or practice questions related to climate change from textbooks, online resources, or scientific journals.
Attempt to solve the problems independently, using your knowledge of climate science and data analysis.
Check your answers against provided solutions or consult with experts to identify areas for improvement.

Contribute to climate change code repositories

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Enhance your technical skills and contribute to the advancement of climate science by contributing to open-source code repositories.

Browse courses on Open-Source Software

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Identify open-source climate change projects or repositories on platforms like GitHub.
Review the project documentation and codebase to understand the project's goals and technical requirements.
Identify areas where you can contribute, such as bug fixes, feature enhancements, or documentation improvements.
Create a pull request with your proposed changes and provide clear and concise documentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Our Earth's Future will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Climate Change Analyst

A Climate Change Analyst would study the science of climate change and its potential effects on the environment and human society. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Climate Change Analyst, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Climate Change Analyst gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in developing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Change Analyst

Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist would study the natural world in order to understand how human activities affect it. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for an Environmental Scientist, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment. This course would help an Environmental Scientist gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects on the natural world. The course would also provide an overview of the different ways that climate change can be addressed, which would be valuable for an Environmental Scientist working on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

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Environmental Policy Analyst

An Environmental Policy Analyst would develop and analyze environmental policies and regulations. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for an Environmental Policy Analyst, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help an Environmental Policy Analyst gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in developing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Policy Analyst

Climate Scientist

A Climate Scientist would study the science of climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Climate Scientist, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Climate Scientist gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in developing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Scientist

Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant would help organizations to develop and implement sustainability strategies. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Sustainability Consultant, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Sustainability Consultant gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in helping organizations to develop and implement climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

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Natural Resources Manager

A Natural Resources Manager would manage natural resources such as forests, water, and wildlife. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Natural Resources Manager, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Natural Resources Manager gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in developing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

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Environmental Engineer

An Environmental Engineer would design and implement solutions to environmental problems. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for an Environmental Engineer, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help an Environmental Engineer gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in developing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

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Geographer

A Geographer would study the physical and human geography of the Earth. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Geographer, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Geographer gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in understanding and addressing the challenges of climate change.

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Meteorologist

A Meteorologist would study the atmosphere and weather. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Meteorologist, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Meteorologist gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in forecasting and warning of extreme weather events.

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Oceanographer

An Oceanographer would study the oceans and their role in the climate system. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for an Oceanographer, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help an Oceanographer gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in understanding and addressing the challenges of climate change.

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Science Writer

A Science Writer would communicate complex scientific concepts to the public. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Science Writer, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Science Writer gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in communicating the challenges of climate change to the public.

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Science Teacher

A Science Teacher would teach science to students at the elementary, secondary, or college level. A course such as Our Earth's Future would be a valuable addition to a resume for a Science Teacher, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course would help a Science Teacher gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which would be valuable for their work in teaching students about the challenges of climate change.

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Environmental Lawyer

An Environmental Lawyer would represent clients in environmental law cases. A course such as Our Earth's Future may be useful for an Environmental Lawyer, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course could help an Environmental Lawyer gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which could be valuable in their work on environmental law cases.

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Journalist

A Journalist would research and report on news stories. A course such as Our Earth's Future may be useful for a Journalist, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course could help a Journalist gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which could be valuable in their work on reporting on climate change.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist would manage public relations for organizations or individuals. A course such as Our Earth's Future may be useful for a Public Relations Specialist, as the course provides an in-depth look at climate change and its effects on the environment and human society. This course could help a Public Relations Specialist gain a better understanding of the science behind climate change and its potential effects, which could be valuable in their work on managing public relations for organizations or individuals involved in climate change.

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