Understanding climate change

Course Description

In this learning unity (LU), students will learn about climate changes and their effects on the different components of agriculture such as weather, available water, erosion, organic matter, salinization, soil biodiversity loss, landslides, desertification and flooding, etc. The way to control some of these transformations, through a change in the type of culture carried out or other cultural techniques, among other alternatives, will be fully discussed in this LU.

Learning outcomes

After the completion of this LU, the learner will:

Knowledge

• Identify and discuss the fundamental concepts of climate system, including the drivers of climate changes;
• Identify and assess the specific impacts of climate change in agriculture;
• Describe the role of climate models;
• Identify the effect of these climate changes on agriculture.

Skills

• Analyse and debate mitigation strategies in agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• Develop and propose adaptation strategies in agriculture.

Competences

• Assess and analyse specific effects of climate change on agriculture;
• Formulate plans of action to adapt agricultural practices to potential climate change impacts;
• Identify climate-change induced impacts and changes within agricultural systems.