Planet Partners: Tackling the Climate Crisis Together
Investigate the impact of climate change, the research being done to tackle it, and what you can do to take meaningful action.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Planet Partners: Tackling the Climate Crisis Together
Explore the different areas affected by climate change
The impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide and across many areas of life. This includes our food, our physical and mental health, where and how we live, wildlife and environmental systems, and political direction.
On this two-week course, you’ll explore how climate change affects different people and places in varying ways and how we, and our world leaders, can take action.
Examine the environmental research
The course is presented by two University of Reading students who uncover what the research shows about the effects of climate change, discuss the impacts, and consider the implications for young people and their futures.
Based on the themes identified by youth delegates who hosted mock COP26, which represented over 140 countries, you’ll explore different aspects of the climate crisis. As you delve into each one, you’ll find out about innovations helping us adapt and the actions you can take to help yourself, others, and the planet.
Be empowered to take action for the planet
Finally, you’ll look at how climate change is being addressed globally, such as through the Paris Agreement, and how you can call on world leaders to do more.
By the end of the course, you will be able to speak confidently about climate change and its impacts, understand how it will continue to affect all areas of our lives, and be empowered to take action.
Syllabus
Week 1
Tackling the climate crisis: our health and the food we eat
Welcome
Meet Emily and Nick, the two students who are your guides for this course as they learn about the climate crisis.
Climate change and health
Emily and Nick explore how climate change impacts both physical and mental and hear how current research is helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Climate change and food
Emily and Nick explore how climate change impacts the food system and hear how current research is helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Review and Reflect
Test your knowledge on the topics this week and find out what's coming up in Week 2.
Week 2
Tackling the climate crisis: our towns and cities and ecosystems
Climate change and the built environment
Emily and Nick explore how climate change impacts the places we live and hear how current research is helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Climate change and the natural world
Emily and Nick explore how climate change impacts biodiversity and the wider ecosystem and hear how current research is helping to tackle the climate crisis.
How is climate change being addressed globally?
Emily and Nick explore the international agreements in place and discuss whose responsibility it is to tackle the climate crisis.
Review, reflect, act
Emily and Nick share their ideas for action to tackle the climate crisis.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
If you'd like to take part while our educators are leading the course, they'll be joining the discussions, in the comments, between these dates:
- 13 Sep 2021 - 26 Sep 2021
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe how the wide ranging impacts of climate change require an interdisciplinary approach to studying them.
- Identify and discuss the effects of climate change on every day life as well as the planet.
- Explore what research is being done to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.
- Reflect on what action can be taken by individuals and wider community.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in climate change but will be particularly useful for 16-18-year-olds.
Who will you learn with?
I am a research fellow at The Walker Institute, University of Reading. My research interests include gender inequality, international development, and the social impacts of climate change.
I've just graduated from my German studies degree at the University of Reading. During my studies I've become really interested in climate change and sustainability, especially during my year abroad.
A University of Reading Meteorology and Climate graduate, where my studies and hobbies gave me passion for climate change education, sustainability, and a greener future.
Who developed the course?
University of Reading
The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.
Walker Institute
The Walker Institute, based at the University of Reading, is an interdisciplinary research institute supporting the development of climate resilient societies.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Join this course
Free
Join free and you will get:
- Access to this course for 4 weeks
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- Access to this course for as long as it’s on FutureLearn
- A print and digital Certificate of Achievement once you’re eligible
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- Access to this course, and hundreds of other FutureLearn short courses and tests for a year
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- The flexibility to complete your choice of short courses in your own time within the year
Find out more about upgrades or Unlimited.
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