Introduction to Global Challenges - ENV00033C

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26

Module summary

This module introduces the key concepts of global challenges, how they are identified, their nature and impacts, as well as potential solutions. It will also provide an opportunity for students to critically reflect and challenge their own values, views and beliefs surrounding individual and societal responses to global challenges.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2025-26

Module aims

This interdisciplinary module provides an exciting, critically engaging introduction to the concept of global challenges. It will examine the nature of global challenges, how they are identified, their impacts and potential solutions. The module aims to introduce a range of global challenges that we are facing in the contemporary world. There are many connections and complementarities between the challenges, and together they aim to provide a powerful analysis of the complexities of the global challenges. Students are strongly encouraged to think of the module as a whole and to explore the connections between the different global challenges addressed in this module. It will also allow students to critically reflect and challenge their own values, views and beliefs surrounding individual and societal responses to global challenges.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module students will have:

  1. Demonstrated an understanding of the nature and impacts of global challenges

  2. Evaluated possible solutions through an application of different concepts, ideas and theories

  3. Critically reflected on their own values, views and beliefs in response to the global challenges.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Written feedback will be provided on the assessment. Ongoing verbal feedback throughout the module.

Indicative reading

Meadows, D. H., Randers, J. and Meadows D. L. (2004). The Limits to Growth: The 30-year Update. London: Earthscan.

Adams, W.M. (2009). Green Development: Environment and Sustainability in a Developing World. London: Routledge.

Davis, M. 2006, Planet of Slums. Verso: London.

Dresner, S. (2008). The Principles of Sustainability (second ed.) London: Earthscan.

IPCC (2022) Summary for Policymakers [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, M. Tignor, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem (eds.)]. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 3–33, doi:10.1017/9781009325844.001.

Hulme, M. (2009) Why we disagree about climate change: Understanding controversy, inaction and opportunity. Cambridge University Press

Mitlin, D. and Satterthwaite, D. (2013) Urban Poverty in the Global South: scale and nature. Abingdon: Routledge.

Desai, V., and Potter, R.B., eds. (2014). The Companion to Development Studies. Third Edition. London: Routledge.