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Climate Change will be one of the defining challenges facing the world over the course of the 21st century. The effects of climate change are already being felt and such effects are expected to grow. The transition to zero carbon energy is now underway and must be accelerated. This global challenge is explored in this module. The focus is upon the key scientific, engineering and economic aspects that underpin the challenge at hand, which are also central to the policy solutions required to address it.

This module introduces students from a wide variety of backgrounds to the fundamental drivers of energy demand; it elucidates the connection between energy supply and climate impacts; and it outlines the major policy responses at a global and regional level. It captures at an introductory level the scientific, engineering and economic aspects of the energy challenge which the world faces and provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to pursue further study in the broad area of energy.

The module will explore the consequences of fossil fuel consumption for the Earth’s carbon cycle, the composition of its atmosphere and resulting climate change. The strengths and weaknesses of alternative energy sources such as wind, wave, solar, nuclear and geothermal are covered, including the likely impact of future climate change on some of these resources. All of these topics are the focus of major research initiatives in UCD and this module will include aspects of the ongoing research enabling students to gain an appreciation of the latest developments and advances in the area.

Energy economic analysis is applied in the module to energy and climate change policy and covers subjects such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, the design of policy measures. The energy sector plays a crucial role in the global economy; it is also one in transition from a fossil fuel-based system to one with a rising share of renewable energy, as climate change mitigation strategies influence energy decision-making more strongly. The interface between scientific and engineering challenges and policy formation will be explored in detail. The energy systems into which low carbon energy resources are integrated will be described, including the key technical, economic, and societal challenges in the development of a fully decarbonized energy system.