GUP3161 Urbanization, Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Brief description of aims and content

Nearly 55% of the world’s population live-in urban areas, and 90% of the world’s urban population growth taking place in low- and middle-income countries. Most of this urbanization is unplanned and located in unsafe spaces that are exposed to multiple risks exacerbating household’s vulnerability. The critical threat to cities may be from the impact of climate change on human settlements which ranging from insignificant to catastrophic. Many cities are affected by the climate change while they lack the adaptive capacity to deal with climate change (underdevelopment, poverty, poor planning and poor governance and lack of skills).  Planners are in an ideal position to reduce the climate change impacts, but have been slow to get involved.

Few strategies, plans or frameworks analyze and monitor hazard and vulnerability factors or contain risk assessments of the present and future effects of climate change on urban areas. This can be explained by the many other short-term developmental challenges demanding immediate action. But sustainable urban and spatial planning cannot ignore the warning signals of the climate change projections. There is therefore a need to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation measures into development planning policies, strategies and interventions

 Module aims

This module introduces the theories and key concepts of climate change and cities. It will help students to understand cities as key contributors to Climate Change, but also elucidating how cities are, in return, affected by climate change impacts. It also looks at how climate change adaptation and mitigation can be considered in urban planning.  Several examples of how cities can play a transformational role in addressing climate change are presented.  Finally, a contextual framework of sustainable development will help student to understand the value of planning for sustainable urbanisation

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

1. Introduce climate systems to help students thinking about the impacts of climate change on cities;
2. Explain how urban areas/cities are affected by, and contribute to, climate change;
3. Explain how climate change adaptation and mitigation can be integrated into urban planning;
4. Describe the role that cities can play in achieving green and climate resilient development;
5. Identify the evidence of climate change impacts on urban areas in Rwanda;
6. Evaluate the level of mainstreaming of the climate change impacts into existing spatial development plans and urban master plans in Rwanda.
7. Critically read relevant literature on climate change and sustainable urbanization.
8. Use practical and presentation skills, comparative work, empirical observations on linkages between urbanization, climate change and sustainable urban development

 Indicative Content: To achieve the above learning outcomes, the following topics will be covered: Global Climate System; Causes and Impacts of Climate Change; Urbanization and Environmental Changes; Cities as main contributors to Climate Change; Impacts  of Climate Change on Urban Areas; Urban Planning for Climate Change; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Urban Areas; New Urban Agenda for Sustainable Cities;  and Value of the sustainable Urbanization.

 Learning and Teaching Strategy:  The main teaching and learning methods are based on instructor-led lectures, practical classes, structured exercises all supported by set reading and self-directed study. To establish a strong assessing the relationships  between  urbanization and climate, these activities will involve guest lectures from Rwanda Meteorological Agency . In the form of real word case study students will have an opportunity to holistically apply the learnt knowledge  on the linkages between urbanization and climate change  in a small project for achieving the sustainable urbanization in  Rwanda.

Assessment Strategy: The final mark for this module consists of two main components: CAT (Quizzes, Group assignments, individual assignments) and Final exam. Individual exams will consist of some short answer questions to test intuition, and longer questions.  Exams will allow ranking accurately students’ understanding of the material.

Grading: grading will be made as transparent, consistent and fair as much as possible. For all written work, solutions and point distributions will be distributed to make clear why any points have been deducted.

Academic honesty: copying all, or part, of someone else’s homework, or lab report, or looking at someone else’s quiz or exam during a test period are all obvious forms of academic dishonesty.  Sanctions will be taken against anyone found guilty of academic dishonesty. For additional information refer to the General Academic Regulation about that issue.

Assessment Pattern: The final mark for this module consists of two main components: CAT (Quizzes, Group assignments, individual assignments): 50% Final exam: 50%. The mark for the group assignment consists of the submitted report (50%) and final group presentation (50%). 

 Strategy for feedback and student support during module:  Seminar and discussions with students on course progress. Question hour. Course assessment and evaluation; Final feedback on class performance 

Module leader:  Dr Jean Pierre Bizimana

Email: bizijp@yahoo.fr  or bizimanajeanpiere@gmail.com