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GEP3162 Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Semester I
GEP3162 Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development


Brief Description of the Module

The module aims to provide broad, integrated knowledge on key environmental issues, the climate change and sustainable development field. The module covers topics such as environmental principles, environmental challenges and management, the climate system, sustainable development, anthropogenic forcing and climate system response; climate variability and change; international climate change legal frameworks; Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation – providing in-depth coverage of adaption and mitigation from both theoretical and applied points of view.

Learning Outcomes

  •  Have a reasonable understanding of the definitions of environmental components of earth system, environmental challenges and framework for environmental problems solving
  • Have a reasonable understanding of climate change issues: causes, consequences and variations
  • Be able to understand sustainable development concept: has it evolved; the  SDGs 
  • Describe the phenomenon of CC and its connected concepts, causes and effects and the core elements of the Paris Agreement on CC.
  • Describe interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
  • Identify different solution pathways that can be taken to achieve sustainable development and tackle climate change.
  • Investigate at what extent CC is mainstreamed into existing policies and development strategies at national level.
  • Discuss existing initiatives/projects that help to achieve SD and minimize CC impacts in Rwanda.


Teaching and Learning Methods

- The main teaching and learning methods are based on lecturer-led introductory  lectures, followed by student contributions, through a face-to-face teaching mode.

- The latter will include active participation in discussions, group work in case study  discussions, and (written and oral) presentation of case study contributions in plenary sessions.  

- Field visit (4 days)


Assessment Methods and Weighting

- Individual Assignment : 10%
- Group Assignment: 20%
- Partial Individual Exam: 20%
- Final Exam: 50%


Indicative Readings 

- IPCC (Ed.). (1992). The 1990 and 1992 IPCC Assessments. Available from: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/climate-change-the-ipcc-1990-and-1992-assessments/
- IPCC. (2015). Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report. Available from: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf
- IPCC. (2023). Sixth Assessment Report: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Available from:  https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_FullReport.pdf
- MIDIMAR. (2015). The National Risk Atlas of Rwanda. Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs. AAvailable from:  https://www.gfdrr.org/sites/default/files/publication/National_Risk_Atlas_of_Rwanda_01.pdf
- MINEMA. (2024). Disaster Risk hotspots Assessment for Enhancing Anticipatory Actions in Rwanda. Case of Landslides and Floods. Kigali: MINEMA. Retrieved from: https://www.minema.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=106885&token=32e97ddc6383ba8fb09c26874fdcec074aa7f26a
-NISR (2023). Fifth Population and Housing Census of August 2022: The Main Indicators Report. Kigali: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. Available from: 
https://www.statistics.gov.rw/publication/main_indicators_2022
- Randolph, J., 2004. Environmental Land Use Planning and Management. Washington D.C.:  Island Press.
- REMA. (2019). Assessment of Climate Change Vulnerability in Rwanda-2018. available from: https://rema.gov.rw/fileadmin/templates/Documents/rema_doc/Reports_Updated/2018%20Assessment%20of%20climate%20change%20vulnerability%20in%20Rwanda.pdf      
- REMA. (2021a). Rwanda State of Environment and Outlook Report 2021. Kigali: Rwanda Environment Management Authority Retrieved from https://www.rema.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/Rwanda_SOER_Final-05February2022-LR.pdf
- Rwanyiziri, G., Uwiragiye, A., Tuyishimire, J., Mugabowindekwe, M., Mutabazi, A., Hategekimana, S., & Mugisha, J. (2019). Assessing the impact of climate change and variability on wetland maize production and the implication on food security in the highlands and central plateaus of Rwanda. Ghana Journal of Geography, 11(2), 77-102. Available from: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjg/article/view/191987
- Sebaziga, J. N., Safari, B., Ngaina, J. N., & Ntwali, D. (2024). Spatial variability of seasonal rainfall onset, cessation, length and rainy days in Rwanda. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 155(8), 7591-7608. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-024-05086-3
- UNDRR. (2015). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). Available from: https://www.undrr.org/media/16176/download?startDownload=20241005
- UNEP. (2011). Rwanda: From Post-Conflict Environmentally to Sustainable Development. United Nations Environment Programme. Available from: https://www.unep.org/resources/report/rwanda-post-conflict-environmentally-sustainable-development
- UNFCCC. (2016). Paris Agreement. Available from: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/parisagreement_publication.pdf


Lecturers: 

- Assoc. Prof. Gaspard Rwanyiziri (Module Leader)

(+2507886814 38  & g.rwanyiziri@ur.ac.rw)

- Assoc. Prof. Theophile Niyonzima 

  (+250788450488 & t.niyonzima@ur.ac.rw)


Self enrolment (Student)
Self enrolment (Student)
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