Contemporary climate change – consequences, adaptation and mitigation 1900-3-WZK-ZAS
Selected specific topics discussed during the course (lecture and seminar):
- Climate change terminology and historical overview
- Climate change scenarios
- Carbon footprint – theoretical and practical aspects
- Impact of climate change on the energy system
- Mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change
- Urban Adaptation Plans for Polish cities
- Assessment of exposure to climate change in urban and rural areas
- Adaptation options for water management in Poland
- Impact of climate change on the natural water cycle under warming conditions (based on the example of Poland): changes in snowfall fraction, changes in evapotranspiration, changes in ground moisture, changes in river flows
- Impact of climate change on the thermal conditions of streams, selected water quality parameters, and aquatic organisms. Methods for preventing water temperature increases in streams. - Selected climatic conditions and their impact on tourism
- The "colors" of tourism and forms of implementation in the context of climatic conditions
- The impact of contemporary climate change on agriculture. Adapting agriculture to climate change. Innovative farm management strategies in the context of climate change.
- The impact of climate change on forest conditions (including biodiversity and carbon storage). Forests as a tool for climate change mitigation. Strategies for protecting forests from the effects of climate change in Poland and the European Union.
- The functioning of national parks and other protected areas in the context of climate change.
Student workload (4 ECTS):
3 ECTS – hours in direct contact with instructors, i.e., participation in lectures and tutorials
1 ECTS – student's own contribution – familiarization with the literature and preparation for the tutorials, preparation for the final exam.
Main fields of studies for MISMaP
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE
After completing the course, the student will know and understand the origins of climate change and climate change scenarios. The student will understand the differences between mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The student will understand how climate change impacts various aspects of the environment and human activity.
SKILLS
The student will be able to apply theoretical knowledge of climate change to determine the impact of climate change on various components of the natural environment and on various aspects of human activity. The student will be able to formulate and determine cause-and-effect relationships.
COMPETENCIES:
After completing the course, the student will be ready to expand their professional competencies and update their knowledge of climate change, enriched with an interdisciplinary dimension, and critically evaluate it.
S6_W01, S6_W15, S6_U01, S6_U04, S6_K01
Assessment criteria
Lecture: exam
Summary: active participation in the discussion during the seminar
Practical placement
Not considered
Bibliography
IPCC 6 Assessment Report - Synthesis Report , 2023
Allan, J. D., Castillo, M. M., & Capps, K. A. (2021). Stream Ecology: Structure and function of running waters. Springer, Cham.
Whitehead, P. G., Wilby, R. L., Battarbee, R. W., Kernan, M., & Wade, A. J. (2009). A review of the potential impacts of climate change on surface water quality. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 54(1), 101–123.
Fuller, M. R., Leinenbach, P., Detenbeck, N. E., Labiosa, R., & Isaak, D. J. (2022). Riparian vegetation shade restoration and loss effects on recent and future stream temperatures. Restoration Ecology, 30, e13626.
Magnuszewski A. (red.), 2024. Gospodarka wodna w Polsce. Monografie KGW PAN, Zeszyt 46. https://publikacje.pan.pl/dlibra/
Somorowska, U., 2024. Earlier Emergence of Winter-Spring Maximum Streamflow Across Poland, 1981-2020. Acta Geographica Lodziensia 115, 109–124. https://doi.org/10.26485/AGL/2024/115/6
Somorowska, U., 2025. Sensitivity of river flow regime to snow water storage variability across mid˗latitude region in Eastern Europe. Science of the Total Environment. 996, 180160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180160
Mizerski W., Orłowski S., 2017. Geozagrożenia. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN
Slaymaker O., Spencer T., Embleton-Hamann C. ( eds ), 2009. Geomorphology and Global Environmental Change. Cambridge University Press , New York
Smith K., 2009. Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster”. London
UNDRR – Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR)
Plan Adaptacji do zmian klimatu dla gminy Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Część I. Diagnoza zagrożenia i przygotowania Gminy Grodzisk Mazowiecki do zmiany klimatu.
Miejski Plan Adaptacji do zmian do zmian klimatu dla Miasta Stargard
Strategia adaptacji do zmian klimatu dla m.st. Warszawy do roku 2030 z perspektywą do roku 2050
oraz własne materiały prowadzących i literatura uzupełniająca przekazywana studentom na zajęciach
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: