Overview

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This course introduces students to the foundations of climate justice by connecting climate science, inequality, and human impacts. Students begin by learning what climate justice means and why climate change disproportionately affects low-income communities, Indigenous peoples, communities of color, and nations in the Global South. The course then builds basic climate science literacy by explaining Earth systems, climate data, and the physical processes driving climate change. Finally, students examine climate migration and refugees, exploring why climate-driven displacement is not simply a natural misfortune but a justice issue shaped by vulnerability, adaptation gaps, and unequal global responsibility. Together, these lectures establish climate change as both a scientific crisis and a social, political, and ethical challenge.

Syllabus

Getting Started and Introduction to Climate Justice
- In this module, Professor Tracey Osborne, of UC Merced, introduces the field of climate justice and examines how the impacts of climate change are distributed unevenly across communities. You will explore how social, economic, and political factors shape vulnerability, with particular attention to low-income communities, Indigenous populations, and regions in the Global South. Through this exploration, the module connects environmental change to questions of equity, human rights, and policy. By the end, you will be able to recognize key disparities, consider the ethical dimensions of climate action, and begin thinking about approaches that prioritize fairness and resilience in environmental solutions.
Climate Science 101
- In this module, you will explore climate change from an Earth science perspective by examining the fundamental components of the Earth’s climate system. You will learn key climate science concepts, including how natural processes and human activities influence climate patterns. The module also introduces how changes in the climate system affect societies around the world, helping you connect scientific principles to real-world impacts. By the end, you will have a foundational understanding of how the climate system works and why these changes matter.
Warming Planet on the Move: Climate Migration and Refugees
- In this week, Professor Fonna Forman explores accelerating climate migration across the world and how the world is responding, diving deep into the intersections of climate change and migration. She will help answer what is climate migration and why is it an injustice? What has been the international response to climate migration? Is it adequate? Is it just? How can we respond locally to accelerating climate migration?