Mainstreaming Climate in the Classroom: Teaching Climate Change Planning

Abstract

Climate change planning, both mitigation (reducing greenhouse gasses) and adaptation (designing built environments for changed climate conditions), is an area of emerging importance in both planning practice and education. This research examines the uptake of climate issues in planning education programs primarily in the US, and compares course content to leading climate change planning practice and research concepts. Studio and seminar courses are emerging in various universities, and are addressing many of the key research concepts for mitigation and adaptation. Beyond stand-alone classes, the article argues the need to mainstream climate considerations in core planning curricula. Modeling this pedagogy will encourage our students to normalize climate considerations as they enter the profession.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the many educators who shared their syllabi, and in particular Jonathan Barnett, JoAnn Carmin, Tara Clapp, Makena Coffman, Bruce Goldstein, Adrienne Greve, Jeff Howard, Rolf Pendall, Rafael Pizarro, John Randolph, Gwen Urey, Jill Sterrett, and Stephen Wheeler.

Notes

1 From the ICLEI website: http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id = global-members, accessed 10/17/2010.

2 For instance, one author used the ‘scenarios’ available from Forum for the Future (http://www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/megacities-on-the-move) in a one-credit freshman seminar on planning for climate change, and the students enjoyed working with them and creating their own scenarios.

3 Of the syllabi we collected, none used more sophisticated land use/transportation modeling for emissions, but this may be a limit to the data collected rather than a reflection of all studio teaching. It seems logical and appropriate that this sort of studio be undertaken under the rubric of mitigation planning.

4 Charles Hoch reported that UIC also undertook a sea level rise studio in 2010 with 90 students, 6 faculties, 2 TAs, developing plans to prepare for sea level rise on the Lake Michigan coast.