教學大綱 Syllabus

課程簡介Course Description

In recent years, as the trend of global warming has become increasingly evident, the international community and national governments have actively promoted a variety of response measures. In this process, the future development of the global food system has emerged as a critical issue in climate policy. On one hand, the food system accounts for approximately 30% of global carbon emissions, making it a major driver of global warming. On the other hand, the extreme weather events brought about by climate change directly threaten the stability of food production. Furthermore, agricultural technology and sustainable practices in ecological farming are seen as vital strategies for addressing extreme weather and reducing global carbon emissions, offering potential solutions for governments in climate governance. As such, the role of the global food system in climate change is complex and multifaceted. It is both a significant source of the problem and a key player in the adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

This course seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between climate change and the global food system. It is structured into three interconnected parts, each focusing on a key dimension of this relationship.

The first part examines the contribution of the global food system to global warming, exploring the underlying factors and drivers of its carbon footprint. The second part delves into the impacts of climate change on the global food system and local communities, including the effects of extreme weather events and the challenges posed by net-zero carbon emission policies. Finally, the third part explores innovative agricultural systems, technologies, and sustainable practices that are positioned to offer potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Course Format

• Group Discussion & Short Lecture:

My role will be a facilitator who supports your learning. In particular, this course is built on group discussion and collective learning. Most learning will be based on reading assigned materials, discussion, and class activities. I will supplement these activities with short lectures that help contextualize readings, articulate learning themes across weeks, and move the discussion forward.

• A Student-centered Learning Approach:

I employ a student-centered learning approach in this course rather than a traditional lecture format (i.e., you listen to lectures to learn knowledge). The methods of learning in this course, thus, involve two major aspects:

• • Careful and critical reading of assigned materials. I will provide a weekly study guide to help you think and read materials with intention.
  • Moderated group discussion. Everyone will be assigned to a discussion group of around 5-6 students. You will be mainly interacting with these group mates throughout the semester. Everyone will rotate to serve as a group discussion facilitator and write summary reports for the group discussion.

Learning Activities

• Guided Reading Note:

I will provide guiding questions for each assigned reading to help you navigate and understand readings. These questions will not be difficult and only involve the readings’ most important aspects of knowledge. You will need to “answer” these guiding questions by taking notes in any way you prefer. You are not required to write lengthy answers or take extensive notes. The minimum requirement is 2-3 sentences for each question.

• Climate Change Impact Report – non-human perspective

Throughout the course, you will also need to study a specific issue regarding the relationship between climate change and the global food system. This investigation will employ a non-human perspective. You need to select a “non-human” entity – a specific type of crops or a particular kind of infrastructure underlying the global food commodity chain, a specific kind of farming technique, or other entities that you are interested in. The main goal of the study is to assess the impact of climate change through the lens of this “non-human” entity. In the end, you will need to write up a policy-style report. I will provide a more detailed guideline during the course.

• Study Journal:

Study Journal is a Google document you share with me. I will provide detailed instructions later for how to create your Study Journal. I hope this Study Journal will serve as a platform for you to monitor and track your learning progress. It will also be a good way for me to know how you are doing during these four months and what measures I could do to support your learning. You will be responsible for maintaining this Study Journal throughout the 4-month course. In specific, this Study Journal will include four components.

1. At the beginning of the course, you will need to develop your learning schedule for all the course assignments stated in the syllabus. (mandatory)
2. In the 9^th week of the course, you will need to do a mid-term reflection to evaluate your learning so far and how you may adjust your study plan in the next two months. (mandatory)
3. At the end of the course, you will need to write a brief report evaluating your learning during these four months. (mandatory)
4. You are welcome to write an update on your learning progress and status any time during the semester (e.g., once a week) on the same document. (optional)