GE2241 - Cool Ideas for Hot, Thirsty Cities: Climate and Water Governance

Cities and regions around the world are undergoing major transformations such as increased levels of urbanization, industrialization, and motorization. These transformations result, among others, in increases of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as observed in changes in the statistical properties of atmospheric variables such as temperature and precipitation. These changing variables are manifested in sea level rise and flood risk which impact on several aspects of urban water management. Water utilities are also contributing to climate change as they are a source of GHG through their consumption of fossil fuels and emissions of methane. Knowledge of the impact of climate change on water and vice versa is emerging and there is great interest about planning for the consequences.

In an interdisciplinary and pioneering manner, this course examines ‘cool ideas’ related to the management of climate change and water resources, with a strong focus on the ‘hot and thirsty cities’ of the Pearl River Delta (PRD). The social, political, and economic processes that govern climate change and water issues will be examined. Lectures, seminars, readings and presentations, together with fieldtrips and guest lectures will use Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou cutting-edge cases to give students in depth knowledge and an opportunity to discover major climate and water issues.