AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course has the main purpose to provide the basic knowledge to understand the main contemporary environmental challenges and in particular climate change. The geophysical processes that characterise the eco-climate crisis will be analysed, as well as the main mitigation and adaptation policies, considering the implications on socio-environmental justice and on/of the main areas of territorial development like tourism.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• summarize the basic elements of environmental geography applied to different contexts;

• adopt a critical perspective on environmental processes;

• identify the multiscalarity of phenomena and their implications on territories;

• identify and understand contemporary challenges;

• argue and describe how environmental enhancement, protection and promotion is a complex and articulated process.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures and seminars, for a total of 30 hours (equal to 5 CFU), aimed at discussing the consequences and processes related to the contemporary environmental crisis from a geographical perspective and through the use of case studies.

Occasionally, (Italian and foreign) scholars or experts in the discipline may be invited to hold seminars to delve into specific aspects of the issues covered.

Attending students will also have the opportunity to carry out group or individual work that must be returned in the form of an oral presentation during the course. Specific information will be provided in class and through the AulaWeb of the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will provide students the instruments to understand and interpret the phenomena object of study in environmental geography. Particular attention will be paid to understanding the processes of transformation of the relationship between society and nature, climate change and its policies. 

Main topics of study will be explored in depth: climate change, climate diplomacy, climate securitization, socio-environmental and climate justice, land/sea/water/climate grabbing, sustainable development, tourism and climate change. Furthermore, geo-cartographic tools will be used for the critical reading of different phenomena.

An in-depth analysis will be provided in relation to the Italian coasts and their future.  

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides and study support materials will be provided during the lessons. The use of the following texts is also recommended:

Bagliani M., Pietta A., Bonati S. (2019) Il cambiamento climatico in prospettiva geografica. Aspetti fisici, impatti e politiche. Il Mulino.

Latini G., Bagliani M., Orusa T. (2020) Lessico e nuvole: le parole del cambiamento climatico. Università degli studi di Torino (liberamente scaricabile qui: https://zenodo.org/records/4276945#.YBLsV3Og9hE).

It could also be used the publication n. 2(2021) by Rivista Geografica Italiana entitled "Social nature geographies. Le geografie e l'approccio sociale alla natura", availlable here: https://journals.francoangeli.it/index.php/rgioa/issue/view/914.

Further texts, especially thought for non attending students, are:

Menga F. (2024) Sete. Ponte alle Grazie. 

Colantoni L. (2024) Lungo la corrente. Viaggio nell'Europa che affronta il cambiamento climatico. Laterza.

Moore J.W. (2023) Ecologia-mondo e crisi del capitalismo. La fine della natura a buon mercato. Ombre Corte. 

Dematteis M., Nardelli M. (2023) Inverno liquido. La crisi climatica, le terre alte e la fine della stagione dello sci di massa. Roma: DeriveApprodi.

Bompan E., Iannelli M. (2018) Water Grabbing. Le guerre nascoste per l'acqua nel XXI secolo. Emi.

Non attending students are invited to contact the professor before the exam to agree the texts to study.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will take place in the first semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral.

Group or individual work, possibly carried out by attending students, even if discussed during the course, forms an integral part of the oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will allow to evaluate:
- mastery and deepening of knowledge,
- the ability to use the skills developed.

Evaluation criteria are:
- the quality of the oral communication,
- the correct use of the appropriate vocabulary,
- the ability of critical analysis, even on possible cases discussed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information available in Aulaweb