What do we mean by climate breakdown?

This is a course that introduces you to climate breakdown.

Climate breakdown is one of the defining issues of our time and if we don’t take action to avoid the consequences, the outcome for our ability to survive on the planet is in question. But before we can do anything to avoid climate breakdown or adapt to the outcomes, we need to understand what it is and what it means for us, for our families, for our workplaces and for future generations. Through our work in environmental education, we’ve realised that most people know very little about this subject and the perilous nature of the situation we’re in.

We decided to use our knowledge to help others and developed this course to provide:

• An explanation of climate breakdown

• An outline of the consequences of climate breakdown for now and for future generations

• A basic look at the science behind the causes of climate breakdown, including the greenhouse effect and tipping points

• A short quiz to consolidate your learning.

By the end of the course, you should be able to talk confidently about the causes and consequences of climate breakdown with your children or grandchildren, with your neighbours and friends and with your colleagues at work.

Course originally uploaded in 2019.

Updated in 2021.

February 2025, addition of 5 new lectures and remastering of existing content.