Climate Science for Everyone

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Climate Science for Everyone

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Prasad Kasibhatla

2,946 already enrolled

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

22 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

7 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

22 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

7 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Describe the observational evidence for climate change
Explain the physical science basis of climate change
Identify the drivers and trends of greenhouse emissions
Explain how the climate could change in the future

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

Climate change impacts everyone — from record-breaking heat waves, to physical and mental health impacts, to food shortages. Understanding the science behind climate change provides you with the foundational knowledge necessary for taking action in your community and enhancing your career. No matter your age, job, goals, or interests, this course will enable you to meaningfully engage with one of the defining challenges facing humanity today.

What is the evidence for climate change? What key concepts describe the physical science of climate change? And are there ways to predict how the climate could change in the future? This short course provides everyone an entry-level overview of climate change science, with no science background needed! By the end of the course, you should be able to explain the causes of climate change and its impacts. Along the way, you’ll be given opportunities to consider how to apply this knowledge in your own life or career. Learning about climate science is the first step in your journey to becoming a more engaged global citizen as you help determine our planet’s future.

Welcome to Climate Science for Everyone! We’ll begin this week by introducing the course and explaining why understanding climate change science is important to you. Then, we’ll quickly discuss a short history of climate change science. Finally, you will learn about the increase in global average surface temperature since the pre-industrial era in the context of international agreements to limit warming. This will provide foundational knowledge for the rest of the course material.

What's included

3 videos12 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 25 minutes

Welcome to Climate Science for Everyone!9 minutes
Climate Science: A Brief History4 minutes
Contemporary Global Warming 13 minutes

12 readingsTotal 74 minutes

General Course Information7 minutes
Becoming Fluent in Climate and Sustainability5 minutes
Course Entry Survey10 minutes
Our Commitment to Supportive Learning5 minutes
Discussion Guidelines5 minutes
Report a problem with the course5 minutes
Course Glossary10 minutes
Week 1 Data Sources2 minutes
Landmarks in Climate Science Research 10 minutes
What is the evidence for climate change?5 minutes
Where is climate change most apparent?5 minutes
How is the current warming any different? 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Evidence of a Warming Planet Quiz15 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Introduce Yourself!10 minutes
Surface Warming Since the Pre-Industrial Period10 minutes

This week, you will learn about the energy balance of the earth system and how the increase in global average temperature since the pre-industrial era can be explained in terms of changes in this energy balance.

What's included

3 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

3 videosTotal 28 minutes

Inside the Global Energy Budget14 minutes
Climate Models Explained7 minutes
Contemporary Climate Change7 minutes

4 readingsTotal 17 minutes

Week 2 Data Sources2 minutes
What does the Earth’s energy budget tell us about climate change?5 minutes
Are climate models improving?5 minutes
How do we know humans are responsible for climate change?5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Week 2 Quiz15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 20 minutes

Global Temperature Increase since 1850 20 minutes

This week, you will learn about how human activities have changed the atmospheric concentrations of the two main greenhouse gasses, carbon dioxide and methane. We will also touch on how the atmospheric concentration of anthropogenic sulfate aerosols, which have offset some of the warming from greenhouse gasses, is changing because of pollution control measures.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

4 videosTotal 33 minutes

Measures of Atmospheric Concentration and Emission4 minutes
The Human Impact on Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels12 minutes
The Global Carbon Cycle9 minutes
Recent Trends in Methane Concentrations and Regional Sulfur Dioxide Emissions7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 18 minutes

Week 3 Data Sources2 minutes
How Scientists Measure Carbon Dioxide in the Air2 minutes
Charles Keeling and NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory4 minutes
Is the natural removal of carbon from the atmosphere weakening?5 minutes
How do Short-Lived Climate Forcers affect the climate?5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Week 3 Quiz15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Emissions10 minutes

This week, you will learn how global average surface temperature will evolve over the course of this century under various greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Additionally, we will give you a chance to reflect on what you’ve learned in the course and how you can take action to help with climate change both personally and professionally.

What's included

4 videos11 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

4 videosTotal 35 minutes

Idealized Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emission Scenarios10 minutes
Emission Pathways of the Future16 minutes
Carbon Budget for the Paris Climate Targets8 minutes
Closing Thoughts2 minutes

11 readingsTotal 75 minutes

Week 4 Data Sources5 minutes
How will the climate change over the next twenty years?5 minutes
What are the spatial patterns of climate change?5 minutes
How much will sea level rise in the next few decades? 5 minutes
What are carbon budgets?5 minutes
Could climate change be reversed by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?5 minutes
The Growing Carbon Debt 10 minutes
UN Sustainable Development Goal: Take urgent action to combat climate change10 minutes
Course Exit Survey10 minutes
Learn about more Duke climate courses! 5 minutes
Share your learning experience10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Week 4 Quiz15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 20 minutes

What actions can you take?20 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(12 ratings)

Prasad Kasibhatla

Duke University

1 Course2,946 learners

Offered by

Duke University

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Reviewed on Oct 5, 2025

Excellent course with great instructor and student peers. Very well designed course structure, materials, readings, quiz, as well as guest speaker sessions.

Reviewed on Dec 25, 2025

It is a very interesting and high-quality product!

Reviewed on Oct 7, 2025

I learned a great deal in this class. It was all well explained and presented. Thank you for making it available

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