Science of climate change
ENV-410
Media
Lecture 5-2025-10-09- Feedback factor climate sensitivity
07.10.2025, 11:15
Lecture 13, 14.12.2023
14.12.2023, 13:25
2023 Lecture 2
29.09.2023, 08:42
Lecture 9 - 2024-11-14
14.11.2024, 14:36
Lecture 14 - 2025-12-18
18.12.2025, 18:37
Lecture_6 2024-10-17
18.10.2024, 16:21
Lecture 7, 2.11.2023
02.11.2023, 18:02
Lecture_1b_20250911
11.09.2025, 14:14
Lecture 13 12.12.2024
13.12.2024, 14:30
Mitigation and climate interventions
Lecture 13 - 2025-12-11
12.12.2025, 12:04
Lecture 13, 14.12.2023
14.12.2023, 13:25
2024-11-28 Lecture 11
28.11.2024, 16:48
Lecture 13, 14.12.2023
14.12.2023, 13:25
Lecture 5 2024-10-10
13.10.2024, 11:13
Lecture_6 2024-10-17
18.10.2024, 16:21
Lecture 9 - 2025-11-13
13.11.2025, 14:13
Lecture 2 2024-09-19
19.09.2024, 17:46
Lecture 2 2025-09-18
18.09.2025, 16:57
22.09.2022, Lecture 1
22.09.2022, 14:20
Introduction, Climate Emergency, Climate System
Lecture 5 - 2025-10-09 - climate models
04.10.2025, 08:57
2024-11-28 Lecture 11
28.11.2024, 16:48
Lecture 12, 07.12.2023
08.12.2023, 08:45
Lecture 5 2024-10-10
13.10.2024, 11:13
22.09.2022, Lecture 1
22.09.2022, 14:20
Introduction, Climate Emergency, Climate System
Lecture 5 - 2025-09-10 - Uncertainty from ACI
04.10.2025, 09:29
2024-11-21 Lecture 10
21.11.2024, 19:20
ENV-410 Lecture 1 - 2024-09-12
12.09.2024, 13:34
ENV-410 Lecture 1 - 2024-09-12
12.09.2024, 13:34
Lecture 2 2024-09-19
19.09.2024, 17:46
Lecture 9 - 2024-11-14
14.11.2024, 14:36
Radiative Forcing - 2025-10-02
03.10.2025, 09:08
Lecture 8 2024-11-07
07.11.2024, 13:18
Lecture 7, 2.11.2023
02.11.2023, 18:02
2024-11-21 Lecture 10
21.11.2024, 19:20
Lecture 12 - 2025-12-04
04.12.2025, 19:02
Lecture 13 12.12.2024
13.12.2024, 14:30
Mitigation and climate interventions
2024-11-21 Lecture 10
21.11.2024, 19:20
Lecture 13, 14.12.2023
14.12.2023, 13:25
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
Lecture 3 2024-09-26
26.09.2024, 16:10
2024-11-28 Lecture 11
28.11.2024, 16:48
Lecture 4 2024-10-04
04.10.2024, 11:17
Lecture 4 - 2025-10-02
03.10.2025, 09:05
Lecture 2 2024-09-19
19.09.2024, 17:46
Lecture 5 - 2025-10-09 - ECS
04.10.2025, 08:59
Lecture 8 2024-11-07
07.11.2024, 13:18
Lecture 12, 07.12.2023
08.12.2023, 08:45
Lecture_6 2024-10-17
18.10.2024, 16:21
Lecture 5 2024-10-10
13.10.2024, 11:13
2023 Lecture 2
29.09.2023, 08:42
Lecture 5 2024-10-10
13.10.2024, 11:13
2023 Lecture 2
29.09.2023, 08:42
Lecture 5 - fast physical feedbacks - 2025-10-09
06.10.2025, 17:50
Lecture 4 2024-10-04
04.10.2024, 11:17
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
Lecture 9 - 2024-11-14
14.11.2024, 14:36
2025 - 11- 20 -Lecture 10
20.11.2025, 18:32
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
2024-12-19 Lecture 14
19.12.2024, 11:38
2024-11-21 Lecture 10
21.11.2024, 19:20
22.09.2022, Lecture 1
22.09.2022, 14:20
Introduction, Climate Emergency, Climate System
ENV-410 Lecture 1 - 2024-09-12
12.09.2024, 13:34
Lecture 4 2024-10-04
04.10.2024, 11:17
Lecture 3 2024-09-26
26.09.2024, 16:10
Lecture 2 2024-09-19
19.09.2024, 17:46
Lecture 8 - 2025-11-06
06.11.2025, 12:41
2024-12-19 Lecture 14
19.12.2024, 11:38
Lecture_1a_20250911
11.09.2025, 14:17
Lecture 4 2024-10-04
04.10.2024, 11:17
Lecture 8 2024-11-07
07.11.2024, 13:18
Lecture 13 12.12.2024
13.12.2024, 14:30
Mitigation and climate interventions
Lecture 7, 2.11.2023
02.11.2023, 18:02
Lecture-3-2025-09-25
25.09.2025, 16:03
Lecture 3 2024-09-26
26.09.2024, 16:10
Lecture-6-2025-10-16
16.10.2025, 14:00
Lecture 8 2024-11-07
07.11.2024, 13:18
Lecture 12, 07.12.2023
08.12.2023, 08:45
22.09.2022, Lecture 1
22.09.2022, 14:20
Introduction, Climate Emergency, Climate System
Lecture 3 2024-09-26
26.09.2024, 16:10
Lecture 12, 07.12.2023
08.12.2023, 08:45
2023 Lecture 2
29.09.2023, 08:42
2024-12-19 Lecture 14
19.12.2024, 11:38
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
Lecture 9 - 2024-11-14
14.11.2024, 14:36
Lecture_6 2024-10-17
18.10.2024, 16:21
2024-11-28 Lecture 11
28.11.2024, 16:48
Lecture7_2024-10-31
01.11.2024, 16:44
- Important to know (Forum)
- Glossary – Climate Change (Glossary)
- Text Exam (File)
- ANSWERS to text exam (File)
- Exam Winter Semester 2023-24 Solutions (File)
Week 1
Information on the working groups for the assignments throughout the semester can be found under "general" and they will be introduced in the first exercise session. You are asked to form groups of four with certain conditions.
Lecture Topic: Introduction to course, Climate Emergency, Climate System
Please watch a previous recording for background information on the climate system, if this topic of the lecture is new to you: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/22.09.2022%2C+Lecture+1/0_k1arrf3r?st=2675; and
until minute 58: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/2023+Lecture+2/0_u1o9cpo3?st=415
This year, we will not repeat this information in the same degree of detail, because the majority of students is already familiar with it.
Exercise session will focus on essential basic chemistry and physics concepts.
During exercise session: Please fill in the pre-class survey in the first exercises (or before): https://forms.gle/NLDqUnfecLvqvMv29
anonymous and not graded
To join online (only recommended
if you are sick, else on site is preferred) see
zoom link in the "general" section.
Recordings from 11 September 2025
Part a: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture_1a_20250911/0_g92j8ucw
Part b: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture_1b_20250911/0_1nencmlm
Week 2
Topic: Climate system, Radiation
Lecture recording: 2025: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+2+2025-09-18/0_c4wprgj3
Lecture Recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+2+2024-09-19/0_dax0ctz6The Exercise Session will focus on the Earth's radiation budget.
- Lecture 1- continued and updated (File)
- Lecture 2 (File)
- ENV-410 survey (File)
- Exercise Week 2 (File)
- Exercises Week 2 (with solutions) (File)
Week 3
Topic: radiation, energy balance, greenhouse gases, aerosols and clouds
Lecture recording 2025, first few minutes have no audio: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture-3-2025-09-25/0_9kzlsbl9
Lecture Recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+3+2024-09-26/0_qilh4t96Some additional resources on IR absorption by CO2
- Video: https://www.pbs.org/video/but-how-does-carbon-dioxide-trap-heat-behfhz/
- Scientific Article: see PDF below "Infrared absorption by CO2"
Why are plants green?
-https://www.mpsd.mpg.de/17628/2015-04-chlorophyll-rubio
- Lecture 3 - Aerosols and Clouds (File)
- Infrared absorption by CO2 (File)
- Exercise class 3 (no solutions) (File)
- Exercise class 3 (with solutions) (File)
Week 4
This week focuses on: Aerosols & Clouds, Radiative Forcing
Lecture Recording 2025: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+4+-+2025-10-02/0_wi0290a2
for the radiative forcing part recording, go here: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Radiative+Forcing+-+2025-10-02/0_jcx7b3dy
Lecture Recording 2024 : https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+4+2024-10-04/0_vd8zwiqn
- Lecture 4 - Radiative Forcing (File)
- exercises week 4 (no solutions) (File)
- exercise week 4 (with solutions) (File)
Week 5
Topic: Feedback factor, climate sensitivity
Recording 1: introduction to climate sensitivity and calculation of the feedback factor: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+5-2025-10-09-+Feedback+factor+climate+sensitivity/0_3bt549zw
Recording 2: Planck feedback, water vapor & lapse rate feedback: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+5+-+fast+physical+feedbacks+-+2025-10-09/0_x1632qgv
Recording 3: Ocean feedback, biogeochemical feedbacks, climate models: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+5+-+2025-10-09+-+climate+models/0_wp4p7z4n
Recording 4: Equilibrium climate sensitivity, emergent constraints: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+5+-+2025-10-09+-+ECS/0_za1fp3ew
Recording 5: ARI and ACI uncertainties: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+5+-+2025-09-10+-+Uncertainty+from+ACI/0_g1ra9zv6
Lecture Recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+5+2024-10-10/0_2pjvnuvl
- Recap slide from 2 October (File)
- Lecture 5 (File)
- Solutions to Lecture 5 (File)
- Exercise week 5 (with solution) (File)
Week 6
Recording 2025: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture-6-2025-10-16/0_eqkwnmg1
Lecture recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture_6+2024-10-17/0_9w6fzrs4
- Lecture 6 Paleoclimate (File)
- Reading 1 - urban heat extremes (File)
- Exercsie week 6 (no solution) (File)
- Exercise week 6 (with solution) (File)
Week 7
Please watch these videos for an introduction to the global circulation. This will not be treated in class, but can be discussed in the exercises if you have questions.
Global circulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fd03fBRsuU
Three cell pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqM83_og1Fc
Jet stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg91eowtfbw
Jet stream and weather: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wCq2Y9CB6Y
Week 8
Topics: IPCC, present day climate change, Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions, Shared Socioeconomic Pathways
Lecture recording 2025: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+8+-+2025-11-06/0_2c6ay5f0Lecture recording 2024 available at: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+8+2024-11-07/0_ll1kbzxu
Week 9
Today's lecture will focus on: Emissions Gap, Extreme Events
COP30 resources:
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/cop30
- https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/
Lecture recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+9+-+2024-11-14/0_h41h7asc
- Lecture 9 (File)
- Reading 2 (File)
- Extreme Events Attribution (File)
- Exercise_slides_exteme_events (File)
Week 10
Today's lecture will focus on extreme event attribution, climate litigation and the remaining carbon budget, and the ongoing COP. Please don't forget to read the two articles uploaded below.
Recording: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/2025+-+11-+20+-Lecture+10/0_0kkjyjoi
Lecture recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/2024-11-21+Lecture+10/0_fmvvama4
For anyone interested in some history of climate change politics and the involvement of US fossil fuel industry, there is a 2-part documentary on ARTE (this is of course voluntary and for further information, not part of material tested in the exam): https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-024617/petrole-un-lobby-tout-puissant/
Week 11
This week focuses on Metrics and carbon credits/offsets
Please read "Reading 4".
Lecture recording 2025: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+11+-+2025-11-27/0_4flfm48r
voluntary long-read on the COP outcome: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/25/fossil-fuel-giants-finally-in-the-crosshairs-cop30-avoids-total-failure-with-last-ditch-deal
Please find more information on metrics below in the PDF "metrics details" and here: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-a-new-way-to-assess-global-warming-potential-of-short-lived-pollutants/
Lecture recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/2024-11-28+Lecture+11/0_227tcp23
Week 12
This week focuses on carbon offsets and climate change in polar regions.
Recording 2024:
Video 1: (starts at the time when the polar climate part begins) https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+12%2C+07.12.2023/0_hzg67tbh?st=2332
Video 2: (only watch to 00:32:39)https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+13%2C+14.12.2023/0_ozsd8wkm?st=200
Week 13
This week will catch up on polar climate change, and it will focus on mitigation and climate engineering
Lecture recording 2025: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+13+-+2025-12-11/0_l6qnib7w
Lecture recording 2024: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/Lecture+13+12.12.2024/0_8lxgeqco
No exercises from 1-3 pm.
At 3 pm we will have the annual poster conference.