Bridging Climate Science, Economics, and CooperationCornell Course

In this course, you will examine how climate science, economic reasoning, and international cooperation interact to guide climate decisions. You'll explore how foundational research is synthesized into broader climate assessments and consensus-based guidance, with a focus on the editorial and review processes of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that shape the clarity, credibility, and utility of those assessments. You'll then examine the constraints involved in producing accurate and relevant climate guidance for the mitigation of climate impacts, including the need to balance scientific precision, accessibility, and policy relevance.

You will also examine how a response can be coordinated on the basis of those assessments, focusing on the economic and political dimensions of mitigation and international cooperation. You'll evaluate the costs of delayed action, the case for early investment in mitigation, and the challenges of aligning diverse interests and values across countries and stakeholder groups.

This course serves as a bridge from climate science and projection to economically sound and cooperative climate action decision making to understand how rigorous assessments, economic reasoning, and equity considerations inform a coordinated approach at national and international levels.

You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Evaluating Climate Evidence, Claims, and Solutions
• Applying Climate Projections to Regional Planning