This course will look behind some commonly stated views on climate change and how man’s activities affect the planet. The earth's climate is certainly changing and measurements show it is getting warmer. Other measurements, for example CO2 levels, ice cover, sea level and ocean acidification, build a wider picture of our changing environment. We will look at the numbers and basic science behind the measurements. How are these measurements made, what do they indicate and how reliable are they? Predictions of future climate are made from Climate Models. what are they and how accurate are they proving to be? These predictions are resulting in political attempts to limit climate change and include policies with far-reaching economic and life style consequences (e.g. power generation, transport and agriculture). What are these policies hoping to achieve, and can they be successful in achieving a sustainable planet?