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Lecturer(s)
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Course content
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1. Environmental Changes and Population Security 2. Climate Change and Its Impacts on People and Society 3. Climate Change in an International Context 4. Water as a Risk Factor and Strategic Resource 5. Water Pollution and Its Impacts on Public Health 6. Food Security and Environmental Changes 7. Environmental Changes, Health, and Population Vulnerability 8. Adaptation of Cities, Municipalities, and Regions to Environmental Changes 9. Sustainable Development I - Principles and Global Framework 10. Sustainable Development II - Applications in Population Protection and Risk Prevention 11. Case Studies of Environmental Crises and Adaptation Measures Study materials, academic sources, and resources related to individual topics are made available to students through LMS Moodle.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Demonstration, Group work
- Semestral Work
- 12 hours per semester
- Homework for Teaching
- 6 hours per semester
- Attendace
- 26 hours per semester
- Preparation for the Exam
- 10 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The course aims to introduce students to major environmental changes, their causes, and their implications for the safety, health, and living conditions of populations. Particular attention is paid to climate change, the availability and quality of water and food resources, environmental pollution, differences in population vulnerability, and the associated societal and security implications. The course develops students' ability to critically interpret scientific information and environmental data, analyse selected environmental problems, and assess options for prevention, mitigation, and adaptation at the individual, municipal, regional, and societal levels. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between environmental security, population protection, and sustainable development. The course also develops students' ability to adapt and communicate selected environmental topics for educational purposes to lower and upper secondary school pupils.
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Explain the relationship between environmental changes, environmental security, health, population vulnerability, and sustainable development. 2. Describe the basic mechanisms of climate change, distinguish between mitigation and adaptation, and explain the main current and projected impacts of climate change on populations, settlements, infrastructure, and public services. 3. Interpret and critically evaluate scientific, strategic, and data sources related to climate and environmental changes, distinguish scientifically supported information from unsubstantiated claims, and assess the suitability of information sources for addressing a specific problem. 4. Analyse the importance of water and food as strategic resources and assess the potential consequences of their scarcity, contamination, or supply disruptions for populations and the functioning of society. 5. Assess the health and social impacts of selected environmental changes, taking into account differences in vulnerability among population groups. 6. Propose and justify appropriate adaptation and preventive measures for a selected municipality, city, region, or model scenario, and assess their potential benefits and limitations. 7. Analyse a selected environmental crisis or adaptation project in terms of its causes, impacts, vulnerabilities, measures implemented, and their relationship to the principles of sustainable development and population protection. 8. Adapt selected specialised content related to environmental changes for educational purposes, taking into account the age and learning needs of the target group of pupils, formulate key educational messages, and propose appropriate methods for communicating the content.
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Prerequisites
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The course does not require the completion of any prior university courses. Basic knowledge of natural and social sciences at the upper secondary school level is expected, particularly in geography, biology, and fundamental environmental issues. The specialised concepts and relationships necessary for completing the course are developed during instruction.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral exam, Seminar Work, Written exam
Requirements for successful completion of the course: 1. Attendance at a minimum of 80% of seminars. 2. Preparation, presentation, and successful completion of a seminar assignment focused on analysing a selected environmental problem, environmental crisis, or adaptation measure. 3. Successful completion of the examination. The seminar assignment involves working with scientific literature, data, and strategic documents, critically evaluating the reliability of sources, and formulating evidence-based conclusions. It also includes a brief adaptation of a selected topic for educational purposes, aimed at lower or upper secondary school pupils. Assessment focuses on subject knowledge and accuracy, the quality of analysis and argumentation, the use of relevant sources, the appropriateness of the educational adaptation, and active participation in seminars. Examination: The examination is conducted in person and consists of a written component and, where applicable, an oral component. The written test contains 30 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer. - 28-30 points: A - 26-27 points: B - 24-25 points: C - 0-23 points: progression to the oral component of the examination Students awarded a grade of B or C in the written test may request an oral examination. During the oral examination, students draw a question from a list of topics published in advance. The final grade is determined based on overall performance in both the written and oral components. The written examination is conducted under the supervision of the instructor. Assessment criteria for the seminar assignment and examination requirements are communicated to students in advance. Approved accommodations for students with specific needs are respected throughout the assessment process. Detailed assessment criteria for the seminar assignment, examination topics, and organisational instructions are available in LMS Moodle.
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Recommended literature
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Dale, Lisa. (2022). Climate Change Adaptation: An Earth Institute Sustainability Primer. New York.
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European Environment Agency. European Climate Risk Assessment (EEA Report 01/2024). Luxembourg. 2024.
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Floyd, Rita; Matthew, Richard A. (eds.). Environmental Security: Approaches, Issues and Actors (2nd ed.). Abingdon. 2026.
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Marek, Michal V. a kol. (2022). Klimatická změna - příčiny, dopady a adaptace. Praha.
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Martinovský, Petr. (2016). Environmentální bezpečnost v České republice. Brno.
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Ministerstvo životního prostředí. Koncepce environmentální bezpečnosti 2021-2030 s výhledem do roku 2050. Praha. 2020.
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United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025: Resilience Pays: Financing and Investing for Our Future. UNDRR. 2025.
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