The aim of this module consists in providing robust learning materials to students about the impact of climate change in the Arctic and its consequences at a global level. Students familiarize themselves with the region under consideration, one of the “hotspots” of climate change where the impact of the latter is particularly strong and visible on the environment, notably the cryosphere and permafrost regions, as well as the Arctic societies. Climate change also opens new perspectives for economic development on the benefits of which opinions diverge, an issue reflected by media discourses that are discussed in this module. Last but not least, such changes also impact the geopolitical role of the Arctic and issues of international security that the model will also introduce students to.

The module provides an introduction to the subject and a number of case studies in English. Higher Education institutions might wish to adapt content by keeping some of the English-language case studies but also adding content from other national media, perhaps closer to their students’ experience. Whatever the case may be, the content needs to be regularly updated as the situation is changing very fast in the Arctic.