Environment and Sustainable Development

Introduction

Climate change, environmental degradation and the pollution of water and air stand as significant challenges of our time, both on a global and local scale. Considerable resources from both businesses and governments are dedicated to new green interventions and environmental protection. This calls for a critical evaluation: Do these policies effectively address the issues, or are resources wasted on ineffective pollution control measures? If so, how can the policies be improved?

Environmental economics explores how economic activity and policy affect the environment in which we live. Certain choices in production and that households make result in pollution – such as vehicles exhausting emissions, which both degrade local air quality and contribute to global warming. However, pollution from economic activity is not inescapable. Policy can mandate companies to decrease emissions and motivate individuals to alter their behavior. But, there exists a trade-off: initiatives leading to a cleaner environment involve economic costs.. Then, how much should the society invest in pollution control? Is achieving zero pollution a feasible goal, or should we tolerate some level of pollution due to the economic benefits it brings?

This course aims to equip students – the future business consultants and political advisors  – with analytical skills required for making informed decisions. Through a combination of lectures, seminar exercises, and individual studies, students will gain the necessary knowledge to navigate these complex issues.

Course content

Main topics are:

• Pollution targets and policy instruments
• Environmental and technology policies
• Pollution control under uncertainty
• International environmental problems and agreements
• Climate change economics and integrated assessment models
• Environmental macroeconomics