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Learning Module
6.0
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EuroMed: II. Economic and Ecological Bases
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Academic Coordinator
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Profª. Cristina García Fernández | Complutense University of Madrid
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Abstract
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An increasing awareness that
our global ecological life-support system is endangered is forcing us to
realize that decisions made on the basis of local, narrow, short-term criteria
can produce disastrous results globally and in the long run. There is also
a growing acknowledgement that traditional economic and ecological models
and concepts fall short in their ability to deal with global ecological problems.
Throughout history humans have both affected, and been affected by, the
natural world. While a good deal has been lost due to human actions, much
of what is valued about the environment has been preserved and protected
through human action. While many uncertainties remain, there is a realization
that environmental problems are becoming more and more complex, especially
as issues arise on a more global level, such as that of atmospheric pollution
or global warming.
This program provides studies in the environment and natural resources through
a holistic and interdisciplinary approach. Students’ programs and research
will prepare them to pursue independent research aimed at solving the complex
issues facing the world environment learning about varied approaches and using
a variety of tool and methods.
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Course Objectives
The primary objective of
this course is to introduce the main concepts and tools of environmental economics.
The field of environmental and resource economics is the study of the economy
and its interaction with the environment. There is an increasing need for
utilizing economic tools in developing new environmental approaches and policies.
In the other hand, the ecological economics provides a context for understanding
the strengths and weaknesses of the more conventional environmental and resource
economics. In ecological economics the economy is viewed as a sub-system
of the biosphere and considers the dimensions of scale, distribution and
efficient allocation. Environmental economics places more emphasis on the
central role of the market and focuses primarily on efficient allocation.
Both approaches provide valuable insights into a wide range of environmental
issues such as the causes and control of pollution; resource degradation,
depletion and remediation; congestion and urban sprawl, despoliation and privatization
of the global commons, and they raise vital questions of intraand inter-generational
equity and policy-making.
After taking this course, students should:
· Be aware of the natural
resource depletion problem.
· Evaluate the widespread consequences
of natural resource depletion at international scale.
· Be aware of the international
environmental problems.
· Take into account the implications
for international cooperation.
· Understand the differences and
relationships between environmental and ecological economics.
· Appreciate the significance
of scale, distribution and allocation in analyzing economic- environmental
interactions.
· Be familiar with economics terminology,
concepts and reasoning.
· Understand the advantages and
the shortcomings of economic analysis.
· Be able to apply economic analysis
to environmental issues.
· Be able to explain the key challenges
involved in applying neoclassical economics to environmental problems.
· Understand the rationale for
various types of environmental policy, at the local, provincial, national
and international levels.
· Be able to situate economic
analysis within wider historical, cultural, political, social, international
and ecological contexts.
· Identify and compare major assumptions
and theories of ecological and conventional economics with an emphasis on
the roles of the ecosystem, the individual, and social institutions.
· Evaluate and compare the potential
of natural resource economy approach in meeting state standards and citizenship
goals.
· Develop units on natural resource
economics that are interdisciplinary, inquiry-based, and utilize authentic
assessment.
· Engage in research, self-reflection,
and other learning strategies.
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Programmatic Contents
Upon completion of the course,
students will deal with several topics on economics, environment, natural
resources and ecology. Some of these are the following:
· Economy and the environment
· Environmental policies, planning
and assessment
· Economy-environment interdependence,
limits of growth?
· Natural resources management
· Steps towards attaining sustainable
economic behaviour
· Static and dynamic efficiency in
a market economy
· Externalities
· Cost benefits analysis
· Property rights, common property
resources and environmental resources
· Instruments for achieving pollution
abatement targets
· Economic incentive instruments
· A comparison of the relative advantages
of command and control, emissions tax, emissions abatement subsidy and marketable
permit instruments
· Instruments for conserving biodiversity
· International environmental problems
· The greenhouse effect
· The world of climate change: economic
consequences
· The real threat of global warming:
economic solutions?
· Energy and climate change
· The cost of reducing carbon dioxide
emissions
· International environmental cooperation
· Ecological economics and how it differs
from conventional economics
· Tasks required for ecological economics
· Relationships between ecological,
economic and cultural sustainability
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Teaching Units »»»
6.1
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An
Introduction to the natural resource economy model
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6.2
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Instruments
for achieving pollution abatement targets
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6.3
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The
economy of climate change: cost and consequences
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