ESS508 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
| Course Code: | 8740508 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Earth System Science |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Lecturer Dr. BORA KAT |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
Environmental economics represents a discipline of vital importance for ensuring the protection of people and the planet, including in aspects of health and environmental quality interactions in the context of limiting global climate change. This course will equip students with the most recent knowledge, taking into account natural capital, environmental pollution, air and water quality, ecosystem health, and climate change. The course will be based on selected textbook chapters with international case studies and reading material, including but not limited to those from the World Health Organisation, World Meteorological Organisation, their Joint Climate and Health Programme, The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, the Earth League, the Earth Commission, and the European Environment Agency. The structure of the course will be based on thematic lectures and practical examples, with a workshop that is based on the energy usage and emissions of campus buildings, alongside mitigation opportunities. This will lead to research topics that highlight key aspects of protecting environmental quality and delivering health co-benefits to motivate the next generation of environmentally-aware students from the perspective of economics.
Key Course Objectives:
Provide comprehensive perspectives on environmental economics and its interactions
Encourage the utilisation of international cases and practical examples with a workshop
Advance research and communication skills through active discussions and sharing
Utilization and application of the developed skills within a report and presentation
Course Content
Consumption, production and cost. Competitive markets and welfare. Equilibrium and efficiency under different market structures. Market failure and the Coase theorem. Cost benefits analysis in imperfect markets. Natural and renewable resource economics. Policy alternatives to address environmental issues.
Course Learning Outcomes
Obtain essential knowledge on environmental economics with recent international examples
Gain working scientific insight and environmental awareness from the perspective of economics
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | reach the data/knowledge, analyze, evaluate and discuss them scientifically in the field of Earth System Science (in the context of climate change, nature and human use, natural resources, energy, sustainability, economics and policy). They are sensitive on scientific and ethic values. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | do needs analysis, define the problems, and develops/applies methods for the solution of the problems. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | carry out laboratory and field works. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | work on interdisciplinary fields by integrated approach as an expert on different disciplines. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | as the member and/or the leader of the interdisciplinary teams, they work efficiently and take responsibility. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | communicate well in written and spoken English efficiently, participate international projects. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | follow up and be aware of studies and applications at national and international platforms, shares his/her knowledge distinctly for social benefits. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution