ESA-31806 Environmental Assessments for Pollution Management

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

ESA-20506 or ESA-22806

Contents:

This course focuses on the management of international (transboundary) pollution problems: global warming, air pollution and water pollution. Solving these problems requires international cooperation, and studies of these problems require an international scope. Many examples of environmental assessments for pollution management exist. Some of these are effective in assisting environmental policy making. Others failed. In this course we will discuss why some environmental assessments are more effective than others. We will focus in particular on the role of environmental models in this, and on the use and the design of these models. This will help us to better understand how scientific knowledge on causes, effects and solutions of environmental problems can be integrated in a policy-relevant way. To follow the course, students do not need to have experience in programming or computer modeling.

Learning outcomes:

After this course, students are able to:
- recognize why some environmental assessments are more effective than other;
- explain how environmental models can play a role in integrated assessments for pollution management;
- explain and critically discuss the use of environmental systems analysis tools in integrated environmental models;
- design integrated environmental models in terms of general model specifications (model inputs, outputs, system boundaries, etc).

Examination:

Based on written examination and group work report.

Literature:

A course manual and reader are available.