APME75-Energy, Climate Change and Development

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: n.o.bardsley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Examine the core social and economic processes contributing to climate change and critically assess proposed solutions, drawing on ecological economics and energy economics. Learn through lectures integrated with student-centred learning activities and guided preparatory reading.

Aims:
To provide a grounding in ecological and energy economics, and show how these can be applied to analyse the causes of climate change. To enable students to critically consider policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation. To foster an appreciation of the complex and holistic nature of the issues involved.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students will be able to
1.analyse the workings of the economy as a physical system
2.analyse the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and the economy, including energy and monetary aspects
3.describe the likely economic, ecological and social costs of climate change across a range of countries and emissions scenarios
4.critically evaluate alternative policy proposals for mitigation and adaptation to climate change

Additional outcomes:
Students will be able to situate climate change debates in a set of broader debates over ‘limits to growth’ and ‘sustainable development.’ They will develop an appreciation of the differences between mainstream and ecological economics.

Outline content:
Topics covered include conventional and resource-based theories of economic growth, the laws of thermodynamics and their consequences for economics, the monetary system as a driver of growth, resource depletion, the application of cost-benefit analysis to climate change, targets for emissions reduction, climate change ethics, cap and trade schemes versus carbon taxes, renewable energy, plus techniques and policies to reduce land-based emissions.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Sessions will consist of two parts, lectures and seminar activities. Exposition of the course material is through the lectures. Student-centred learning is developed through seminar activities distributed during the preceding week’s lecture.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Relative percentage of coursework: 100%;
70% essay assignment (2 x essays each worth 35%),
20% for a written ‘learning log’ in which students document their learning
experience, covering lectures, seminar activity and reading.
10% for contribution to in class discussions.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
Submission of a new assignment.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 27 July 2020