Environmental economics

Summary

Introduction to economic analysis applied to environmental issues: all the necessary basic concepts, including cost-benefit analysis, for environmental policy making and its instruments (examples: climate, waste, mobility). Introduction to financial calculation applied to project evaluation.

Content

Keywords

environmental economics, environmental policy, cost-benefit analysis, project evaluation, financial calculus

Learning Prerequisites

Important concepts to start the course

Basic algebra and using a spreadsheet such as Excel.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Explain price formation
• Compare environmental policy instruments
• Argue for an environmental policy
• Compute the profitability of engineering projects
• Solve small mathematical problems

Transversal skills

• Take account of the social and human dimensions of the engineering profession.
• Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
• Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking

Teaching methods

Lectures in the first two periods, exercises in the third.

Expected student activities

Participate actively in class.

Assessment methods

Intermediate exam (1/2 of grade) and final exam (1/2 of grade).

Supervision

Resources

Notes/Handbook

Slides will be made available on a Moodle page

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/ENV-471

Videos

• http://Recordings of lectures, accessible through Moodle