Valuing the Environment

Course aim

To provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of environmental issues through the lens of economic perspective. It focuses on systems thinking for valuing and managing the environment.

Course content

The course focuses on the integration of environment into economic policies and practices for sustainable development by using systems thinking and transdisciplinary approach. It consists of four modules. (i) Conceptual background: Integration of economic principles in addressing environment using a transdisciplinary approach. Perspectives from environmental economics and ecological economics. Economic growth and sustainable development. (ii) Theoretical framework: Use of economic instruments and systems thinking for managing environment and preventing environmental degradation. The economics of externalities including cost-benefit analysis of social, ecological and economic externalities – positive and negative with focus on water resources, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing sector. (iii) Evaluation methods and applications: Methods to capture stocks and flows of produced, natural, social and human capital including market and non-market valuation of ecosystem services and principles of true cost accounting. Analysis of trade-offs and impacts on social, economic and environmental well-being. Applications of the transdisciplinary approach to value and manage environment and natural resources in real world situations by focusing on Australia, Asia-Pacific and international case studies. (iv) Policy context: Understanding the environmental policy from local to global scale, role of green economy and contribution to the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations.

Textbook(s)

Nil

Prerequisite(s)

Nil

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Continuous assessment, Examination, Report

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 2)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.