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Unit of Study ENVR2011 - Ecological Economics (2021)

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Unit Snapshot

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Unit description

Explores the nature of economics as relevant to ecology and sustainable development. This involves learning from the trappings of historical economic paradigms and engaging with economic instruments/methods as a way of managing and preventing environmental degradation. This unit engages with topical issues such as population growth, climate change and water scarcity to apply economic rationale to your understanding of these issues using interactive tutorial workshops as a learning tool.

Unit content

 

  1. Introduction to ecological economics: what is it and why it matters for our future
  2. Market systems and market failure: why pollution, poverty and climate change exist 
  3. Ecosystem services and environmental accounting
  4. Economic tools for decision making and changing behaviour
  5. Managing non-renewable and renewable resources: exploring regenerative practice in forests, fisheries and agricultural systems and reducing waste.
  6. Transitioning to new economies: achieving sustainable development

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Session1
Session1
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour
Session1
Session1
Online
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Session1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

analyse the relationship between economic activity and ecology, and demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the economic problem of scarcity and the implications for resource allocation and sustainable development

identify the critical role of economics in resolving environmental issues, and highlight the importance of interdisciplinary science and systems thinking

critically address the difference between environmental economics and ecological economics, and the implications of these differences

demonstrate presentation and discussion skills as relevant to environmental consulting, research and making a positive impact.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.