Energy and Climate Change; Science, Policy and Economics

Course manual 2022/2023

Course content

This course focuses on the inseparable links between energy use and climate change, and the complex scientific/technical, economic, political, and moral questions they raise. The course is truly multi-disciplinary, using each of these intersecting perspectives to help understand, problematize, and generate solutions for how to transform our energy systems and help mitigate climate change. We will assess the current state of energy production, distribution, storage, and usage, as well as the technological horizon. We will investigate the political and economic landscape of energy transitions, including a look at novel financial and policy instruments. We will also scrutinize how to go about making public policy that incorporates scientific, economic, and political realities, but which is also sensitive to relevant moral values and considerations of justice.

Study materials

Other

• Literature references

• Background material

• Sheets of lectures

Objectives

• Understand the multi-disciplinary dimensions involved in transforming energy systems and mitigating climate change (problems which sit at the intersection of science/engineering, public policy, finance, and ethics).
• Comprehend the technological, financial, moral, and political obstacles that need to be overcome to achieve a just and sustainable energy system.
• Identify broader challenges facing sustainable development and the transition towards a just and sustainable world.
• Understand and evaluate the entities (individuals, corporations, NGOs and governments) relevant to implementing sustainable energy solutions and addressing climate change.
• Critically assess the role that values and justice considerations (ought to) play in policymaking.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Seminar

The course consists of a series of lectures/seminars, in which students are expected to play an active role, i.e. prepare papers,  a presentation and participation in class discussion.

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance is required and will be taken each class. The course involves significant discussion and depends on everyone's active engagement to work. In the event that a serious circumstance prevents you from attending, email the coordinator, in which case one, and only one, absence can be compensated by an alternative form of participation (determined in consultation with the coordinator). Any further absences will result in loss of attendance and participation credit, and multiple absences may result in failure of the course.

Assessment

Attendance and Participation:

• As mentioned above, attendance is required. Please be punctual. Lateness will result in a lowered attendance and participation grade.
• Full credit requires more than simply showing up. You must come to class prepared to engage thoughtfully, having done the reading and spent significant time considering it. You need to do all of the things that make a discussion go well; listen actively, ask questions, answer them, give examples, explore ideas, offer reasons for or against certain positions, critically engage with the material and with others, etc. If you are not comfortable speaking immediately, that is okay. Let me know and we can find other ways for you to actively participate.
• Most importantly for participation, be respectful. Disagreement and criticism are essential to science, policy, and ethics, but disrespect has no place. Please also be conscious of the balance of contributions in class—if you’ve spoken a lot, make an effort to cede the floor to less-vocal classmates who might be waiting to enter the conversation.

Papers:

• Paper 1 is due Wednesday, Nov. 16th (upload to Canvas before 5pm).
• Paper 2 is due Wednesday, Nov. 30th (upload to Canvas before 5pm).
• Paper 3 is due Wednesday, Dec. 21st (upload to Canvas before 5pm).

Late papers without prior permission will come with significant penalties. They will be marked down 1 grade point (e.g., from 8 to 7) for each day past the deadline, including weekends. As a tip, back up your work frequently and start the papers well in advance of the due date.

Group Project:

• The group project is due Friday, December 16th (hard copy, when you finish your presentation).

There are no extensions possible for the group project.

Assignments

Attendance and Participation (10% of final grade):

• See above.

Papers (70% of final grade):

All papers are ~1,000 words, plus citations (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, 2.6cm margins). Aside from the requirement that they draw from the correct material (see below), the specific topics are up to the student. However, it is recommended to consult with the coordinator on topic/plans to make sure it is appropriate. More guidance on writing the papers (and how to succeed) will be posted on Canvas.

• Paper 1 (20% of final grade, due Nov. 16th):
  • Should draw on the material from Seminars 1-4. 
• Paper 2 (25% of final grade, due Nov. 30th):
  • Should draw on the material from Seminars 5-8.
• Paper 3 (25% of final grade, due Dec. 21st):
  • Should draw on the material from Seminars 9-12.

Group Project (20% of final grade):

• The group project involves two components.
  1. Students will jointly produce a ~2,500 word (plus citations) policy analysis on a topic of their choosing.
  2. Students will jointly produce a ~15-minute presentation to be presented to the class on Dec. 16th, after which the group will face questions and engage in discussion with the class.
• Group size and presentation length will be determined by total enrollment.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

While most of the participating students are likely to have done prior studies in the natural, earth or environmental sciences, they are not necessarily expected to possess a background in science and technology in general, or in environmental or energy science specifically. Readings and lectures provide that background as necessary. In other words, this course is in principle also open for students with a background in, e.g., political/social sciences, business, finance, or economics, but with an interest in the subject matter of energy and climate change.

We do expect you to have general skills reading and analyzing texts, understanding concepts and theories, reasoning logically, and writing and communicating clearly.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Colin Hickey PhD