PH210-The Economics of Climate Change for Environmental Physics

Module Provider: School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: EC110 The Economics of Climate Change
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Prof Matt Owens

Email: m.j.owens@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module will offer an economic perspective on the causes and consequences of climate change. It will provide an introduction to the theoretical concepts and approaches used to devise adequate responses to climate change, such as externalities and public goods and principles of behavioural economics to understand the roles of both financial and non financial incentives. The module will also introduce national and international policy approaches in dealing with climate change and provide an overview of their implications for economic development.

Aims:

This module aims to introduce economics and non-economics students to the economics and policy issues of climate change.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, the student will be able to demonstrate: * an understanding of the analytical tools that economics offers to find adequate responses to climate change * an ability to critically evaluate current and proposed policies dealing with climate change mitigation and adaptation

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Following the introduction on the causes and consequences of climate change, a selection of topics from the following list will be covered. Theoretical concepts: externalities, public goods, economic efficiency. Environmental policy: implementation and performance, cost-benefit analysis, ethics of climate change, behavioural economics, international agreements.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10	1
Guided independent study:	80	9
Total hours by term	90	10
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	60
Class test administered by School	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One in-class test, with a weight of 40% in the overall mark.



Group essay or excel project to be completed by the beginning of the Spring term. This will have a weight of 50% in the overall mark. 

In the spring term, one essay question based on special lecture, worth 10% of overall mark

Formative assessment methods:

Online quizzes on Blackboard

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A minimum mark of 40%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-assessment will be on the basis of a single independent project, related to a topic covered in the module. This will not be a re-submission of the earlier (group) project.

The project for re-assessment is required to be submitted by 18 August 2017.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2019