99696 - Environmental Ethics, Sustainability and Decisions

Academic Year 2022/2023

Learning outcomes

The purpose of this course is to present the main environmental ethics in terms of duties and rights in the relationships between humans and between humans and nature. The main sustainability paradigms (i.e., weak sustainability, a-growth, de-growth, strong sustainability, linear economy, circular economy) will be discussed in terms of the environmental ethics which characterise them. The main sessment and decision methodologies (i.e., Cost-Benefit Analysis, Multi-Criterion Analysis, Life-Cycle Assessment) will be presented in terms of the sustainability paradigms which typify them. Workshops will be organised where each student will present an assigned scientific article from the recent literature, with a subsequent classroom discussion.

Course contents

The purpose of this course is to present the main environmental ethics in terms of duties and rights in the relationships between humans and between humans and nature. The main sustainability paradigms (i.e., weak sustainability, a-growth, de-growth, strong sustainability, linear economy, circular economy) will be discussed in terms of the environmental ethics which characterise them. The main environmental policies (taxes, subsidies, standards, permits) as well as the main assessment and decision methodologies (i.e., Cost-Benefit Analysis, Multi-Criterion Analysis, Life-Cycle Assessment) will be presented in terms of the sustainability paradigms which typify them.

Readings/Bibliography

Zagonari, F. (2020) Environmental sustainability is not worth pursuing unless it is achieved for ethical reasons, Nature – Humanities and Social Sciences Communications

Zagonari, F. (2016) Four sustainability paradigms for environmental management: a methodological analysis and an empirical study based on 30 Italian industries, Sustainability

Pearce, D.W., Turner, R.K. (1991) Economics of natural resources and the environment, Harvester-Weatsheaf

Campbell, H.F., Brown, R.P.C. (1983) Benefit-Cost Analysis, Cambridge University Press

Teaching methods

Workshops will be organised where each student will present an assigned scientific article from the recent literature, with a subsequent classroom discussion.

Assessment methods

Written exam, 90 minutes, 3 questions

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Zagonari

SDGs

Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.