Decision-making theory and environmental decision-making; Systems theory, systems thinking and systems analysis.
Environmental systems analysis, environmental assessment, evaluation.
Tools for environmental systems analysis strategic environmental assessment (environmental impact assessment, life-cycle assessment, material flow analysis, cost-benefit analysis, technology assessment, integrated assessment, position analysis.
After the course, the student should be able to
- Describe how a specific environmental decision situation may be characterized with respect to (a) the decision level on a seven-levelled scale including the global level, the international region level, the national level, the provincial level, the municipal level, the corporate/organizational level and the individual/household level, (b) who is the key decision maker, (c) who are the main stakeholders to be involved in the decision.
- Describe the main characteristics (procedure, type of results, strengths and weaknesses, main applicability) of the most important environmental systems analysis tools, including MFA (Material Flow Analysis), SFA (Substance Flow Analysis), LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), LCC (Life Cycle Costing), EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) and CBA (Cost-Benefit Analysis).
- Describe and explain what types of development trends may be expected in the area of environmental systems analysis.
- Explain and analyze how a specific environmental systems analysis tool or a combined use of two or several tools may contribute to an improved decision-making in a specific decision situation.
- Demonstrate an ability to cooperate in a group task work and together with other students produce a joint report of good quality with respect to formal issues, facts content and analysis.