On Feb 23, 2008, at 4:10 PM, David L Levy wrote:
I've been looking for syllabi for an MBA/international management course on climate change and business (an undergrad syllabus would also be OK) - I can find lots of more general courses on environmental management, as well as courses on climate change politics, but have not found anything specifically on climate change and business (which would include, e.g. a section on science, business engagement with the scientific debate and the media, business-government relations, business and international institutions, business and NGOs, the economics of adaptation and mitigation, carbon trading, business strategies in various sectors, from renewables to fossil fuels, etc etc.).
I have plenty of ideas for articles, videos, etc., but I'm looking for some existing complete syllabi.
Many thanks!
David
David L. Levy
Professor and Chair
Department of Management and Marketing
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:placename>, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>
100 Morrissey Blvd., <st1:city w:st="on">Boston</st1:city>, MA 02125, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region>
http://www.faculty.umb.edu/david_levy/
"Climate Change: Understanding, Measurement and Mitigation"
Course Number MBAS603
Winter 2008
Credits 3 Credits (0.5 credits/trimester)
Instructor - Kelly Bennett
Office Hours Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
2. Description
This low-intensity course runs through the entire curriculum for the purpose of thoroughly familiarizing students with the scientific, political, economic, and business dimensions of the rapidly evolving debate about climate change and energy policy. Includes measurement and reporting of personal carbon accounts, development of personal carbon mitigation plans, and simulation of offset and cap and trade systems.
3. Intended Audience and Rationale
Students who plan to focus on carbon management or mitigation within their organization. As this course builds on and develops the skills needed for personal and corporate carbon emission measurement, control and avoidance, students who intend to make sustainability, energy or environmental management a significant part of their careers will benefit.
4. Goals
The broad goals in the course are three:
1. Skill Building – Build confidence in each student's ability to participate in complex carbon markets.
2. Subject Matter Expertise – Be conversant in basics of climate science, underlying policy framework, corporate measurement and reporting requirements, and market-based mechanisms of carbon management.
3. Develop a community of managers and entrepreneurs who can serve as on-going resources for each other in the context of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies and business opportunities.
5. Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Fully explain to a business audience the science, policy, market mechanisms and instruments, and business implications of climate change
• Make informed decisions for best carbon strategies and practices in a business environment
• Develop expert depth in two (2) different industries/sectors
• Demonstrate significant understanding of and possible reductions in their own carbon emissions
6. Topical Outlines and Assignments
6.1 Outline by Trimester
Trimester 1
• Introduce climate science and trends for laypersons
• Establish baseline personal carbon footprint
• Create personal carbon management plan
• Start personal footprint monitoring and reporting
Trimester 2
• Review origins and state of public climate policy (regional, national, international)
• Continue personal footprint monitoring and reporting
• Set personal reduction goals
Trimester 3
• Survey of historic, current, and emerging carbon markets and instruments
• Continue personal footprint monitoring and reporting
• Review achievement of personal reduction goals
• Start using offsets and begin trading simulation
Trimester 4
• Analyze the business case for carbon management and reduction
• Continue monitoring of carbon market and policy developments
• Continue personal footprint monitoring and reporting
• Continue using offsets and trading simulation
Trimester 5
• Review of corporate voluntary measurement, registry and reporting protocols
• Continue monitoring of carbon market and policy developments
• Continue personal footprint monitoring and reporting
• Continue using offsets and trading simulation
Trimester 6
• Survey of business strategies and best practices for addressing carbon emissions
• Analyze stakeholder responses to corporate strategies (i.e., customers, shareholders, market analysts, media, etc.)
• Continue monitoring of carbon market and policy developments
• Finalize personal footprint monitoring and reporting
6.2 Assignments for Trimester 1 (Winter 2008 for Cohort 1)
Week 1 – January 21 (INTENSIVE I)
Discussion Topic 1.1: Introductions and Expectations
Post an introductory message that contains what you'd like us to know about you, your expectations about this course, your general thoughts about climate change, and your hopes for the trimester and for your program of study.
Assignment 2.1:
Week 2 – January 28
Assignment 2.1:
Watch An Inconvenient Truth.
Discussion Topic 2.2:
The film presents a wealth of information and, based on the latest IPCC report, scientific understanding continues to evolve. How does the film stand up to the new information? If it's your second time watching An Inconvenient Truth, how did this viewing compare to the first? What messages or images held the most impact? What was your overall feeling at the end of it? Do those feelings (positive or negative) shape what you want to do next? How?
Week 3 – February 4
Reading Assignment 3.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 1 - 4.
Discussion Topic 3.2: Not all people look to science as the ultimate authority. What sort of sources would be most compelling and trustworthy for you in considering the problem of climate change? Compare the role of "scientific consensus" to opinions from policymakers, business leaders, environmental advocates or religious authorities.
Week 4 – February 11
Reading Assignment 4.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 5 - 8.
Discussion Topic 4.2: Why do you think global warming has become such a high profile political concern when most people who worry about it don't really understand the scientific underpinnings? What is your position on consensus vs. certainty? How much must we know before we act? Are there different considerations for individuals vs. corporations? What are some of them?
Week 5 – February 18 (INTENSIVE II)
Reading Assignment 5.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 9 - 10.
Review three (3) carbon calculators found on the Internet. Some possibilities may include:
Discussion Topic 5.2: The fundamental issue with all carbon calculators is that they rely on some level of estimation and guess-work. Compare and contrast three (3) calculators and report your results for each. Which tool did you prefer and why?
NOTE: Be prepared to print your carbon calculator review as a separate document for use during the face-to-face discussion at Intensive II.
Face-to-Face Discussion Topic 5.3: The group will discuss your observations about the carbon calculators reviewed. We will also outline the steps required to create a personal carbon reduction plan (final assignment).
Week 6 – February 25
Reading Assignment 6.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 11 - 13.
Read Low Carbon Diet, Section 1, pp. 7 – 19.
Discussion Topic 6.2: Share you thoughts on the recommended lifestyle changes offered in Low Carbon Diet. If possible, add some others that are not in Gershon's book (see below for some reference sites but please identify others you have found particularly useful). Do you find it easy (and cost-effective) to conserve energy? Discuss some ways that you have already changed your behavior directly or indirectly due to personal concerns about global warming.
Other "What To Do" websites:
Week 7 – March 3
Reading Assignment 7.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 14 - 17.
Read Low Carbon Diet, Section 2, pp. 20 – 35.
Discussion Topic 7.2: Share you thoughts on the recommended household system changes offered in Low Carbon Diet. Do you feel frustrated with the barriers that may prevent a fuller engagement in a low carbon household? What are some of those barriers? Begin to think about products or services (not yet available) that would help drive down your carbon footprint. How much do cost considerations limit or impact your actions?
Week 8 – March 10
Reading Assignment 8.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 18 - 22.
Read Low Carbon Diet, Section 3, pp. 36 – 45.
Discussion Topic 8.2: Imagine you are trying to convince a local audience (e.g., school PTA, church congregation, bowling league, etc.) to take personal action on climate change. How do those of us who are not experts in climate science sort out the reliability of the research? Would science even matter or would moral, economic, or geopolitical rationales prevail? Provide at least three primary arguments or fact sets. Now imagine the same discussion within a corporate setting. How are your arguments different?
Week 9 – March 17
Reading Assignment 9.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 23 - 25.
Discussion Topic 9.2: Can the issue of climate change and global warming be considered an issue of personal survival? Is it possible for the select few to reduce or offset their carbon footprint and "make up for the damage you're doing to the environment" (as some carbon retailers would suggest)? Should we consider these issues on an individual level since we are personally producing these changes or only as a collective problem to be solved by many? What can we really control? How do we share responsibility and costs equitably?
Week 10 – March 24 (INTENSIVE III)
Reading Assignment 10.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 26 - 28.
Written Assignment 10.2: Submit your draft Personal Carbon Reduction Plan following the guidelines distributed at Intensive II.
Face-to-Face Discussion Topic 10.3: Be prepared to review your draft Personal Carbon Reduction Plan with the group. We will also discuss the expectations and process for individual and group participation at the Make Me Sustainable website.
Week 11 – March 31
Reading Assignment 11.1:
Read The Weather Makers, Chapters 29 - 35.
Discussion Topic 11.2: The Weather Makers is an alarming, daunting, and often depressing book, yet Flannery remains optimistic. Discuss a particular fact or concept about global warming or climate change that surprised or alarmed you. Do his prescriptions for confronting the crisis seem reasonable and adequate? How do they fit with the actions you have identified within your Personal Carbon Reduction Plan?
Week 12 – April 7 (Winter trimester ends 4/12/08)
Final Written Assignment 12.1: Submit revised and finalized Personal Carbon Reduction Plan.
Discussion Topic 12.2: Post a concluding message that offers general thoughts about the structure, discussion topics, assignments, etc. of the course. Feel free to make suggestions for future focus.
7. Format
8. Instructional Procedures
This course will use multiple approaches. Students are expected to apply successful techniques to their current work situation and report back on the results. We will use the Marlboro College Graduate Center online environment to facilitate discussions between face-to-face class sessions. Plan to log in at least once every 3 days. I will post each week's discussion questions on Saturday in the appropriate conference. Each conference will be open for approximately three weeks, until the next class meeting. You are expected to write at least one substantive post and one substantive reply each week for a minimum of four posts per 2-week session. You should feel free to initiate discussions as well.
9. Evaluation Procedures
Class Attendance and Participation 25%
Online Participation 30%
Individual Assignments 45%
10. Prerequisites
None.
11. Instructional Resources
Gershon, David. (2007). Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds. Woodstock, NY: Empowerment Institute.
Flannery, Tim. (2005). The Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press.
Gore, Al. (2006). An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It. New York: Rodale, Inc.
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)