Environmental Economics Training Course: Balancing Economic Growth And Environmental Sustainability

Introduction:

Economic activity and environmental sustainability are inextricably linked. This Environmental Economics training course provides you with the economic frameworks and tools to understand the complex relationship between the economy and the environment. You'll explore the causes of environmental problems, learn how to value environmental goods and services, and analyze the design and effectiveness of environmental policies. From pollution control and resource management to climate change and sustainable development, this course equips you to contribute to solutions that balance economic growth with environmental protection.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for professionals and individuals interested in the economic dimensions of environmental issues. The target audience includes:

• Economists working in academia, government, and the private sector
• Environmental scientists and professionals
• Policy analysts and researchers
• Business leaders and sustainability managers
• NGO staff working on environmental issues
• Anyone seeking to understand the economics of environmental sustainability

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this Environmental Economics training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand core economic concepts related to environmental issues, such as externalities, public goods, and common resources.
• Analyze the causes of environmental problems, including pollution, resource depletion, and climate change.
• Value environmental goods and services using various valuation techniques.
• Evaluate different environmental policy instruments, including regulations, taxes, and market-based mechanisms.
• Assess the costs and benefits of environmental policies.
• Understand the principles of sustainable development and the green economy.
• Analyze the economic dimensions of natural resource management.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of environmental regulations and policies.
• Contribute to informed decision-making on environmental issues.
• Understand the interplay between economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Environmental Economics

• What is environmental economics? Defining the field and its scope.
• The relationship between the economy and the environment.
• Key concepts: Externalities, public goods, common resources, and market failures.
• Course overview: Structure, learning objectives, and assessment methods.

Module 2: Market Failures and Externalities

• Externalities: Positive and negative externalities, their impact on market efficiency.
• Public goods: Characteristics and challenges of providing public goods.
• Common resources: The tragedy of the commons and resource depletion.
• Property rights and environmental problems.

Module 3: Valuing the Environment

• Why value the environment? Importance for decision-making.
• Valuation methods: Revealed preference methods (travel cost method, hedonic pricing) and stated preference methods (contingent valuation, choice experiments).
• Challenges and limitations of environmental valuation.
• Applications of environmental valuation.

Module 4: Environmental Policy Instruments I: Regulation

• Command-and-control regulations: Standards, permits, and mandates.
• Advantages and disadvantages of regulation.
• Setting efficient standards.
• Enforcement and compliance.

Module 5: Environmental Policy Instruments II: Market-Based Mechanisms

• Taxes and charges: Pigouvian taxes, effluent fees.
• Tradable permits: Cap-and-trade systems.
• Advantages and disadvantages of market-based mechanisms.
• Comparing regulation and market-based instruments.

Module 6: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Environmental Policies

• Cost-benefit analysis framework: Discounting, social cost of carbon, and uncertainty.
• Estimating the costs of environmental policies.
• Estimating the benefits of environmental policies.
• Cost-effectiveness analysis.

Module 7: Sustainable Development

• The concept of sustainable development: Intergenerational equity and environmental stewardship.
• Indicators of sustainability: Measuring progress towards sustainable development.
• The role of economic growth in sustainable development.
• Sustainable consumption and production.

Module 8: Natural Resource Economics I: Renewable Resources

• Renewable resources: Forests, fisheries, and water.
• Optimal management of renewable resources: Maximum sustainable yield and economic considerations.
• Common property resource management.
• Case studies of renewable resource management.

Module 9: Natural Resource Economics II: Non-Renewable Resources

• Non-renewable resources: Minerals, oil, and gas.
• Optimal depletion of non-renewable resources: Hotelling's rule.
• Resource scarcity and price dynamics.
• Recycling and resource substitution.

Module 10: Economics of Pollution Control

• Air pollution: Sources, impacts, and control strategies.
• Water pollution: Sources, impacts, and control strategies.
• Solid waste management: Recycling, composting, and landfill management.
• Transboundary pollution.

Module 11: Global Environmental Issues

• Climate change: Causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies.
• Ozone depletion: Science, impacts, and policy responses.
• Biodiversity loss: Causes, consequences, and conservation efforts.
• International environmental agreements.

Module 12: Advanced Topics and Current Issues in Environmental Economics

• Ecological economics: Integrating ecological and economic perspectives.
• Behavioral economics and the environment: The role of psychology in environmental decision-making.
• Environmental justice: Equity and fairness in environmental policy.
• The future of environmental economics.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.