How do material and energy flows shape the development of a sustainable society? Flows of energy fuels like coal and petroleum, bulk materials like sand, recyclable metals like copper and renewable resources like fish and timber - are the topic of this class. Such material-energy flows are important in supporting human development and well-being, but they are also often poorly managed, highly-polluting, and in some cases, finite and non-renewable, placing immense stress on our planet and its web of life.
We will discuss materials and energy flows in the context of: a) Economic and human development; b) Resource scarcity, renewability and recyclability, and, c) As a source of environmental pollution, with more than 4 million deaths globally attributable to fuel combustion.
The central questions addressed in this class are:
• How much and what types of material and energy resources support health, wealth and well-being in different parts of the world?
• How do different units of society - consumers, producers, infrastructure providers, and governments (ranging from cities to nations) - make decisions that shape society's material and energy flows?
• What actions and policies could support more sustainable use of energy and resources by these different units?
Students will use an inter-disciplinary approach, integrating core topics from environmental economics, industrial ecology (resource sustainability assessments) and human health risk assessment, in the context of public policy.
The course will be offered to graduate students and honors students (seniors and junior standing) from across the University. Active learning will be promoted through a hands-on case study with real-world data analysis pertaining to resource use, environmental footprinting, health impacts, and cost-benefit analysis, coupled with literature review to understand the various leverage points for action toward sustainable development by the following different actors:
1. Producers - specific businesses or industries in the Twin Cities area
2. Infrastructure sectors - energy supply, water supply
3. Consumers - households
4. Governments at the metropolitan/city scales
In addition, graduate students will complete two term papers for graduate credit - one on synthesis across the 4 disciplines; the other on identifying key knowledge gaps in the sustainability science, and priorities to inform action.