Environmental Economics 

Course Overview

This new two-part course is designed to provide a practical introduction to the concepts, approaches and methods used in economics to address challenges in water and environmental management. It has been jointly developed with eftec, the UK’s leading dedicated environmental economics consultancy and coordinator of the UK Network of Environmental Economists, and Environmental Policy Consulting, which specialises in the application of environmental economics to water management.

The course will be of interest to those working in the private sector, in public agencies and in non-profit organisations with an interest in how economics impacts on decision making in relation to the natural environment. It is relevant to a range of sectors and fields, including agricultural economy, environmental consulting, water management, green infrastructure, climate change, natural capital, natural resource management, environmental policy/advocacy and environmental impact/sustainability assessment.

Part One of the course introduces key concepts, methods and valuation techniques used in environmental economics to support decision making. Part Two of the course will encompass application to real world challenges, including climate change, biodiversity, green infrastructure, resource management and natural capital.

Format:

The online format will combine webinars and self-learning using moodle, a web-based learning platform or course management system. Each part of the course is split into 4 modules (8 in total). Each part runs over a two-week period (four weeks in total), with a 1-2 hour webinar session on Tuesday and Thursday of each week (same time). Students will be expected to undertake reading and complete tasks between sessions.

Each module will consist of:

  • An introduction to and overview of the module (webinar presentation)
  • A practical exercise or group discussion task
  • Self-assessment questions for completion prior to the next webinar session

Trainers and speakers.

The course will be run by eftec (Ece Ozdemiroglu, Allan Provins) and Environmental Policy Consulting (Bruce Horton). Additional speakers may be used to support the ‘applications to policy’ modules.

Key Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a clear understanding of key economic concepts, including economic value, scarcity, trade-offs and efficiency;
  • Understand how economic values are interpreted, what they represent and how they can be estimated using different economic valuation methods;
  • Understand the purpose and principles of cost benefit analysis (CBA) and natural capital accounting and how economic value evidence can be used within these; and
  • Identify areas of their work where they can utilise the learning.

Course structure and Module

Part 1: Concepts, methods and techniques.

Tuesday

Thursday

Week 1

Introduction (30 mins)

15th September 2020 – 0900hrs

This session will provide an opportunity for participants to introduce themselves and meet each other, and to record expectations for the course.

Module 1: Key concepts (60 mins)

  • Value, scarcity, trade-offs, efficiency, ethics
  • Ecosystem services and natural capital

Recap of Module 1 (30 mins)

17th September 2020 – 0900hrs

Module 2: Overview of economic valuation methods and uses (90 mins)

  • Market and non-market approaches
  • Value transfer
  • Worked example – practical exercise
  • Limitations, examples
  • Principles, ENCA guidance
  • Uses and examples
  • Q&A

Week 2

Recap of Module 2 (30 mins)

22nd September 2020 – 0900hrs

Module 3: Using economic value evidence to support decision-making (90 mins)

  • HM Treasury Green Book guidance
  • Combining financial with env & social costs

Recap of Module 3 (30 mins)

24th September 2020 – 0900hrs

Module 4: Recapping Part 1 (45 mins)

  • Group exercise from Module 2
  • Q&A
  • Application to participants’ work
  • Reflections on meeting expectations

Module 2: Policy applications.

Tuesday

Thursday

Week 1

Introduction (30 mins)

6th October 2020 – 0900hrs

This session will provide an opportunity for delegates to introduce themselves and meet each other, and to record expectations for the course. (can be shortened if same intake as Part One)

Module 5: Valuation in the water sector (90 mins)

  • Business planning, Water Resource Management Plans, National Environment Programme/River Basin Management Plans
  • Q&A

Recap of Module 5 (30 mins)

8th October 2020 – 0900hrs

Module 6: Policy Green infrastructure in urban areas (90 mins)

  • assessing the benefits
  • Q&A

Week 2

Recap of module 6 (30 mins)

13th October 2020 – 0900hrs

Module 7: Natural capital accounting (90 mins)

Recap of module 7 (30 mins)

15th October 2020 – 0900hrs

Module 8: Climate change adaptation and mitigation (60 mins)

  • Role of economic analysis in strategic planning
  • Q&A
  • Reflections on meeting expectations (30 mins)

Course Dates

September & October

Individual: £590pp + VAT

Inclusions: 10% discount on groups of 5 or more

Please note that bookings should be made through 'My CIWEM' using the booking link above. Your place is confirmed once you have clicked ‘proceed & submit’ in the cart and received a confirmation email. Non-members can book via CIWEM by creating an account on the booking page.

Contact Us 

Please contact learning@ciwem.org or call +44 (0)20 7831 3110 with any booking enquiries.

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+44 (0)20 7831 3110
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CIWEM and CSL Ltd are part of the CIWEM Group.

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