Environmental Economics and Sustainability (2500205) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Learning Objectives

The principles of the sustainability of economic development are raised, questioning the limits of growth, international inequality and its environmental impact. Emphasis is placed on the allocation of resources with environmental effects (market errors, public goods, common resources and externalities). Environmental policies such as Pigouian taxes, environmental taxation, Coase's theorem, emissions markets, and voluntary agreements are also presented. Environmental valuation methods such as travel cost, quota valuation and hedonic prices are presented. The cost-benefit analysis, including the environmental dimension, is also addressed. Finally, environmental accounting mechanisms are proposed at both the national and business levels. 1. Understand the concept, the institutional and legal framework of the company and have notions of its organization and management. 2. Apply environmental regulations in the field of a company. 3. Know the concept of economic and business sustainability. Environmental Economics and Sustainability. Knowledge of the concept, institutional and legal framework of a company, its organization and management. Application of environmental regulations to the company and development of the concept of economic and business sustainability. 1. Understand the concept, the institutional and legal framework of the company and have notions of its organization and management. 2. Apply environmental regulations in the field of a company. 3. Know the concept of economic and business sustainability.

Competencies

Especific

Recognize the biological bases and foundations of the plant and animal field in engineering: notions of genetics, biochemistry and metabolism, physiology, organisms and environment, population dynamics, flows of matter and energy and changes in ecosystems, biodiversity, principles of the kinetics of microbial growth and reactor theory.

Solve mathematical problems that may arise in engineering by applying knowledge about: linear algebra, geometry, differential geometry, differential and integral calculus, optimization, ordinary differential equations.

Obtain basic knowledge about the use and programming of computers, operating systems, databases and basic numerical calculation and applied to engineering.

Manage the basic concepts about the general laws of mechanics and thermodynamics, concept of field and heat transfer, and apply them to solve engineering problems.

Apply the basic principles of general chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry and their applications in engineering.

Describe the global functioning of the planet: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, anthroposphere, biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S), soil morphology and apply it to problems related to geology, geotechnics, edaphology and climatology.

Generic

Identify, formulate and solve problems related to environmental engineering.

Apply the functions of consulting, analysis, design, calculation, project, construction, maintenance, conservation and exploitation of any action in the territory in the field of environmental engineering.

Total hours of student work

		Hours	Percentage
Supervised Learning	Large group	40h	66.70 %
Supervised Learning	Laboratory classes	20h	33.30 %
Self Study		90h

Teaching Methodology

The subject consists of 4 hours a week of face-to-face classes in the classroom (large group). Theory classes will be combined with others structured around practical cases that serve to highlight the basic concepts that are explained in the supporting material. The cases presented in class will be recent real situations. It is a question of discussing in class about situations that can be found in their working life. They spend 2 hours in theoretical classes in a large group, in which the teachers explain the basic concepts and materials of the subject, present examples and do exercises. 2 hours (medium group) are devoted to problem solving with greater interaction with students. Practical exercises are carried out in order to consolidate the general and specific learning objectives. For each topic, learning material will be delivered that includes the main theoretical concepts of each of the subjects analyzed, as well as bibliography. Support material is used in the format of a detailed teaching plan through the ATENEA virtual campus: contents, programming of assessment and guided learning activities and bibliography. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

The grade of the subject is obtained from the grades of continuous assessment. The continuous assessment consists of doing different activities, both individual and group, of an additive and formative nature, carried out during the course (inside the classroom and outside it). The assessment tests consist of a part with questions about concepts associated with the learning objectives of the subject in terms of knowledge or comprehension, and a set of application exercises. The final mark of the subject will be the one obtained from the qualifications obtained in the two types of activities according to the following weighting: Given this context, the following evaluable tests are proposed: Two exams, each of which is worth 35 % of the grade of the subject. A seminar, in the form of group work, which is worth 30% of the grade of the subject. Students who fail the ordinary assessment who have regularly taken the assessment tests of the suspended subject will have the option of taking a re-assessment test in the period set in the academic calendar. Students who have already passed it or students who have qualified as not presented will not be able to take the re-assessment test for a subject. The maximum grade in the case of taking the re-assessment exam will be five (5.0). The non-attendance of a student summoned to the test of re-evaluation, celebrated in the fixed period will not be able to give rise to the realization of another test with later date. Extraordinary assessments will be performed for those students who, due to accredited force majeure, have not been able to take any of the continuous assessment tests. These tests must be authorized by the corresponding head of studies, at the request of the teacher responsible for the subject, and will be carried out within the corresponding teaching period.

Office Hours

Meetings with teachers will be held by appointment.

Bibliography

Basic

Field, B.C.; Field, M.K. Economía del medio ambiente. 3a ed. Madrid: McGraw-Hill, 2003. ISBN 8448139437.

Complementary

Lewis, L.; Tietenberg, T. Environmental economics and policy. 7th ed. Abingdon, Oxon ; New York: Routledge, 2020. ISBN 9781138587595.
De Angelis, R. Business models in the circular economy: concepts, examples and theory. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, 2018. ISBN 9783319751276.
Aguilera, F.; Alcántara, V. (Comp.). De la economía ambiental a la economía ecológica. 1a ed., ed. electr. rev. Barcelona: CIP-Ecosocial, 2011. ISBN 8474262313.

Resources

For each topic, self-produced material and complementary articles will be provided