66002 - Evaluation Tools for the Eco-Compatibility

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: describe the concept of environmental sustainability; demonstrate knowledge of the principles of sustainable development and of the main tools for promoting and evaluating an ecologically sustainable development; use environmental indicators; apply practical environmental impact assessment skills to the impact identification; apply multi-criteria methods; identify and apply appropriate tools and techniques in support of ecologically sustainable management policy decisions.

Course contents

Birth and evolution of the concept of Sustainable Development.

Sources and fate of the main air pollutants and greenhouse gases since cause of many important environmental impacts. Water pollution: causes and effects. Brief outline of waste legislation and management. 

Tools for measuring environmental quality: 1) environmental indicators and indexes; 2) descriptive indicators and DPSIR framework; 3) performance indicators; 4) efficiency indicators; 5) policy-effectiveness indicators; 6) total welfare indicators. Short introduction to tools for predicting environmental impacts: physics and mathematical models.

Tools for assessing the environmental sustainability: 1) Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity; 2) Carbon Footprint; 3) Water Footprint; 4) Health Risk Assessment (HRA).

 

Readings/Bibliography

The slides will be available after each lecture on the course website. The lecturer will highlight recommended reading (for example, a chapter or article) for each lecture. The following textbooks are recommended for clarification and/or deepening. 

Baird C., Cann M. 2013. Chimica ambientale. Ed. Zanichelli. CAPP. 1,2,4. CDD628.50154.BAIRC

Finzi G., Pirovano G., Volta M. 2001. Gli Inquinanti atmosferici. IN: Gestione della qualità dell’aria. Ed. McGraw-Hill, pp. 1-50. CDD363.73926FINZG

Schwedt G. 2007. The essential guide to environmental chemistry. Ed Wiley. CDD62850154SCHWG

Stahel W.R. 2019. Economia circolare per tutti. Edizioni Ambiente, Milano.

Wackernagel M., Beyers B. 2019. Ecological Footprint: Managing Our Biocapacity Budget. New Society Publishers.

Daly, H.E. 2022. Lo stato stazionario. L'economia dell'equilibrio biofisico e della crescita morale. Lu.Ce Edizione. 

Latouche, S. 2004. Degrowth Economics. Le Monde Diplomatique .

Pernigotti D. 2012. Carbon Footprint. Calcolare e comunicare l'impatto dei prodotti sul clima. Edizioni Ambiente, Milano.

Lanza A. 2006. LO SVILUPPO SOSTENIBILE. Il Mulino.

Bompan E., Brambilla I. 2021. Che cosa è l'economia circolare. Edizioni Ambiente, Milano.

 

Teaching methods

A variety of teaching tools will be used, which include lectures, practical sessions, case studies, guided discussions. Lecture will be used to transfer knowledge and highlight the key factors. Practical sessions will develop and reinforce practical application of course principles and tools. Analyses of case studies and guided discussions will be used to help students to analyse critically and appropriately apply environmental evaluation tools.  

Assessment methods

Written and oral test on the whole programme.

 

The learning assessment aims at a complete and balanced evaluation of the degree of achievement of all the objectives defined in the "learning outcomes" section.

The assessment is expressed as a grade up to thirty cum laude.

The final score will be the average of written and oral marks. Oral mark will be the average of marks reported on specific questions on the different topics. The students is invited to provide answers to multiple-choice questions or open questions in a relatively synthetic manner through pertinent answers, also with the help of schemes and drawings.

Teaching tools

Video projector, computer lab and forecast models.

 

Students who need compensatory tools for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can directly contact the Service for Students with Disabilities (disabilita@unibo.it) and the Service for Students with learning disabilities (dsa@unibo.it) to agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Righi