This course is divided into two parts "510A" (first 7 weeks) and "510B" (second 7 weeks).

NRE 510A reviews the dominant scientific and policy narratives related to understanding the interactions between environment and society. This part of the course is designed around learning to think critically about environmental problems and the varied social, political, cultural and economic contexts under which these problems arise. The course will challenge existing apolitical and ahistorical understandings of environmental problems and sustainable development. There are two main components to this first half of the course. We will first outline various ‘approaches and perspectives’ related to the study of society and the environment. These include: population and scarcity; economics and markets; institutions and the commons; environmental ethics; risks and hazards; political economy and the social construction of nature. The second part applies these approaches and perspectives to specific case studies or ‘objects of concern’ which include: carbon dioxide; trees; wolves; water; tuna, bottled water and French fries.

NRE 510B develops the elements of economics that are essential for an environmental professional.  It introduces key principles, models, and evaluation frameworks of microeconomics and environmental economics.   We apply the principles and frameworks to environmental topics throughout the course, including: externalities and market failures; environmental policy instruments; common pool resources; nonmarket valuation of environmental goods and services; intertemporal decision-making; benefit-cost analysis, and climate policy.