Sustainability, Climate Change and Economics

• • General introduction, overview and organisation of the unit
  • Circular economy – an economics perspective
  • Market mechanism
  • Market failure
  • Climate as a public good
  • Economic approach to climate change
  • Economic tools in policy development
  • Economic evaluation of environmental and social changes
  • Regulations and market-based mechanisms
  • Cost-benefit analysis, surrogate markets and shadow prices
  • Environmental and social accounting, economic agents, stakeholders and policy process
  • Climate policy tools in practice – ETS, CDM
  • Growth, development and sustainable development
  • Innovation and ethical economics, economics of global agreements
  • Public-private partnership for climate actions
  • The business case for climate change, sustainable businesses and jobs

No eligibility requirements

Additional requirements

• Equipment requirements - Audio video equipment required
• Other requirements - Additional materials. Access to the Internet. Admission to degree may be required.

This innovative approach to economics focuses on policy implementation for climate action and sustainable development. It moves beyond conventional approaches by reframing economics, accounting and policy within sustainability principles, parameters and processes, so that climate-friendly actions and sustainable behaviours are rewarded, rather than penalised. The focus is on implementation through the re-evaluation of economic activities, the restructuring of accounting narratives, and the used of monitoring and management regimes that support continuous sustainability learning. The subject provides new relevance for many existing methods currently marginalised in conventional policy processes. Students will learn ways of thinking and techniques that utilise new information system technologies. Socio-cultural and biophysical understandings from other sciences are integrated in a range of theoretical and practical perspectives on complex issues that have local and international relevance. The skills developed will enhance the employment prospects for students with organisations that are keen to move beyond business-as-usual to embrace the new world of sustainability-informed accounting, governance, management and policy.

Please Note:  If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.

Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.

• Essay 1 (35%)
• Essay 2 (35%)
• Oral presentation (30%)

Current study term: 27 Nov 22 to 26 Feb 23

Next study term: 26 Nov 23 to 25 Feb 24