AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The goal of the major is to provide students with foundations of environmental valuation and accounting as well as become aware of the most recent European environmental directives and research advancements. In particular, the state-of-the-art about tools and methods to valuate and monitor changes in value of ecosystem services will be described and students will be trained about the building of accounting reports able internalize ecosystem services value. These competences will be described accordingly with the latest EU initiatives on biodiversity and environmental management and with the environmental strategy of the European Commission.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The goal of the course is the knowledge of the methods and techniques for evaluating and accounting on a territorial scale the contribution that ecosystems make to the production of income and wellbeing for the economic system and society as a whole. This contribution is represented by the benefits deriving from ecosystem services, the flow and enjoyment of which are made possible by the management and conservation activities of ecosystems carried out by Authorities and Institutions at different levels (Regions, Park Authorities, Associations of Municipalities...). On the other hand, inadequate management or the effect of unregulated economic activities results in a loss of ecosystem services that determines an economic cost for individual categories of users and for society.

Expected learning outcomes are:

Knowledge and understanding. Students will acquire adequate knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis and evaluation techniques for incorporating natural capital into economic, political, and financial decisions on the use of resources and on the environment.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. Students must be able to understand and evaluate the role of environmental policy in orienting markets and economic agents towards sustainability (e.g. interpreting the current debate on the 'commodification' of ecosystem services, carbon certificates and 'biodiversity markets').

Making judgments. Students must be able to use acquired knowledge with a critical spirit and own evaluations.

Communication skills. Students must acquire the technical language of the discipline to communicate clearly and unambiguously with specialist and non-specialist interlocutors: companies and institutions that manage environmental and economic elements in formulating their own decision policies.

Learning skills. Students must acquire tools to continue to deepen autonomously the main themes of the discipline, especially in the working contexts in which they will operate. 

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching program includes lectures, seminars, case analysis, home and classroom exercises, and group work.

Please refer to the AulaWeb teaching platform for any updates.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program addresses the reasons why and the methods for a systemic integration of ecological and economic data to build an information basis for making truly informed decisions about land-use policies and/or specific productive sectors (agriculture, tourism, energy, transport, urban development, ...) that have strong impacts on environmental and social sustainability.

Topics covered include:

- Introduction to economic, environmental, and social sustainability (The European strategies -Biodiversity Strategy 2030, Farm-to-fork, Green New Deal- and the main economic and environmental performance indicators -from GDP to GNP to Green GDP to ecological footprint)
- Economic Accounting and the National System of Accounts
- Different approaches to green accounting, environmental accounting, and accounting for ecosystem services
- SEEA Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA): an integrated and comprehensive statistical framework for organising data on habitats and landscapes, measuring ecosystem services, tracking changes in ecosystem assets and linking this information to economic and other human activity. The United Nations Statistical Commission adopted SEEA Ecosystem Accounting at its 52nd session in March 2021. The adoption followed a comprehensive and inclusive process of detailed testing, consultation and review. Today, ecosystem accounts have already been used to inform policy development in more than 34 countries.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Scientific papers, slides and  lecture notes will be available on "Aulaweb" at the beginning of the course.

All students are recommended to periodically consult the page of this course on the AulaWeb e-learning portal (accessible from the University website or at: http://www.aulaweb.unige.it/). All information and files for this teaching are published exclusively on this site.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

BARBARA CAVALLETTI (President)

CHIARA PAOLI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable go to the link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Please check the module Aulaweb page for timetable updates dependent on the sanitary and epidemic situation.

Class schedule

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUATION AND ACCOUNTING - MOD. 2

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examinations will consist of the presentation of a project that students will carry out during the lectures.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Mastery in the use of tools and the ability to present clearly and with correct terminology will also be assessed.

Exam schedule