AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching presents basic tools for valuing environmental goods and services and for environmental accounting, develops the student's knowledge of the latest environmental and European directives, and fosters the skills needed to address research developments in the field. In particular, an overview of tools and methods for assessing and monitoring changes in the value of ecosystem services and building accounting and reporting systems capable of internalizing these values will be provided. The content will be developed with due consideration of what is prescribed by the latest European initiatives on biodiversity and environmental management and in accordance with the policies and regulations dictated by the European Commission.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the teaching is the knowledge of the methods and techniques for valuing and reporting on a territorial scale the contribution that ecosystems make to the production of income and well-being for the economic system and society as a whole. This contribution is represented by the benefits derived from ecosystem services, the flow and enjoyment of which are made possible by the management and conservation activities of ecosystems carried out by agencies and institutions at different levels (Regions, Park Authorities, Associations of Municipalities...). Conversely, inadequate management or the effect of unregulated economic activities give rise to a loss of ecosystem services that results in an economic cost to individual categories of users and to society.

Outcomes to be ascertained are:

Knowledge and Understanding: acquire adequate knowledge and ability to understand the scientific basis and valuation techniques for incorporating natural capital into economic, policy and financial decisions about resource and environmental use.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: be able to understand and evaluate the role of environmental policy in guiding markets and economic actors toward sustainability (e.g., interpreting the current debate on "commodification" of ecosystem services, carbon certificates, and "biodiversity markets).

Autonomy of judgment: knowing how to use acquired knowledge with a critical spirit and own evaluations.

Communication skills: acquire the technical language of the discipline to communicate clearly and unambiguously with specialist and non-specialist interlocutors, businesses and institutions, who relate to environmental and economic variables in formulating their decisions

Learning skills: acquire tools to continue to independently explore the main themes of the discipline especially in the work contexts in which students will be working.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching consists of lectures, practical exercises and small-group activities aimed at consolidating acquired knowledge and self-assessment of the level of learning and understanding.

Classroom lectures are delivered through multimedia presentations.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program addresses the rationale and methods for a systemic integration of ecological and economic data as an information basis for making truly informed decisions regarding land-use policy decisions and/or specific productive sectors (agriculture, tourism, energy, transportation, 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 indicators of economic and environmental performance -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 to organize data on habitats and landscapes, measure ecosystem services, track changes in ecosystem assets, and link 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

There is a combination of different materials that will be made available on Aulaweb at the beginning of class.

All students are encouraged to periodically consult the page for this teaching on the AulaWeb e-learning portal (accessible from the University website or at: http://www.aulaweb.unige.it/). All information and materials related to this teaching are posted exclusively on that site.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy