Concern about Earth’s dwindling resources, over-population, economic development, climate change, and new industries like AI all present significant challenges for the energy sector. Although many countries have agreed to lower their carbon emissions in the coming decades, the challenges with balancing environmental and sustainability goals with the need for energy to power economic growth have come into to focus. Without environmental pricing, fossil fuels remain competitive with solar and wind, despite their rapid reduction in costs over the last decade. As governments and companies seek carbon neutrality, they will need to identify and understand the emerging and complex forces at play in the energy sector.

This course examines these economic and environmental forces affecting the energy sector, beginning with a global view of the energy system, economic growth, and the potential impacts of climate change on major sectors such as agriculture, forests, water resources and coastal communities. We examine technologies like fracking, solar, wind, and battery power, and how various policies influence adoption and use. The course considers a wide range of business practices, technologies, and policies that may be used to influence sustainability through energy choices. We also assess the likely benefits and costs of various actions society may take.

Prerequisites:  
AED Econ 2001(200) or Econ 2001 (200) OR Permission of the instructor
An embedded honors section (4320E) is also available: Course No. 32852