Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

This unit provides an introduction to the business and economic perspectives of climate change mitigation and a detailed look at how an emissions trading scheme, like the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), would affect businesses and other stakeholders in an operational sense.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. acquire a broad understanding of:
1. climate change arising from greenhouse gases emissions
2. its overall long term economic impact
3. international initiatives under the Kyoto protocol and
4. Australian policy options for climate change mitigation
2. acquire a working knowledge of three different emissions trading schemes, namely the European ETS, North American Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiatives (RGGI) Scheme and the Australian Government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme that has been deferred till 2013.
3. analyse the supply and demand side aspects of key economic sectors namely the stationary energy sources, transport and agriculture to explain how they affect greenhouse gas emissions
4. develop an understanding of the inter-connectedness between the energy market, the Renewable Energy Target Scheme (RET) and carbon pricing signals in promoting investment in low-emission technologies.
5. develop an ability to assess the likely impact of carbon pricing on businesses (both liable parties and others), communities and individuals, and the Government.
6. develop a set of academic skills which include the ability to:
1. work independently and in groups from diverse cultural and social backgrounds
2. monitor developments in this rapidly evolving field utilising relevant sources such as web sites, media, journals, textbooks, major reports and review papers from governments, regulatory and other institutions, and
3. formulate and present (verbally and in writing) defensible views and strategies from the perspectives of businesses affected by a possible emissions trading scheme.
7. demonstrate in an individual summative assessment task the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered by AFF9012.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 50%
Examination (3 hours): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Madhu Veereraghavan

Contact hours

3 hours per week