INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The Master Degree in Environmental Sciences with particular focus on Global Change and Sustainability that allow students to develop cultural and professional profiles mainly oriented towards the analysis of major changes on a global scale, with particular reference to climate change.
With reference to the specific training objectives of the Master Degree in Environmental Sciences, the course, Innovation and Environmental Management is designed to provide integrated approaches of environmental management methods along with state-of-vision principles and tools in dealing with complex natural resources problems. The course examines ways of understanding and resolving complex problems of natural resources management. There are no prerequisites. The class is taught comparatively, that is, with constant reference to cases from around the world.
This course is designed to raise student awareness of the state of natural resources globally and the need for more effective governance. It builds on several existing management approaches while also helping students develop the mutual gain negotiation and mediation skills they will need to resolve natural resources problems. During the course, students will participate in a role-play simulation as a way of apply what they have learned about natural resources management.

1. Knowledge and understanding
By the end of this course, students will be able to
● evaluate why natural resources management is difficult and why innovation is needed to manage environment.
● describe existing environmental management approaches by referencing specific methods, tools, and principles.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● apply mutual gain negotiation skills to address complex resource management challenges.
● apply specific methods, tools, and principles of environmental management for resolving a real-world problem.
3. Making judgement
● critically analyze the policy process by using appropriate theory and concepts in dealing with complex natural resources problems.
● describe the innovation for addressing climate change and other environmental problems.
4. Communication Skills
● Ability to communicate and debate among fellow colleagues about the environmental management issues;
● Ability to present the environmental problems and
● Ability to provide feedback among colleagues.

There are no prerequisites, but basic knowledge of ecology, economics, statistics is helpful

The course is organized as follows:
I. Introduction
• Natural Resources Management
• Innovation
• Tragedy of Commons
• Social-Ecological Systems
III. Environmental Management Approaches
• The evolution of management approaches
• Integrated and Adaptive management
• The Water-Energy Food Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus
• Nature Based Solutions
• Environmental Diplomacy
III. Role-Play Simulation
• Part 1: Introduction & Joint fact finding
• Part II: Mututual gain negotiation
IV. Natural Resources Policy Processes & Innovations
• Policy process
• Climate Innovations
V. Student Presentations

Teaching materials (slides and further readings) made available by the instructor through the Moodle web platform

Grading will be based on the 5 short memos (15% of the grade), 2 commentaries (5% of the grade), the draft and final version of the case study (35%), one oral presentation (25%), regular attendance (10%), and participation in the role-play simulation with reflections (10%).

The course foresees a series of lectures making use of powerpoint presentations made available to students since the beginning of the course, group works and questions/answers (written or oral) to monitor learning progress

The blog functionality provided by the Moodle platform is used for on-line communication with students.

English

Course materials (powerpoint slides, homework, readings, etc.) can be found in the Ca' Foscari Moodle web site: http://moodle.unive.it/

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development