Module DXX-4524:
Strategic Environmental Manag

Module Facts

Run by School of Natural Sciences

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Ms Heli Gittins

Overall aims and purpose

This module is designed to provide an understanding of the principles of sustainable development, environmental legislation, environmental auditing and assessment, and green technological development. Specific topics include: • Sustainable development – limits to growth, TEEB, Stern Review, global challenges, RIO+20, global economy, green economy, climate change & resources, behaviour change, corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investment • Environmental monitoring - Life cycle analysis - ISO14040, foot-printingEnvironmental legislation – global (e.g. Montreal, Kyoto), Regional, National) • Environmental auditing – EMS, green dragon, ISO14001 • Environmental assessment – SEA, EIA, risk assessment, HIA

Course content

This module will cover the multicriteria principles and practice of environmental management, auditing, and assessment; including related policy and legislation. Specific monitoring tools will include Environmental Impact Assessment; Strategic Environmental Assessment; and Life Cycle Analysis. Real-life examples will be used as case studies to analyse the different techniques including scenarios from many different levels (local, UK, and international) so that comparisons can be made and the validity of systems assessed. The process of collection, collation, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of information in terms of auditing will be explored. The relevance and role of environmental legislation and auditing will be compared between the public and private sector. Issues of corporate social responsibility will be examined through a case study approach. The module will include field trips to contrasting sites where environmental monitoring, assessment and legislation play a fundamental role.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

The student displays a basic understanding of the principles and practices of environmental management; in addition to the policy and legislative frameworks within which they can operate. Most of the key issues are identified but there may be some omissions or gaps in understanding. Links between theory and practice are not well developed.

good

In addition to the above: the student should demonstrate an understanding of the principles of appropriate monitoring tools and the relevant policy and legislative frameworks within which they operate. They should also display an understanding of how such environmental management requirements influence current practice by private and public bodies. The student is able to evaluate and compare different methods of environmental monitoring tools.

excellent

The student demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of the different aspects of environmental management. There are no major areas omitted and the student demonstrates an ability to critically analyse and evaluate relevant information. Evidence of considerable effort and thought to construct management plans for a given scenario of high standard, demonstrating an excellent grasp of all major issues.

Learning outcomes

  1. Understand environmental and sustainability principles in a business context

  2. Appreciate key environmental policy and legislative issues, and compliance measures

  3. Be able to apply key environmental management and assessment tools

  4. Be able to analyse environmental problems (including data analysis) and opportunities and identify sustainable solutions and improvement programmes

  5. Understand the importance of stakeholder communication as well as how to influence behaviour to effect change within an organisation

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
EXAM Examination

Examination on course content, except policy and legislative issues, which are covered by a multiple choice questionnaire January

 60
COMPREHENSION TEST Multi Choice Questionnaire - Policy and Legislation

A multiple choice questionnaire to cover policy and legislation - Open book, launched 09:00 Monday and closing 17:00 Friday of Week 10

 20
CLASS PARTICIPATION Energy Audit

A group work activity carrying out and reporting on an energy audit

 20

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study

Minimum of 120 hours non-contact study.

 120
Lecture

34 hours of lectures/workshops

 34
Group Project

Minimum of 15 hours practical projects throughout the module

 15
External visit

Visit to Environmental Manager

 8

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

Subject specific skills

  • Recognize and apply appropriate theories and concepts from a range of disciplines.
  • Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
  • Apply subject knowledge to the understanding and addressing of problems.
  • Awareness of the concepts of spatial and temporal scale in understanding processes and relationships.
  • Appreciation of the reciprocal nature of human-environmental relationships.
  • Apply appropriate techniques for presenting spatial and/or temporal trends in data.
  • Preparation of effective maps, diagrams and visualizations.
  • Engage in debate and/or discussion with specialists and non-specialists using appropriate language.
  • Demonstrate awareness of the importance of risk assessment and relevant legislation

Resources

Resource implications for students

None

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/dxx-4524.html

Courses including this module