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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2016/2017

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Climate Change & Corporate Responsibility (online) (PGGE11213)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryClimate change is a strategic challenge for business, creating new risks and but also opportunities. In this course we discuss what role(s) business/industry may/should have in the climate change adaptation and mitigation debate, and the management practices and tools that are emerging to help businesses find a path through the changing landscape in which they operate. Students will explore the financial and operational drivers behind these risks and opportunities, how they have changed over time and what the future may hold.
Course description Lectures

1a - Introduction to Climate Change & Corporate Responsibility
1b - Climate Change and Strategy
2a - Corporate Sustainability & Ethics
2b - Regulation Mechanisms
3a - Policy-making Process & Climate Change
3b - MCQ Review of Lectures 1-5
4a - Marketing & Low-carbon Supply Chains
4b - Green Marketing & the Circular Economy
5a - Law & Politics of Climate Change
5b - EU ETS & Compliance Markets
6 - 9 - READING WEEK NO LECTURES
7a - Carbon Accounting
7b - MCQ Review of Lectures 6-10
8a - Carbon Benchmarking
8b - Transitioning to a Low-Carbon Economy
9a - Financing a Low Carbon Economy
9b - Climate Change & the Economy
10a -Networks
10b -MCQ Review of Lectures 11-15
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students studying the online Certificate in Climate Change Management or the online MSc in Carbon Management. Students are not permitted to audit this course unless formally agreed with the course organiser.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2016/17, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Block 5 (sem 2)
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Online Activities 40, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 156 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Form of Assessment:
- Business memo assignment: consisting of TWO (2) separate memos to your CEO of about 800 words each, outlining a potential opportunity based upon two current and separate local news/policy items. (10% + 10%). This is an individual assignment.
- Redesign a consumer product's life cycle from a linear to circular economy, highlighting net benefits to 'people, profit and planet' of doing so. Report should be about 2500 words, plus an Executive Summary not exceeding 1 page (about 500 words). (30%). This is a GROUP assignment.
- Final report of strategy to move towards a low-carbon economy, consisting of about 3,000 words (50%). This is an individual assignment.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Analyse a business and its competitive environment regarding present and future carbon emissions, incorporating the perspectives of multiple stakeholders.
  2. Develop corporate strategy that reflects climate change expectations within any policy or regulatory framework.
  3. Communicate complex ideas that incorporate business, climate change and sustainable responsibility to a range of audiences through synthesis and creative application of relevant literature to practical situations.
  4. Take into account a range of viewpoints, critically evaluate the challenges to transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
Reading List
Required Text(s)
Required and further readings for this course generally take the form of reports from industry/government/NGOs and peer-reviewed journal articles. Due to nature of this course, there is no single volume textbook that covers the range of material presented.
Details of required and recommended further reading for individual lectures can be found in several places: the full course reading list on Learn and the Welcome page on the VLE, and; lecture specific readings on the Welcome page of that lecture.

Introductory lectures will use:
Packard, K. and Reinhardt, F. (2000) 'What Every Executive Needs to Know about Global Warming', Harvard Business Review, July-August, pp. 129-135

Lash, J. and Wellington, F. (2007) 'Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet', Harvard Business Review, March, pp. 95-102

Hoffman, A. (2007) Getting Ahead of the Curve: Corporate Strategies that Address Climate Change, Executive Summary (pp v-vii) and Synthesis Report (pp 1-7)

Porter, M. & Kramer, M. (2011) The Big Idea: Creating Shared Value, Harvard Business Review.

Goldman Sachs Sustain (2009). Change is coming: A framework for climate change- a defining issue of the 21st century, pp 1-17.

McKinsey & Company (2009) Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy. Version 2 of the Global Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Curve, pp 190.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Cognitive Skills:
Through this course, students will have the opportunity to develop business analytical skills, numerical skills, research and synthesis skills, and presentation skills. These will be developed throughout the course via reading and reflecting on academic and business literature; the content of the lectures; discussion with other students and facilitators through Collaborate / Google Hangout; and assessment preparation and presentation.

Subject Specific Skills:
On completion of the course, students should be able to construct a basic carbon footprint, LCA, and carbon audit; and prepare a relevant written report demonstrating these skills. Students should have a good understanding of Carbon Disclosure Project reports, shareholder reports, investment reports, and stock market indices relating to climate change.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr Stephen Porter
Tel: (0131 6)51 4545
Email: stephen.porter@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Karolina Galera
Tel: (0131 6)50 2572
Email: k.galera@ed.ac.uk
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