Explore environmental policy and planning with MIT's free online course. Learn about policy-making, evaluation, ethics, sustainable development, impact assessment, and more.
Course Description
Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning
The "Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning" course offered by MIT is a comprehensive exploration of the various aspects of environmental policymaking and planning. With a total duration of 1 hour and 52 minutes, this course delves into the intricate processes and considerations involved in crafting effective environmental policies at different levels of governance.
As part of the Business Administration category, and more specifically under the Political subcategory, this course addresses key subjects that are crucial for anyone looking to understand the landscape of environmental regulations and initiatives. The content is meticulously structured into various scenarios, each designed to provide an in-depth understanding of distinct facets of environmental policy.
The journey begins with an overview of Federal Environmental Policy-Making, setting the stage for how policies are formed and implemented at the national level. This scenario provides an essential foundation for comprehending the broader framework within which environmental policies operate.
Following this, the focus shifts to the Policy-Making Process itself, dissecting the steps involved in translating environmental concerns into actionable regulations. Further, Policy Evaluation is covered to highlight the importance of assessing the effectiveness and impact of these policies once they are in place.
Comparative Policy Analysis offers a comparative approach, enabling students to understand how different regions and countries tackle similar environmental issues. This global perspective is enriched by topics such as Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Development, which emphasize the moral and long-term considerations crucial to policy formulation.
An intriguing aspect of the course is the examination of Local Knowledge vs. Expert Knowledge, with scenarios that include both cold calls and student presentations. These segments underscore the often-overlooked value of local insights in the policy-making process.
The course further explores Environmental Impact Assessment and the role of Cost-Benefit Analysis through interactive discussions and presentations, providing practical tools for evaluating the potential repercussions of environmental policies.
Societal Risk Assessment and Ecosystem Services Analysis introduce advanced methodologies for understanding the broader implications of environmental actions on society and ecosystems. These are essential skills for creating comprehensive and forward-thinking policies.
Finally, the course covers Public Participation Techniques and Strategies to highlight the importance of involving citizens in the policy-making process. Building an Informed Consensus and Relying on Effective Dispute Resolution are discussed as vital mechanisms for ensuring that policies are not only effective but also broadly supported and smoothly implemented.
Although there are no reviews available yet, this course promises to furnish participants with a solid grounding in environmental policy and planning, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and influence this critical field.
Conteúdo do Curso
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Video class: Scenario 1: Federal Environmental Policy-Making
0h06m
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Exercise: _What is the most important criterion suggested by the guest speaker to evaluate legislative proposals in the legislative hearings?
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Video class: Scenario 2: The Policy-Making Process
0h06m
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Exercise: _What are the three strategies that can be used to influence federal policy making in regards to renewable energy, according to the guest speaker in the presentation?
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Video class: Scenario 3: Policy Evaluation
0h06m
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Exercise: _What was the goal of the EPA when it was formed in 1970?
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Video class: Scenario 4: Comparative Policy Analysis
0h06m
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Exercise: _What are the three critical issues that the speaker intends to focus on during their trips to EU, Japan, and Australia?
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Video class: Scenario 5: Environmental Ethics
0h09m
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Exercise: _What is the type III error in the context of the precautionary principle?
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Video class: Scenario 6: Sustainable Development
0h05m
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Exercise: _What is the difference between economic growth and economic development, according to the guest speaker?
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Video class: Scenario 7: Local Knowledge vs. Expert Knowledge - Cold Call
0h06m
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Exercise: _Why should local knowledge be considered in the development of uranium mining?
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Video class: Scenario 7: Local vs. Expert Knowledge - Student Presentation
0h05m
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Video class: Scenario 8: Environmental Impact Assessment
0h06m
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Exercise: _What are the three major revisions that need to be made to the Environmental Impact Assessment according to the guest speaker?
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Video class: Scenario 9: Cost-Benefit Analysis - Cold Call
0h06m
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Exercise: _What is the first fundamental flaw of cost-benefit analysis according to the paper "Pricing the Priceless" by Frank Ackerman and Lisa Heinzerling?
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Video class: Scenario 9: Cost-Benefit Analysis - Student Presentation
0h05m
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Exercise: _What is the purpose of a cost-benefit analysis in this particular case?
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Video class: Scenario 9: Cost-Benefit Analysis - Class Discussion
0h12m
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Exercise: _What is the distinction between willingness to pay and willingness to accept in cost-benefit analysis?
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Video class: Scenario 10: Societal Risk Assessment
0h05m
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Video class: Scenario 11: Ecosystem Services Analysis
0h06m
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Exercise: _What is the main problem with the current system of mitigation banking?
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Video class: Scenario 12: Public Participation Techniques and Strategies
0h05m
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Video class: Scenario 13: Building an Informed Consensus
0h05m
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Exercise: _What is one of the goals of the advisory group to develop a regional water strategy for the metropolitan area?
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Video class: Scenario 14: Relying on Effective Dispute Resolution
0h05m
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Exercise: _What is Devon Neary's proposed strategy for working with environmental groups who oppose the expansion of the southwest computer chip factory?
This free course includes:
1 hours and 52 minutes of online video course
Exercises to train your knowledge
Certificate of course completion
100% free, from content to certificate
