K2SP 3700 - European Green Deal and beyond: Understanding Europe's climate and energy transition

Green transformations towards climate neutrality are at the heart of many national and international economic and environmental strategies. This class will systematically introduce green transformation strategies with a focus on the European Union's European Green Deal and its successor after the June 2024 elections of the European Parliament. The class will look into various approaches for green transitions and work out their key elements. On this basis, we will analyse several fields of green transitions, inter alia EU climate action, the energy transition (renewable energies and energy efficiency) and sustainable building strategies. The class will include experts as guest speakers and allow student groups to look into dedicated aspects of green transitions.

Hemal THAKKER,Marc RINGEL

Cours magistral seul

English

Before-class reading to kick-start first lecture; afterwards reading of papers to deepen lecture content; Animation of “hands on”-sessions: Group presentations (15 minutes sharp) and 20 minutes debate and replies to student Q&A, related to specific aspects of the European Green Deal; blog summary of topic and discussion.

Students have critically familiarized themselves with the concept of “green growth” by reading : OECD (2015): Towards green growth? Tracking progress Available online at: https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/towards-green-growth_9789264234437-en#page1 and OECD iLibrary. Capasso, M. et al. (2019): Green growth – a synthesis of findings. Technological Forecasting & Social Change 146. 390-401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.06.013 Sandberg, M. et al. (2019): Green growth or degrowth? Assessing the normative justifications for environmental sustainability and economic growth through critical social theory. Journal of Cleaner Production 206. 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.175

Autumn 2024-2025

Written exam (knowledge saver; 90 minutes) in the mid-exam period (40%); Group presentations of 15 minutes during class and subsequent animation of class discussion (20 minutes); blog summary of findings to be published on webpage of the European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition (50%); Active participation in class and rapporteur for class notes (10%).

Interactive lecture; students will prepare specialized sub-topics in group work, present and animate discussion and prepare a blog summary of the topic to be published online. Input from guest by speakers by e.g. the European Commission, the European Investment Banks and think tanks (Confrontations Europe).