The lectures are discussion based and include readings and practical use of data. Readings and data/statistical topics will be assigned and different groups of students will give final presentations.

Lecture 1: Basics concepts of energy economics and climate change

• Energy, climate and growth
• Energy efficiency (concepts and measures)
• Fuel substitution
• Statistics: energy balances, national accounts, etc.

Lecture 2: Basics concepts of energy and climate scenarios

• Exogenous and endogenous variables
• Technological change
• With and without additional policy
• Decoupling and feedbacks

Lecture 3: Climate policies I

• Baseline trends and drivers
• Methods for impact assessment
• Targets vs. instruments

Lecture 4: Energy and climate scenarios in practice

• EU scenarios and impact assessment
• Global climate scenarios (IPCC and others)
• Energy scenarios for Austria

Lecture 5: Final Presentations

• Final discussion of contents
• Final presentations

Lecture 6: Final Presentations

The goal of this seminar is to learn about and critically reflect core issues of the public debate on climate change and climate policy. The first step for being able to do that is getting familiar with energy scenarios and their basics, climate change impact assessment as well as the basic concepts of economic and energy statistics.

After completing the course, the students are able to understand the core issues of the public debate on the climate and climate policy. They have a general knowledge about the basics of energy scenarios and climate change impact assessment.

During this course, the students will: (i) understand of the basics of the following concepts: economic growth, energy demand and decoupling, energy and climate impact of economic activities, targets and instruments of climate policy, (ii) be familiar with main economic and energy statistical concepts, and (iii) be able to reflect on these concepts and discuss the main issues through in-class participations

The classes are in person and 80% attendance is compulsory

Standard lectures on selected topics.

In class discussions.

Topic presentations.

Quiz (20 points):

During the class in the middle of the course (15/04) there will be a short (10-20 minute) quiz with 4 questions based on previous sessions and this session’s mandatory readings. On each question in the quiz you can get max. 5 points

Final presentation (50 points):

The final presentations plus discussions will take place in the last two classes. All members of each group can get max. 50 points for their presentation.

Presentation handout (30 points):

You are required to produce a handout (extended abstract of max. 2 pages) together with your presentation at the end of the course, where you discuss the aspects of your issue as it is discussed in the literature, potential shortcomings of different concepts/methodologies as well as main results. All members of each group can get max. 30 points for their handout.

Grading

100-91 points 1 “Sehr gut”

90-81 points 2 “Gut”

80-71 points 3 “Befriedigend”

70-61 points 4 “Genügend”

If you have a valid registration for the lecture, but will not participate, please deregister during the registration period of LPIS. Your place will be available for other students.

During the registration period, free places are filled according to the “first-come, first-served” principle. After the end of the registration period, the number of places is increased and students on the waiting list will be registered for the lecture. Students in the BBE-program will be added first, should places remain, they will be filled by BaWiSo-students based on their progress in their studies.

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